AndyZ

Lots of talk about enhancing power; If we figure out how to change the granny gearing we'd have serious acceleration.

Front/center/rear Diff change? Any parts expert willing to figure this out could sell a lot of kits!

KaMaKaZieP -ALUMIN8-

We talked about this with the changing of the 6spd manual.. Since the center diff is part of the tranny we would have to put some serious $$$ into the car to change the gearing and to have it match the Front and rear... its better to add a supercharger kit..

Not to boil the water.. but if you want to get true performance be the 1st one to test out the Motodyne kit for 10k

ryoung

IMHO, a lower final drive with the TIP has little or no benefit. With the S8's 3.73 final drive in an A8, the only thing that would noticeable improve is time from 0-36 mph in 1st gear. But in 3+ years with my S8, I can still count on one hand the number of times I've accelerated on the street from a full stop at full throttle. On the track, 1st gear is not used at all!

Take a look at the table. That stair-stepping increase in speed-in-gear with the 6-speed manual is ideal. The TIP has a big problem, notice the step up? 4th gear is much too tall, rpm's fall, and it feels like a gear is missing. On the track, acceleration becomes glacial once you get into 4th gear in either an A8 or S8. Since I spend 95% of the time between 50 and 120 mph, I'd actually be better off with the A8's taller final drive!

The Bottom line: The gearing in the A8/S8's TIP is just plain wrong and, for all practical purposes, can't be fixed. I hope the engineer who chose these gears is suffering from chronic acne. We'd be much better off swapping to the 6-speed manual where gearing is near ideal.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/17157/speed-in-gear.jpg">

rmg

BMW that they would put more thought into the gearing and how it makes the car feel when accelerating.

Of course they need to put more feedback in the steering as well.

Gearing and steering are the key.

Great post.

rmg

ryoung

with it's additional 400+ lb of curb weight, acceleration still suffers.

I agree that the D2's steering is too light and needs better feedback; I haven't yet driven the D3.

skiwi

the lower 1st, and more even spread of ratios makes a convincing difference in acceleration times - circa 1 sec 0-60mph

skiwi

aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh - the "m" word!!!!!!!

bpower1

Motodyne... or you could have a witch bless your engine and chant some vodoo tranny prayers.

ryoung

The gearing shown for the S8's 6-speed manual should be close to making everyone happy.

1. 1st gear is low enough to insure good 0-60 times (not really a priority for me, but very important for auto magazine tests and bragging rights).

2. Top speed in 5th is 153 mph, close to the 155 mph electronic speed limiter.

3. 1st thru 5th are properly spaced.

4. All it needs is a taller 6th for relaxed cruising with good economy. Rather than 3000 rpm @ 77 mph, let revs fall to 2340 as with the A8's 5-speed TIP.

Audis or VWs 4Life

Wonder if they would cut up an A8....any brave doners?<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiconnection.com/5-speed_conversion.htm">http://www.audiconnection.com/5-speed_conversion.htm</a</li></ul>