when was the last time you stalled?
 

forgive me for sounding stupid but been driving this car for a couple months now, and every now-and-then i stall at red lights :( probably like 1 once every couple weeks i do this.

anyway, sometimes 1st gear is tricky does anyone have tips? how can i smoothly 'launch' this animal..

i think sports mode makes it a little harder too, but i love having it on.

i drove stick plenty of times in the past but nothing with 400+ hp so i think having all this power makes it more tricky..

Re: when was the last time you stalled?
 

Just give it steady but very little gas as u let go of the clutch

If you are on level ground and let out the clutch slowly you don't need to give it ANY gas
 

I think the RS4 runs better when driven a bit harder. A little more gas when starting and higher RPM's when shifting.

2nd...
 

my problem hasn't really been stalling, but it has been shifting gears smoothly especially from 1st to 2nd. the rs4 takes a bit to get use to. the higher rpm changes are smooth- its the lower end that is tricky for me.

try letting go of the clutch a bit slower (like sparkhill suggests). good luck...

1985

turn down the music if you can't hear the engine, I roll off in 2nd in slow traffic.

Is there a slight incline where you stall?
 

Pay attention to the sound and RPMs. You might be able to launch fine on flat surface without gas but you need to give gas on hills. If you see the RPMs fall fast below 900, give more gas. Good luck!

Listening to Duran Duran, in your too tight acid-washed jeans, wearing Wayfarers...

no, that was 1984.
 

1985 was the Scritti Politti phase.

Same here. 2nd for anything other than a complete standstill.