Driving Styles........
 

One of the hottest topics on here is the transmission's foibles. I have now had 4 of ZFs finest on 3 8s. None have failed, all have performed flawlessly. Except the one I kicked back onto the TC and broke the oil pump!

We talk about servicing as the only variable in the transmissions life, but I have got to thinking about driving styles. So I thought I would run a little poll to see how we all use our transmissions.

I always drive in Tip; and I use engine breaking at all times to reduce brake wear, with the exception of spirited track and private B roads runs. I will change down through the gears long before I would need to brake for junctions or lights and see it as a point of honor to not put my brakes on until I'm in 1st.

This means my transmission valve body is getting a good workout all the time and I wonder if that's why I have had no problems.

Thoughts?

Mix of D and tip for me with brakes for braking - must admit it is VERY rare for me to use anything other than D unless I'm on a country road and will then use S to keep the engine on the boil.

Tip is basically for playing silly buggers with slower cars when I want to make a point :ROFL: like blowing the Cooper S into the weeds that was climbing all over the back of the car through a 30 so stuck it in tip and 2nd gear to show him how a proper car accelerates :D

Not sure any of this makes a difference to gearbox life unless you spend all your time cooking the gearbox oil with left foot braking, aggressive launches etc etc

Big difference with mine after the gearbox oil was changed was how sweet the box felt and smoother changing between D and R

Mostly tip as I can switch in higher gear sooner and keep in higher gear for longer making engine work at lower revs this has improved mpg by 1-2 mpg on short local runs. It also allows to preselect lower gear saving time on downshifts when flooring. I do use engine braking selecting lower gears but combined with brakes in all gears not like Mike only using brakes in 1st gear.

You have missed my driving style out ...........lead stiletto flattened to the floor at all times ;)

Tend to leave in D to be honest.
Every now and then I will use the tip but not often.

So far (touch wood) no issues with the 'box+++

The RS6 is currently my daily driver, and when I'm going to work I just 'pootle' along, but I am constantly putting it in a higher gear using tip as it can comfortably cruise in 4th when the computer is deciding that it should be in third, ideally I would like it in fifth but the TCU won't allow it. I use sport mode in country lanes for when you slow down for a corner, the car is holding the revs just right for when you put your foot down again. But most of the time it is in D with me giving it some assistance now and again, very occasionally I'll use tip to go down a gear when overtaking someone, but there is so much torque from the twin turbos I hardly ever need too, and kick down works fine too.

Strangely I drive the 8 mostly in D then use tiptronic when on a fun a or b road or when overtaking, whereas in the 7 I use sport mode a lot of the time and drive mode in London traffic etc, and more rarely the paddles, but you can use the paddles at any time to over- ride either S or D mode and then it reverts back to that particular mode when it decides you've stopped using the paddles regularly +++

Boxster does this too, much better IMO, think the D3 does this as well

All Audis with the [S]ports mode on the box will let you use the paddles without first going into tip mode - So late D2's, all D3's, RS6's etc +++

I tend to leave the stick in D. On the odd occasion, I'll use S to overtake a long line of automobile, or with the stick in D, use the Tip paddles to drop a cog or two.