What design features do you wish the A/S8 had?

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

I’ve had more time to think and I’ve got a couple more.

1) I wish the D2 came with a 6 speed auto box ( forgetting manual transmission for now) the gearing is so long on the 5 speed I feel it hampers the cars performance. Closer ratios would be lovely. Is it possible to fit one from a D3?

Do you mean the in-between gears? I find 5th too low and revvy on the motorway and wish it had a 6th for cruising. The S8 is lower geared than the A8s in order to make it quicker, but closer ratios with a slightly higher 6th would be nice. Interestingly, the 6-speed manual does actually have closer ratios - 6th on that is the same as 5th on the auto, but Goran put a TDI 6th in his for better cruising.

In the TDI 6-speed I'm using for the manual swap 1-5 are about the same as the auto 1-5, plus 6th for cruising. That should be an interesting setup. I also have a B5 S4 6-speed for the biturbo project which is a fair bit lower than even the original S8 'box.

The D3 6-speed won't work as it has a completely different architecture to the D2 5-speed, with the front diff in between the engine and torque converter. The 6HP19 is similar to the 5HP24, but probably wouldn't take the torque even if you could figure out the electronics.

[RICKY D]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Do you mean the in-between gears? I find 5th too low and revvy on the motorway and wish it had a 6th for cruising. The S8 is lower geared than the A8s in order to make it quicker, but closer ratios with a slightly higher 6th would be nice

I want both. Closer ratio for better acceleration/drivability around town, and a longer 6th gear for cruising.

It’s like the D2 has the worst of both. It reminds me of my old Golf VR6 which had rediculously long gearing which they addressed when the MK4 4 motion and R32 came along along. Never driven a D3 but I’m assuming the ratios are closer to what I’m wanting.

[tonupkid]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

I want both. Closer ratio for better acceleration/drivability around town, and a longer 6th gear for cruising.

It’s like the D2 has the worst of both. It reminds me of my old Golf VR6 which had rediculously long gearing which they addressed when the MK4 4 motion and R32 came along along. Never driven a D3 but I’m assuming the ratios are closer to what I’m wanting.

They make what your asking for. Its called D3 S8

[RICKY D]

Originally Posted by tonupkid

they make what your asking for. Its called d3 s8 :rofl:

lmao :rofl:

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by tonupkid

They make what your asking for. Its called D3 S8

I like the S8 gearing but I'd like a "longer" 6th gear for motorways, it always feels like it's constantly "ready to go" when in top gear. First five gears ala Sport mode and a 6th that drops the revs down to less than 2000rpm at the legal limit would be my ideal scenario

[RICKY D]

Interesting - so what rpm is the D3 S8 at @ 70mph? From memory the D2 is about 2700 to 2800 I think!

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

Interesting - so what rpm is the D3 S8 at @ 70mph? From memory the D2 is about 2700 to 2800 I think!

Around the same from memory, too high for my liking. The D2 I had felt like more of a cruiser than the D3, despite having one gear less.

[Audidothat]

Originally Posted by RICKY D

Interesting - so what rpm is the D3 S8 at @ 70mph? From memory the D2 is about 2700 to 2800 I think!

2400rpm @ 70mph in 6th gear - confirmed last night on the M4.

[27litres]

Originally Posted by Audidothat

2400rpm @ 70mph in 6th gear - confirmed last night on the M4.

That's not too bad, but it really depends on where the sweet spot for fuel economy is on that engine. A compromise has probably been made in the name of performance, just like the D2.
For perspective my old Holden 5L V8 (165kW/385Nm vs S8 V10 331kW/540Nm for same capacity!) used to pull approx 1975rpm at 70mph (based on 1750rpm at 100kmh/62mph), however as it's Speedo read considerably fast (9% - typical GM), this figure can't be read as gospel!
To be fair, there was a lot more to be had from the Holden engine as that was a conservative tune (HSV tuned it to 215kW/411Nm in the VN Group A homologation special, which would be the version with which to compare to the S8 engine - respectable torque, but both figures still beaten by a D2 S8 4.2...)

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by Audidothat

2400rpm @ 70mph in 6th gear - confirmed last night on the M4.

Oops, I'm obviously confusing 80 for 70 again, sorry officer