09 A4s - NO Manual Gearbox!
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while it might make direct accounting sense, i'd argue they're throwing out the "sporty" image audi has made such a vast effort trying to build up. just like most sports cars are produced and sold at break-even or losses, it helps distinguish the company and assists the sales of their mass produced "standard" cars.
if audi wants to compete with BMW, they have to get with the program and recognize the importance of those few "sporty" drivers driving around in manual versions of their hot cars, which in turn influence people around them to purchase similar cars
if audi wants to compete with BMW, they have to get with the program and recognize the importance of those few "sporty" drivers driving around in manual versions of their hot cars, which in turn influence people around them to purchase similar cars
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if they are migrating what used to be 'stick' performance models to the dsg or equivalent i can understand why....more profits, equal or better performance and efficiency. just eliminating a manual tranny for a 'normal' automatic doesn't make sense to me, not for high end models anyway.
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Price of the new cars are probably going up so by cutting down on choice and pre-determining production of units that will sell the manufacturers are cutting costs to remain profitable. Manufacturers are in business to stay in business not provide everyone with better choices (only free market competition can do that).
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Manuals are going to be back in the A4 in the spring. They just don't have any of the B8's now...
That said, there has been a lot of talk about offering the S only with the DSG gearbox, but I think they will come to their senses. The S/RS are performance cars that aim at a market which supports 6MTs.
That said, there has been a lot of talk about offering the S only with the DSG gearbox, but I think they will come to their senses. The S/RS are performance cars that aim at a market which supports 6MTs.
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-Ray
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Bad move...
I think getting rid of the traditional manual is just an overall bad idea. I mean as neat as these DSG trans's are I wouldn't be caught dead owning one after the warranty is up. That and in my daily commute I like dropping into neutral and coasting when traffic slows down, can't do that with the quasi-manuals. And frankly I'm just a fan of paddling my own canoe 
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