Moving from a MT to a Tiptronic or DSG - do you miss the clutch footexercise?

I currently drive a 99 pasat wagon, 1.8T, 5spd MT, after 198K miles it's
time to think about what I going to drive next.

Jumping up to a quatro is very appealing to me, the price for a new a4q
is not applealing to my wife, and the short supply does help me to beat
the dealer down.

So looking at a a3 quatro, or possibly previoulsy owned cars.

On the a3 I'd wind up with v6 (more engine than I think I need in that
car) and DSG and a price right around what I'd pay for a a4q.

Looking at previously owned cars - a dealer has a certified '03 with
leather int., 36K miles 1.8T. NADA says this car will be right around
$23K definetly in the ballpark for my wife.

My first question is for people that have moved from a MT to either DSG
or tiptronic.
Do you miss the left foot excerise?
Do you feel the entire Audi expierence is lacking in either of these
configurations?

Second question is more general. My gut feel is the minor but still
noticable turbo lag of the 1.8T combined with an automatic transmission
makes for a less than optimal driving expierence.
Is my gut correct?
Is the combination of the 1.8T and the tiptronic a good one?

Thanx, Jack

The message >
from Jack Lowry > contains
these words:

> My first question is for people that have moved from a MT to either DSG
> or tiptronic.
> Do you miss the left foot excerise?

I have my first (ordinary) automatic, though I've driven autos on and
off for years, and I've love it. Don't miss gears at all. Much more
relaxing than having to row the car down the road.

--
Skipweasel
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes.

"Jack Lowry" wrote
> Second question is more general. My gut feel is the minor but still
> noticable turbo lag of the 1.8T combined with an automatic transmission
> makes for a less than optimal driving expierence.
> Is my gut correct?

That is the conclusion that I came to after driving a B5 A4 1.8Tqm and 1.8Tq
Tip back to back. There was noticeably less power, and the gear shifting
was noticeably delayed when in Tip mode (that can be fixed to an extent with
a tip chip).


> Is the combination of the 1.8T and the tiptronic a good one?

Good for what? If you like spirited driving and are a control freak (like I
am), then no. If you don't feel like lifting your left leg, then it's OK.
It just doesn't feel sporty, at least to me. I was coming off of a V6
Accord auto, and I was bored to death with its transmission, so getting a
manual 1.8T was an easy choice for me.

Pete