Overall I'm very happy with the A8 - upshifts are smooth, and satisfying, power is always there .
However I am a bit concerned with the downshifts, especially when either laying off the gas completely and coming to a complete stop, or slowly letting off the gas .
A bit surprised at just how much you can feel the downshifting . There is no knock or anything like that, but you can definitely feel the transmission lurching slightly
So that If you let go of the gas, the car never comes to a complete stop in a totally smooth manner, but instead will coast and downshift several times to a stop .
I know that in some ways it is a characteristic of this particular transmission, I'm just not sure how much is normal.
Same. It's normal. Can't remember where I read it now but the A8 has a downshifting pattern that gives you some amount of engine braking. It will be more (noticeable) in Sport or Track mode but I notice it in all three modes. There's a lot to get used to with this A8. It operates and feels more like a manual. But once you get used to it, you'll love every aspect of it. I personally like the fact that it engine brakes a bit. Saves the brakes a little... and reduces brake dust.
Come to think of it, it'd be nice to have a "A8 operational characteristics" thread or something, because I suspect people who aren't used to this type of transmission are going to have all sorts of questions about whether this or that are normal. I know I did. Even just the sheer number of gears and when/how it shifts is a bit strange at first, as is how the transmission "learns" when/how to shift over time.
Same. It's normal. Can't remember where I read it now but the A8 has a downshifting pattern that gives you some amount of engine braking. It will be more (noticeable) in Sport or Track mode but I notice it in all three modes. There's a lot to get used to with this A8. It operates and feels more like a manual. But once you get used to it, you'll love every aspect of it. I personally like the fact that it engine brakes a bit. Saves the brakes a little... and reduces brake dust.
Come to think of it, it'd be nice to have a "A8 operational characteristics" thread or something, because I suspect people who aren't used to this type of transmission are going to have all sorts of questions about whether this or that are normal. I know I did. Even just the sheer number of gears and when/how it shifts is a bit strange at first, as is how the transmission "learns" when/how to shift over time.
First time I "dipped" into the throttle a bit, I thought for a second the engine was missing out....then I realized it's just shifting thorough the gears quickly.
I mentioned the same thing under the SP thread and a few of us are experiencing the same thing. I am a little worried as well, I've never had a car downshift so hard. Has anyone driven a jeep with this 8 speed? If so does it downshift hard? I'm more worried about the long-term durability.
What mode are you in? In Street mode, it just feels like a gentle increase in RPM and some deceleration. In Sport/Track it's more noticeable but I wouldn't personally call any of them "hard" or violent. In Street mode, if I was a passenger and had my eyes closed, it'd feel exactly like someone who is very good/smooth with the clutch downshifting a manual transmission normally.
Glad I'm not the only one who is experiencing this.
I'm already feeling myself "getting used" to the A8's behavior, however I rather not get used to it if the behavior is not normal .
Looking online at other Chrysler applications of the same transmission, people mention very similar downshifts especially in other LX's - Charger, 300 .
It's definately abrupt when it's still in 2nd gear around 5mph and it's coasting to a stop or your lightly braking down to 0 and right when it clicks into 1st gear it just very... hard. I don't mind it really and it doesn't bother me enough. If anything it's clicking in firm and not slipping which means it should be reliable.
It's definately abrupt when it's still in 2nd gear around 5mph and it's coasting to a stop or your lightly braking down to 0 and right when it clicks into 1st gear it just very... hard. I don't mind it really and it doesn't bother me enough. If anything it's clicking in firm and not slipping which means it should be reliable.
Why would this have a negative impact on the trans? When driving a manual you would downshift in the same way, wouldn't you?
I guess since this is my first MUSCLE car, I really like how it downshifts. It makes it feel more like a manual. Hell, when I drive it in Manual mode, I downshift as well. Should I not be doing that?
Only time I will manually downshift while in manual mode is to pass someone. If I'm in 8th gear, a quick double tap of the downshift paddle will put me in 6th and give me plenty of passing power. But when I'm slowing down for a stop I'll let the car do it's thing.
I think so. I have to say, today I paid more attention and I can get it to "lurch" at times. It has so many gears at the lower speeds that if you are going say 35-45 mph and you're in some traffic and have to be on/off the gas a little to adjust to traffic flow, it does occasionally lurch a bit if you happen to change throttle position just as it has decided to kick down/up. It's just not something us A5 (or M6) guys might be used to. All the gears might make it seem like it is "hunting" sometimes. But for me, if I just coast down with my foot off the gas, the downshifts are rev-matched and super smooth. The only time I get a lurch is if I decide to feather the throttle back up at just the wrong time, say when it has just decided to rev match and down shift at the same time.
Of course, all of that can be avoided by going manual and using the paddles. I honestly didn't even notice it until I was driving today while thinking about this thread and started to pay more attention to the downshifts. I can see how it might be disconcerting until you get used to it but I don't think it's any indication of a problem.
I like the fact that it holds gears for a while when decelerating, it gives it the feel of a manual holding it in a gear, however that isn't the feeling I was talking about. This was more of a harsh shift, probably nothing from the sounds of it. I could care less if it shifts hard as long as it isn't indicative of future issues.
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