[Joe_A]

I am leaning towards a Turbo 2LT RS vs the V6 just not sure on the transmission.
I have seen comments about the Automatic having some shuddering issues and banging
issues, would like to get input on overall experiences. I realize this is the place where complaints are going to show up on a forum like this, but do you have an A8 and wished you went M6 or just the opposite have the M6 and wished u went A8

Thank You

[Michigan1LTRS]

A8, love it. Absolutely no problems. If you are looking for limited slip differential, you will need to get the M6.

[Jason@JacFab]

I drove both an a8 and m6 before buying. I have noticed no issues like you mentioned. After driving both, I felt the a8 kept the engine in the power band more and overall felt spunkier. I hear the lag you feel between shifting gears in the manual can be defeated by no lift shifting, but I didn't try that on my test drive, and I don't feel that's something I would do myself if I had bought a manual...

I've been very happy with the a8, no regrets here.

[Ink28]

Test drive both if you can

[RedonBlackRS]

Right around 34,000 miles, my A8 started to shudder.
However, this was caused by an incident three months prior when a piece of road debris broke the return line from the auxiliary transmission cooler (Y4Q) and the trans ran mostly dry for about a day. The clutch packs for Reverse, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th eventually succumbed to the damage and caused the shudder. Everything was fixed under warranty and I've since put on 1,500 trouble-free miles.

[BomberCamaro]

Originally Posted by Jason@JacFab

I hear the lag you feel between shifting gears in the manual can be defeated by no lift shifting

Big time yes to this. The M6 feels completely different as far as staying in boost when you no lift shift. Being bone stock with only a CAI, the gear transition is so much smoother and picks right back up in the powerband where it left off. Plus, in a racing situation, it is a much faster shift. For instance, this weekend I raced a bolt on manual 2007 350Z, and I was a slight bit faster, but what really spread the gap was when he would shift he would be out of the gas long enough to drop back while my shifts were super fast. Keep in mind, I've only been driving manual for a little over a month. If you are well experienced, I'm sure you could perfect this even more.

[Corner carver]

I agree, drive both... I drove the A8 on test drives, but knowing there was no LSD (and the M6 has no lift shift) made the decision easy... (also just prefer the M6 for driving enjoyment).

I'll say the A8 is the sweetest auto I've ever personally driven, but for someone used to rowing his own there is still no comparison.

[BomberCamaro]

If you would like to see the no lift shifting in action, I made a quick video on it.

https://youtu.be/_NdCcb1sriQ

It's like the ECU uses a two step sort of program that prevents the RPMs from spiking during shifts as you can hear in the video. But no lift shifting certainly keeps the car in boost right out of a shift leagues better than a traditional shift.

[ChicagoTommy]

Manuals only impress high school boys. Automatics win drag races. Automatics don't mis-shift. Camaro's 8L45 transmission shifts faster than the Porsche PDK twin clutch used in the 911 Turbo. No human can shift faster than an Automatic. Autos and dual clutch transmissions are driving manuals out of the market. Tech moves on, and the manual trans is a relic of a bygone era. I'd swap in a manual diff and axles if you bought an A8 so you'd have LSD.

If you're into drag racing at all, I'd really like to see what kind of results can be had with an aftermarket torque converter. Our OEM torque converters are fairly loose from the factory, in that you can foot brake it to 3k RPM. However, an aftermarket converter with a higher STR and shorter shift extension should make a noticeable improvement in ET.

[BomberCamaro]

Originally Posted by ChicagoTommy

Manuals only impress high school boys. Automatics win drag races. Automatics don't mis-shift. Camaro's 8L45 transmission shifts faster than the Porsche PDK twin clutch used in the 911 Turbo. No human can shift faster than an Automatic. Autos and dual clutch transmissions are driving manuals out of the market. Tech moves on, and the manual trans is a relic of a bygone era. I'd swap in a manual diff and axles if you bought an A8 so you'd have LSD.

If you're into drag racing at all, I'd really like to see what kind of results can be had with an aftermarket torque converter. Our OEM torque converters are fairly loose from the factory, in that you can foot brake it to 3k RPM. However, an aftermarket converter with a higher STR and shorter shift extension should make a noticeable improvement in ET.

While yes, autos will always be faster than manuals, let's be honest here.. Even at 350-400whp are you really going to consider these an all out drag car and every tenth counts? My personal opinion is that I would much rather enjoy this car and have a manual since it won't be making an insane amount of power. My turbo 2002 Z/28 has a reverse manual valve body TH400 and should be running in the 9.x/14x mark when it has all of the kinks worked out. Definitely want an auto for that car. As for the I4T, I say enjoy it and feel a part of the car. For a fun daily, I will always be purchasing a manual over the slightly faster auto. Unless you are going for records, what is .2 or .3 at the track compared to hitting all of your shifts spot on with that big smile on your face

BUT, to each their own.

[Evil-Bee-NH]

You both make good arguments it's more of a preference thing.

[ChicagoTommy]

Originally Posted by BomberCamaro

While yes, autos will always be faster than manuals, let's be honest here.. Even at 350-400whp are you really going to consider these an all out drag car and every tenth counts? My personal opinion is that I would much rather enjoy this car and have a manual since it won't be making an insane amount of power. My turbo 2002 Z/28 has a reverse manual valve body TH400 and should be running in the 9.x/14x mark when it has all of the kinks worked out. Definitely want an auto for that car. As for the I4T, I say enjoy it and feel a part of the car. For a fun daily, I will always be purchasing a manual over the slightly faster auto. Unless you are going for records, what is .2 or .3 at the track compared to hitting all of your shifts spot on with that big smile on your face

BUT, to each their own.

See, that's always the argument for manuals. "Feel" and "Connection". What you're feeling and are connected to is SLOWER! Most people don't shift spot on, less know where or how far down to downshift. Hell, even less than that can properly heel/toe! Faster is always better, and hell yes, I'll gain every tenth I can get! I want a DD that I can take to the track and rip off some mid 11's passes then cruise it back home. Also, it depends where you live. I can't picture Shrieveport having much traffic, or at least not when compared to Chicago. It would be easier to just get out and walk home than to try to drive a manual through Chicago traffic!

[BomberCamaro]

Originally Posted by ChicagoTommy

See, that's always the argument for manuals. "Feel" and "Connection". What you're feeling and are connected to is SLOWER! Most people don't shift spot on, less know where or how far down to downshift. Hell, even less than that can properly heel/toe! Faster is always better, and hell yes, I'll gain every tenth I can get! I want a DD that I can take to the track and rip off some mid 11's passes then cruise it back home. Also, it depends where you live. I can't picture Shrieveport having much traffic, or at least not when compared to Chicago. It would be easier to just get out and walk home than to try to drive a manual through Chicago traffic!

I certainly don't have a counter argument against Chicago traffic, unless you count the fact that you will only have to work you right leg on leg day at the gym. Cutting those leg days in half, now that's shaving some real time off and you aren't even at the track!

[Joe_A]

Hi Thanks for all the great input so far