[rhinothatflies]

Hullo. I'm not aiming to open a discussion on which is 'better', but I'd like thoughts from the informed community on how the ZF8 sport automatic in the 2015 iterations of our prides and joy stacks up against a DCT, namely Audi's S-Tropic examples as those are ones I have experience with. Particularly in 'feel'. I thoroughly enjoyed my test drive but it was only a test drive and I don't know what *living* with it would be like. I'm leaving behind a VW GTI 1.8T 5MT.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by rhinothatflies

Hullo. I'm not aiming to open a discussion on which is 'better', but I'd like thoughts from the informed community on how the ZF8 sport automatic in the 2015 iterations of our prides and joy stacks up against a DCT, namely Audi's S-Tropic examples as those are ones I have experience with. Particularly in 'feel'. I thoroughly enjoyed my test drive but it was only a test drive and I don't know what *living* with it would be like. I'm leaving behind a VW GTI 1.8T 5MT.

Both are superb gearboxes, by any definition you would be hard pressed to find any flaws with driving.

The DCTs can occasionally have some stutter at very low speed as a result of the clutch, but overall they are great gearboxes.

The ZF8 has more gears and which is going to help overall fuel consumption and is simply a superb gearbox without any of the lag, hesitation, or clumsiness associated with a typical slushbox.

It's kind of like making a decision between 2 super models...you couldn't possibly go wrong.

[hyperzulu]

I have lived the past three years with the DCT in my 335is. That's all I can go off...

DCT is faster, shifts more brutally, more inspiring.

ZF8 is fast, shifts more smoothly, more intelligent in auto mode.


I like both transmissions. On a daily driver that will see 50/50 auto/manual, the ZF8 wins. For a track car, the DCT is faster and more inspiring to drive quickly.

[Cavpilot2k]

I am a MT-only dinosaur till I die, but when I test drove the M235 with the ZF8, I was supremely impressed. Hands down the best AT I have ever touched. I haven't driven a newer DCT (within the last 3 years) but I would say it shifts as fast as any but the best DCTs.

If you got it, you would not be disappointed.

[J-Sud]

IMO the BMW DCT is better than the Audi DCT. I had the Audi DCT in my TTS, i really disliked it. The only Audi DCT that is good, imo is the one in the newer R8 (the s-tronics as before they were R-tronics). The way the R8 shifts, feels and drives is COMPLETELY different from the standard Audi lines.

With that being said, I love the ZF8, reminds me of the 8-speed auto i had in my IS-F.

my .02

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

I have lived the past three years with the DCT in my 335is. That's all I can go off...

DCT is faster, shifts more brutally, more inspiring.

ZF8 is fast, shifts more smoothly, more intelligent in auto mode.


I like both transmissions. On a daily driver that will see 50/50 auto/manual, the ZF8 wins. For a track car, the DCT is faster and more inspiring to drive quickly.

[rhinothatflies]

Thanks for the input guys. The super model analogy is quite apt. As I said I was impressed with the ZF8 during my test drive. My whip is in 112 status, which according to my dealer, means it's about to hit the production line any minute now. I would have preferred the 6MT but need the AWD for work. It came down to the A3 2.0T Quattro (and it's S-Tronic) and the 228i X-Drive. It was a big change for me, as I'm a die hard VAG man, byt the 228i was Bond and the A3 was Sherlock Holmes. I also appreciated the a la carte options list. Couldn't get a conquest discount out of it though, despite my last three cars being: a '97 A4, a '05 GTI, and a '11 Tiguan.

[J-Sud]

Originally Posted by rhinothatflies

Thanks for the input guys. The super model analogy is quite apt. As I said I was impressed with the ZF8 during my test drive. My whip is in 112 status, which according to my dealer, means it's about to hit the production line any minute now. I would have preferred the 6MT but need the AWD for work. It came down to the A3 2.0T Quattro (and it's S-Tronic) and the 228i X-Drive. It was a big change for me, as I'm a die hard VAG man, byt the 228i was Bond and the A3 was Sherlock Holmes. I also appreciated the a la carte options list. Couldn't get a conquest discount out of it though, despite my last three cars being: a '97 A4, a '05 GTI, and a '11 Tiguan.

I had a 2003 GTI! loved that car

[hans007]

Originally Posted by J-Sud

IMO the BMW DCT is better than the Audi DCT. I had the Audi DCT in my TTS, i really disliked it. The only Audi DCT that is good, imo is the one in the newer R8 (the s-tronics as before they were R-tronics). The way the R8 shifts, feels and drives is COMPLETELY different from the standard Audi lines.

With that being said, I love the ZF8, reminds me of the 8-speed auto i had in my IS-F.

my .02

I'm fairly certain , the audi DCT on longitudinal applications is a different DCT.

its 7 speeds for one thing, the TT / GTI one is 6 speed.

for wahtever reason the BMW dct though gets pretty poor mpg. look at the EPA ratings on the z4 35i compared to a zf8 equipped car like a 335i.

i think a DCT would feel more direct, but i think in day to day driving i'd rather have a zf8. just feels smoother , and i think its a tradeoff even though theres obviously times the raw shift feeling would be nice too