Driving the A6 in 'S' mode
04-16-2011, 10:17 PM
#1
Driving the A6 in 'S' mode
Relative newbie here, so this has probably been asked before, but... Will it hurt my A6 to run it in 'S' mode most of the time (except on the Interstate)? It just seems to shift more smoothly, and quicker, than in 'D' mode. I always use it and paddle shift when I'm caught in the regularly occurring traffic jams here in the Washington area. Thanks.
04-16-2011, 10:54 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jun 2009
Location: Naperville/Palm Beach IL/FL
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Relative newbie here, so this has probably been asked before, but... Will it hurt my A6 to run it in 'S' mode most of the time (except on the Interstate)? It just seems to shift more smoothly, and quicker, than in 'D' mode. I always use it and paddle shift when I'm caught in the regularly occurring traffic jams here in the Washington area. Thanks.
then 
04-16-2011, 10:59 PM
#5
Racer
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: Texas Hill Country Texas
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I read that GM retuned the A6 in 2010 so it shifted a lot better. I keep hearing from most people that the A6 is poorly tuned, but most of those seem to be <2010 models. I'm sure a tune would help even a 2010+, but I'd like to hear from 2010/2011 GS owners who tuned how much of a difference it really makes.
04-16-2011, 10:59 PM
#6
Team Owner
Drove mine in "S" mode all the time, both in town and on the interstate. Hardly ever used the paddles. Still got 28.0 to 28.5 MPG on the interstate at 75 MPH.
04-16-2011, 11:10 PM
#7
Race Director
Just leave it in S and don't touch the paddles unless you plan on using them. While I admit that the A6 isn't as good as some auto manuals out there today, it probably doesn't cost near as much as say Porsches PDK.
04-16-2011, 11:11 PM
#8
Instructor
I drove my 06 almost exclusively in S mode, for 3 years (3 driving seasons) in Germany. I drove it very, very hard for 20,000+ miles and it never failed me.
