Automatic - Multitronic Views

[John140]

I am looking to get an A4 Automatic in the new year to replace my 07 plate A4.
I have a couple of questions :-
I am looking at 2.0TDI models non-Quattro so I assume these will be Multitronic.

What are peoples views experiences on this transmission in terms of reliability and useability etc ?

I have had automatics in the past (albeit the old torque convertor/4 speed box types) and whilst 'nice', these could make the car thirsty round town.

[pitch3110]

Hi John,

Search the B8 section you will find several threads on the multi box.

My previous motor was a manual B7 S line 140 TDI and although a great car, this one is head and shoulders above it in every department.

If you are thinking of an auto and the devils fuel, then DO IT, you will not be disapointed.

The multi box is very relaxing on our traffic choaked roads and when you want some fun flip into 'M' and you have 8 ratio's to play with flipping up and down. Its great fun.

Economy.......is not going to be as a manual, but I reg see mid to upper 40's and 50 something is not unseen on runs. Having said this in the cold weather we are having it is shocking with only mid to upper 30's.

Would I have another multi???????????.......without a doubt and I would be hard pushed to return to manual in a car of this ilk. The wifes car is a different kettle of fish and boot on the other foot with that, 'M' all the way. Its horses for courses.

There are several others on here with this box and I am sure they will be along soon.

Ta
Pitch

[2.7 S-line]

Very happy with mine - by far best auto I've driven
Suits the Low revving torquey 2.7 perfectly when I have driven 2.0 multis i found the box too keen to try to keep the revs low

This didn't seem to suit the 2.0 tdi which to me drove better when revved more

[golfgt140]

Hi John

I agree with the above posts- the multi is such a great gearbox. So relaxing to drive, yet great fun whether you want to play with the manual gears (or paddles) or rake the ar*se out of it in sport.

The economy seems to be pretty good also, in comparison to other auto boxes.

IMO- do it you will love it!

You mentioned reliability- I haven't had the car long enough to comment but the general word on this gearbox is that it is good. My next service (2nd) is a big one for the multi box, and will cost £4-500 if done through the dealer.

As someone who would like to re-map at some point, having the multi box is something that would make me think twice. I guess I'd need big reassurances from the re-mapper that the box could handle it without excessive wear & tear.

I'd love to hear from high mileage B8 multi drivers also!

[Zafi]

I have had my 2.0 143 A4 multitronic for about 6 weeks. I had had proper auto in the past.

Its weird how it just glides forwards, getting faster and faster yet no steps in the revs. Reversing is a bit hit and miss, seems to take a fair bit of revs to get the clutch to engage, so that last foot towards a wall is a bit scary, especially up hill.....

In freezing mornings I put it in S mode to make it rev a bit more, it warms up quicker that way.

I get just above 40 mpg doing my 30 mile free flowing A and B road commute, mid 40s on a 100 mile motorway run, but its still tight as its only done 14k

[vwawudi]

I love mine!

[adrianwalker]

I am looking to get an A4 Automatic in the new year to replace my 07 plate A4.
I have a couple of questions :-
I am looking at 2.0TDI models non-Quattro so I assume these will be Multitronic.

What are peoples views experiences on this transmission in terms of reliability and useability etc ?

I have had automatics in the past (albeit the old torque convertor/4 speed box types) and whilst 'nice', these could make the car thirsty round town.


I have the 2.0TDI multitronic Avant and it is a very smooth and relaxing drive. If you gently put your foot down it goes faster as the revs stay the same! Engage sports mode and it will hit 50/60/70/80 quite quickly. If you haven't ever had an auto ask your local Audi dealer for an extended test drive, 24hrs or so.


It is no thirstier around car that a manual.

[pitch3110]

Very happy with mine - by far best auto I've driven
Suits the Low revving torquey 2.7 perfectly when I have driven 2.0 multis i found the box too keen to try to keep the revs low

This didn't seem to suit the 2.0 tdi which to me drove better when revved more

Good comment and yes the 2.0TDI is eager to 'rev out' and you need to do this to gain pace.

For me the car certainly does not feel under-powered for the box and IMO it does suit the box.
Having said this wifeys ED30 Golf is 230PS (without the tweak!!) and it does feel like driving in treacle when I jump back into the A4, but then I think most things would as the golf is a proper fast car given its power and light weight.

2.7 is the only engine I have not driven in the range......must give it ago..

Ta
Pitch

[Mclucker]

Hmm, I have a 1.8T auto but it is a CVT box, not a multitronic.

[pitch3110]

Hmm, I have a 1.8T auto but it is a CVT box, not a multitronic.

Hi mate

If it's a B8 and FWD it will be CVT box know by Audi as Multironic.

Pitch
Oh and Happy Christmas.

[adrianwalker]

Hmm, I have a 1.8T auto but it is a CVT box, not a multitronic.

CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and is the technology that Audi in the Multitronic

[Ardy]

Love my multi - soooo relaxing to drive but if you want the fun either push the stick over to manual shift or use the paddles. Defo suited to the larger engines - effortless driving. Only experience of smaller ones was the the 143 multi which after this seemed under powered.

As far as reliability goes couldn't say only been 6 months or so. Warranty is my friend!

Oh and i think paddles only come on sline? - just to know.

[pitch3110]

CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and is the technology that Audi in the Multitronic

arrrrrrrrrrrrrr............an echo.
As per my previous post.

Ta
Pitch

[pitch3110]

Love my multi - soooo relaxing to drive but if you want the fun either push the stick over to manual shift or use the paddles. Defo suited to the larger engines - effortless driving. Only experience of smaller ones was the the 143 multi which after this seemed under powered.

As far as reliability goes couldn't say only been 6 months or so. Warranty is my friend!

Oh and i think paddles only come on sline? - just to know.


Agreed the 2.0TDI is sh#te and under powered.....:confused:

Trust me John, it comes down to what you are use to. If you are coming from a 140 B7 you will not find the 143 underpowered (see my previous post).

Jumping from my 230PS Golf GTI into a 2.0T q A4 the A4 felt slow.
It would be easy for me to state 'the 2.0T A4 is under powered'........but it defo is not.

Every day commute the 143 is fine and relaxed, but if you want a fast sure fotted auto drive get a 3.0TDI S-Tronic. That is a real beast.

Ta
Pitch

[Ardy]

not quite sure what the quoting my post and then stating 'agreed its ***** and underpowered' followed by question marks is suppose to mean, but just to eliminate any confusement i did indicate that its related to what you are coming from / used too that will dictate weather or not it seems 'underpowered'. In no way did i suggest *****...

hiho

[adrianwalker]

arrrrrrrrrrrrrr............an echo.
As per my previous post.

Ta
Pitch

Sorry, forgot to press the submit button for a few hours after typing.

Hope you had a good Xmas

[Hillbeley]

I have put 62,000 miles on my 2.0T in 18 months. long term MPG is 31.3, I have never achieved 40mpg even on the slowest commute. 'box is fine, I did think it was failing when it started to vibrate badly and the warning light came on but it was misfiring on 2 cylinders (plug failures according to Audi).
I like the box/ engine combo, not as good as the DSG/3.2V6 I used to drive, but is a better package than the DSG/2.0TDI in my wife's A3 Sline.

[pitch3110]

Understood chaps and aplogies for my turseness.

Sporting and Christmas Day hangover and elements of the family are stretching my patience.

Happy New Year and Good will to all men (espes those with B8 A4's)

Ta
Pitch

[daffs]

Its weird how it just glides forwards, getting faster and faster yet no steps in the revs. Reversing is a bit hit and miss, seems to take a fair bit of revs to get the clutch to engage, so that last foot towards a wall is a bit scary, especially up hill.....


I thought was just me, I agree reversing uphill is not easy. Then when you've got it started it shoots off at speed.

Otherwise find the auto box just fine.

Did take quite a bit of getting used to. At first on motorways I'd glance down to see I was doing 90+ then othertimes 60- and it felt & sounded just the same!
Got it under control now.

With care I get nearly 50 mpg on a 10 mile journey (mostly country roads to/from work).

[adrianwalker]

I thought was just me, I agree reversing uphill is not easy. Then when you've got it started it shoots off at speed.

Otherwise find the auto box just fine.

Did take quite a bit of getting used to. At first on motorways I'd glance down to see I was doing 90+ then othertimes 60- and it felt & sounded just the same!
Got it under control now.

With care I get nearly 50 mpg on a 10 mile journey (mostly country roads to/from work).

What's you experience of driving it in manual? I find that it revs so fast you are always changing gear and because the engine is so quiet you have to watch the rev counter too much. To take it out of manual I just pop the gear selector over to the left and then back to the right.

[pitch3110]

In 'M' what's your preference, stick or paddles chaps?

Normal driving it's nice at times to have a hand on a lever, but there is something nice about flicking the paddles when B road flinging (Within legal limits of course).

Agree on the left/right lever thing AW.

Pitch

[adrianwalker]

In 'M' what's your preference, stick or paddles chaps?

Normal driving it's nice at times to have a hand on a lever, but there is something nice about flicking the paddles when B road flinging (Within legal limits of course).

Agree on the left/right lever thing AW.

Pitch

Def the paddles, its much quicker

[stinkerpuffit]

We had a 56 plate A4 2.0tdi 140bhp SE with multitronic ... it regularly did 40+ mpg and 50 mpg on a long run and it never let us down once, the 7 speed gearbox very smooth and the sport mode changed all the gears more quickly when you needed that little bit of oompf .... We had it from new for 3 years and when we sold it it had 140k miles on the clock ..... amazing car !!!!!!!!! :-)

[adrianwalker]

We had a 56 plate A4 2.0tdi 140bhp SE with multitronic ... it regularly did 40+ mpg and 50 mpg on a long run and it never let us down once, the 7 speed gearbox very smooth and the sport mode changed all the gears more quickly when you needed that little bit of oompf .... We had it from new for 3 years and when we sold it it had 140k miles on the clock ..... amazing car !!!!!!!!! :-)


What have you replaced it with?

[daffs]

What's you experience of driving it in manual?

I'm very boring, I hardly ever do.

[golfgt140]

Me neither, I find it difficult! I must be a cr*p driver! After reading posts by others I always feel inspired to have another go, 5 mins later I'm back in D!

I find the paddles tricky enough, and the stick downright impossible to use.

When wanting a bit of fun I always use S.

Wish there was a way to force the car into 2nd or 3rd for snow.

[GolferPete]

golfgt140

I find myself100% in agreement with you. When cornering and trying to use the flappy paddles, I find it very difficuly to locate the correct paddle! Is it just me?

[adrianwalker]

golfgt140

I find myself100% in agreement with you. When cornering and trying to use the flappy paddles, I find it very difficuly to locate the correct paddle! Is it just me?

As you come into the corner, change down (left paddle), accelerate then change up as you exit the corner as the revs go up towards 4K