5 Tips To Drive an E-Gear/R-Tronic and SAVE YOUR CLUTCH!

[@TheRustedGarage]

When I was looking at "sport shift" Aston Martins the suggestion was to never reverse the car going uphill because the reverse gear ratio was the same as second for some reason. Seems like something the Germans wouldn't do LOL

[@sgfreak96]

Wait I actually forgot to mention this! Reverse is also supposed to be avoided in this car! Not sure if the ratio is is similar, but everyone says to avoid it lol

[@TheRustedGarage]

@@sgfreak96 Id imagine it's best not to gas/brake it in reverse literally at all haha

[@TheConorMLife]

I just purchased a 2008 R8 about a month ago and I am SO GLAD I found this video!! Thank you!

[@sgfreak96]

Enjoy it!!! Mine was an 08 as well, I miss it so so much. R8s are probably the best “bang for buck” out there imo. Glad the video could help! One other tip is to avoid reversing up any hills. Reverse gear is pretty long and it usually slips the clutch a little in reverse before you get rolling; can cause unneeded wear and tear as well.

[@TheConorMLife]

@@sgfreak96 thank you! Totally agree. So much car for the money!! Ok, noted 🤙🏼

[@jschrauwen]

Spot on Chris on every aspect. The key point is to shift as if it were a manual which means not only gear selection but also the corresponding synchronized actions of lifting off of, and the pressing down on, the gas peddle.

[@sgfreak96]

Many thanks! And agreed, that is exactly how I drive. Hopefully this will help people out 🙂

[@shannonmerritt5808]

So when I'm on the floor with the accelerator I do not have to let off gas to shift?

[@Paiamk]

Great video! I owned a 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo for 2 years and at first I thought something was wrong with the gearbox. I am currently looking for a R8 and I have tested both the S-tronic and R-tronic. If you want comfort and a more modern driving experience, go for the S-tronic. Its an amazing gearbox. The R-tronic has a much more "mechanic" feeling and it requires more from you as a driver. Both can be used as a daily driver but the S-tronic is just so smooth and nice, it cant be compared to the R-tronic.

[@sgfreak96]

The s-tronic is insanely smooth, almost seamless shifting. Definitely agree the r-tronic is more mechanical feeling! I had an 04 gallardo and it was also surprisingly more rough than the 08 R8 I had. They definitely improved things on the R8!

[@A_Brion]

That's great to know man, I thought I'd be saving the car driving in not sport mode, sport mode is more fun so it's a win-win

[@sgfreak96]

Exactly, the car is best driven in sport and manually which is the most fun!

[@bespokefire3733]

Thanks for the video I'm getting one really soon and I want it to last as long as possible

[@desertwindauh]

Very informative, practical information. Thanks for sharing.

[@sgfreak96]

Very glad it helped!

[@Brendan521]

Great vid, like the panning shots of the interior!

[@sgfreak96]

Thanks!

[@jaymitchell2262]

Very helpful I think I'll just look for the slotted gearbox

[@UlolnaUlol]

I’m out here in Los Angeles and traffic is pretty bad. Would you recommend being in 1st gear the whole time in stop and go traffic?

[@sephiroth7023]

Hey great info! I just got a 2010 V10, this will definitely help!

[@sgfreak96]

Enjoy your car! Hope to have a V10 for my next one, either r8 or a gallardo. The r8 is just all around perfect!

[@123ELLIA]

Thanks for your video. It is help a lot thanks again. BTW, I do have a question about parking the R8. Which gear I need to engage before I ignition off? Cuz it always remind me to engage gear after ignition off.

[@sgfreak96]

Glad to help! You don't need to put the car in gear, it will just help keep the car from rolling if the parking brake fails. Just put the car into 1st gear when you shut the car off. The next time you turn the car on, it will put the car into neutral for you!

[@123ELLIA]

@@sgfreak96 very helpful. Enjoy your video. Hope more people can watch it

[@jalalalqazwini6435]

Thank you so much ... I just got R8 V10 r tronic and i was really worried something is wrong with shifting specially in first gear since it is not smooth at all but now i understand better about this gear thanks to you ... so i am thinking of doing some TCU tunning but they didn't recommend me and told me to not change anything with the factory stock tune 😓

[@sgfreak96]

Enjoy your car! In sport mode the car will be a little less smooth but it is better for the clutch. Who recommended not to do a TCU flash? I believe a flash will help sharpen the shifts a bit and improve on the stock programming of the car’s use of the clutch in general.

[@jalalalqazwini6435]

@@sgfreak96 They told me to visit audi agency since they already have the TCU upgrade but not to do it Elsewhere so i am kind of confused ! and is there any special tune programming for the TCU that you recommend ? I would be very glad 🙏🏻

[@sgfreak96]

@@jalalalqazwini6435 I have the UltimatePD TCU flash, if you google it you can find it. It comes with an obd2 flasher that you plug in. Directions are available online to DIY! Check out the r8talk forums as well, lots of people can advise you. Audi will always tell you not to do any tcu flashes but they have to for legal reasons.

[@jalalalqazwini6435]

@@sgfreak96 Thank you so much i really appreciate 🙏🏻

[@scottthecarguy8147]

@@sgfreak96 do you have a link to the tune?

[@VentiTimes]

Pretty interesting! Love the R8

[@sgfreak96]

Appreciate you checking it out!

[@LeeButtersnaps]

Great video, nice and informative.

[@sgfreak96]

Thank you!

[@aquarianuw]

Actually according to the Audi’s own R-tronic document, if the car is stationary and the brake is applied, the clutch is at the open position.

[@sgfreak96]

It will be disengaged, but by means of the throwout bearing, rather than true neutral. It’s like leaving your car in gear, and holding the clutch in, versus putting the car into neutral. True neutral will not wear your throwout bearing, and that is best practice to do.

[@KyleMorelli]

Great video! Quick question, how do you park your car? leave it in A (in gear) with handbrake or leave it in N with handbrake? any pros and cons?

[@sgfreak96]

Appreciate glad you liked it! I always park in 1st gear, and pull the handbrake. The car complains about potentially rolling away so I just do what it asks haha. Additionally, all my manual cars I owned prior I always parked in gear - just an extra layer of insurance of the car rolling. No damage is done doing this, unless say the car were towed while in gear.

[@ScapoloMichael]

Makes me wonder why the S Tronic wasn't available for the first gen. Tbe tech was already mature

[@sgfreak96]

Good question. Porsche introduced the pdk in 2009, and the R8 certainly could have benefited from a similar transmission.

[@paulorogeriosousa5920]

Excellente tips! Thanks

[@sgfreak96]

Glad to help!

[@usmc2141ilya]

I have been fascinated with the R8 first gen for a long time. I never really dove into the R-tronic and to find out that it is actually a manual transmission seems more appealing. I suppose it is a matter of time before getting used to shifting it like a manual and treating it as such. Now based on all of your suggestions on "preserving" the clutch, how do you quantify this? How often do these clutches need to be replaced if driven in "non-sport" mode vs doing everything to preserve the clutch. Just curious.

[@sgfreak96]

As you mentioned, it does take a little to get used to driving it as if its a manual. Not a hard learning curve if you know how to drive manual; as you said, treat it as such, and you will get the best experience. Expecting it to shift like a torque converter automatic, you would be super disappointed as its nothing like that at all. As far as clutch life, it truly depends on how the cars treated. Some people have 60-70k miles on original clutches, other people get less. Using the clutch as little as possible (avoiding stop and go traffic, avoid reversing up slopes, avoid starting on steep hills) in conjunction with the tips in this video will ensure the clutch is preserved as best as possible. If you actively tried to destroy the clutch and really beat on it you can probably still get 10k-20k miles out of it. Again thats if you’re actively trying to blow it up and destroy it lol. On r-tronic cars you can get a PPI at an audi dealer and they will tell you remaining clutch life on these cars using a parameter stored in the cars ecu/tcu.

[@bv122]

Thanks for nice video, question for r-tronic 2008 V8 can i put to N while rolling to red light? and if does can i engage gear from N "without gas of course" while still moving and continue drive or should stop fully and engage gear again? Thanks for info :)

[@sgfreak96]

I have done that plenty of times approaching a red light, going to neutral while rolling. You can re-engage into gear while rolling in neutral as well!

[@bv122]

@@sgfreak96 thanks for quick reply! while rolling re-engage gear by + be like 2nd gear and by - be like 1st gear? or r-tronic choose self 1st or 2nd depends on rolling speed on neutral?

[@sgfreak96]

@@bv122 I believe it is just based on speed, I believe it chooses the shortest/earliest gear it can within reason. It won’t put you in gear at like 7000rpm or anything, but it sometimes it’ll buck in around 4500rpm or so I’ve noticed. Other times it’ll put into a gear and be at 2500-3000 which is much calmer haha.

[@BJBK09]

Can you do a video on launch control with the R tronic clutch or explain how to do it. Thanks

[@sgfreak96]

Hi, I actually have since sold this car! I did not ever do launch control in mine - it is really hard on the clutch. My car had 0 launches in its entire life too, indicated with a ppi. Every launch you do is recorded by the car and there are records of it.

[@muriellealamelama1310]

@@sgfreak96 Did you sell it because of any lack of power or just had enough of the R8 ? 😉

[@hullkonis]

Thank you very much , I have been driven exactly opposite , all ready replace clutch. Unfortunately I have discover now some strange noice on the neutral gear something like bearing. The noice some time despair but the worst thing is when I try shift for first gear then engine turn off and car stuck. This only happens when car is longer then 5 min on the neutral . Maybe 🤔 you have some ideas what happened

[@sgfreak96]

If you hear noises in neutral it could be related to the throw out bearing, though I don’t think that would make any noise unless the car were holding the clutch in while it was in gear - for example, coming to a stop, leaving the car in first, and the car holds the clutch in manually.

[@TheRustedGarage]

great vid!

[@sgfreak96]

Thanks man!

[@Lordstarkng]

Great video, noticed bumps during gear shifts and also when in reverse, it shuts down when it attempts to move. Gearbox malfunctions … error also came up shortly after 😖

[@sgfreak96]

Sometimes disconnecting the battery for ten minutes and reconnecting it to the car can help. Resets the tcu/ecu so sometimes that can fix glitches if it is a small issue.

[@Lordstarkng]

@@sgfreak96 thank you! Would try that

[@Lordstarkng]

@@sgfreak96 did this but still the same thing, shuts down when in R, drive mode ok but there is this bump for every shift felt from the engine. Concluded the clutch might be bad 🤧

[@amandakemp4127]

Is it ok to drive in automatic? I feel like I could smell burning rubber after turning the car off.

[@sgfreak96]

Avoid automatic mode and shift with paddles. Sport mode is most important though. Burning rubber is an interesting smell, could be a sticking brake pad or something as well. Would def take it to a shop to get checked out it should be easy to see what is wrong.

[@rawcircoking]

So this should be done to all r tronic?

[@sgfreak96]

Yes, any owner of a car with an automated single clutch transmission should follow these steps

[@PwnageJ]

Wouldnt having sport on consume tons of fuel? and also letting it high rev at low speeds too?

[@sgfreak96]

Sport just changes how quickly it shifts, its more for transmission related settings. Sport would rev higher than normal mode, but only when in automatic and letting the car decide when to shift. Sport mode and manual mode together though, you are in full control. Hope this helps!

[@greathey1234]

An owner on a SportShift Aston Martin here. Shall I shift to N everytime I approach a speed hump? Thanks

[@sgfreak96]

Probably not needed for speed bumps, you can leave the car in gear no problem and roll over the bump 👍🏻

[@greathey1234]

@@sgfreak96 Because I had to change down 5 times I though shifting directly to N then to 1 should help reduce gear changes

[@justlofiit9406]

Could someone explain what A and N means I mean you can push the car on N but I don’t now what A means maybe drive? And how to stop that car I mean the parking thing is a button but what to shift on? N or A or what?

[@sgfreak96]

A is for automatic mode. N is for neutral. When parking the car, leave the car in 1st gear. Pull the e-brake up, and shut the car off. Leaving the car in gear when it is off is fine - it is a safety measure for manual cars, so it is impossible to roll away. Do not use A (automatic) if you are familiar with driving manually. Shift the gears manually with the paddles on the steering wheel, as the programming for A is pretty bad.

[@Ekaphlip]

I have a really bad time while using reverse, any tips for that?

[@sgfreak96]

What issues are you having?

[@Mycarisslow]

@@sgfreak96 I guess roll a bit, try to use brake whit half of your foot, or just left foot on the brake

[@Mo-zm6hq]

What color is your R8? Sold my 08 in June of 2020, its been down and up the East Coast since.... Good 5 years owned but the trans computer failed roadside and Audi warranty covered the $29k trans shipped via crate from Germany. Pretty sure I babied the R Tron from 20k to the 48k fail point. Sport button also failed to click, bad spring in button... Couldnt stand auto mode as it made all occupants bobble heads. Manual mode always... Same for traffic jams. Totally unbearable as you had to use 1st gear manual or suffer the auto 2nd gear lag. Have since moved to a 6MT R8, and escaped the City since covid19.

[@sgfreak96]

Hey, mine was Ice Silver Metallic. The car was in mint condition, truly an awesome car. Wish I’d kept it. Hoping to get a manual R8 soon. I’ve been through a few cars since the R8 and it’s still my favorite all around car I’ve owned.

[@Mo-zm6hq]

@@sgfreak96 mine was triple black. Now rocking Ibis on suede, silver blades. Final year 6MT, 2015 with Audi Fidelity plan

[@paulhenry2481]

I have an R8V10 with an R-tronic. The gear shifts are very clunky. Is that normal?

[@sgfreak96]

Hey Paul! I’d say not normal, but it depends, since I guess thats subjective. Do you have a video of the shifting? Feel free to add me on facebook or instagram @philadelphiaexotics. I can chat more with you there.

[@MrBellyman128]

How long should I expect this R-tronic transmission to last before needing a new clutch or be rebuilt?

[@sgfreak96]

Trans should not need rebuilding on any regular schedule, that is probably a super rare thing. Clutches all vary on how long they last, depends on how you drive. If you follow the steps in this video I don't see why an R8 clutch shouldn't last you 45-70k miles. I have seen people on oem clutches that long. Gallardo is usually less life, probably would be more like 30k-50k miles.

[@MrBellyman128]

@@sgfreak96 alright man, I think im going to sell my e92 m3 and get into a audi r8 v8. You talked me into it haha

[@sgfreak96]

@@MrBellyman128 test drive the r8 first. I think you will love it though. Similar power, same high revving v8 like an m3! Plus mid engine, awd, and obviously a very cool car. Enjoy and I hope you get one!

@@MrBellyman128 I'm going to do the exact same thing :D M3 is so fucking amazing but... it's not a supercar even if it comes very close in terms of performance. Happen to have it yet?

[@egeh.]

How to put it in "Park"

[@sgfreak96]

Put the car into first gear, and then pull up the parking break. Then turn the car off. It will keep the car in gear so it doesn’t roll. When you restart the car it will use the clutch to start and put the car back into neutral.

[@egeh.]

@@sgfreak96 so it's really like manual? Then I would prefer putting it in neutral thanks

[@ogmechsftw]

man, this is harder than driving an actual manual. I am definitely forking over the extra $ for the S-tronic...

[@preston4837]

💀💀 No it’s not

[@esthetics4512]

@@preston4837💯💯

[@ESISTTIGER]

Im poor i have no clue how i ended up on an R8 video telling me how to drive one 🙃

[@sgfreak96]

Dream big and never give up on it, you can get one!!!

[@someoneoutthere5383]

I got 60,000 miles I’m mine by doing these tactics.

[@sgfreak96]

Thats awesome mileage for sure!

[@jadrahbanicom]

Hi..How do you drive the R tronic in heavy traffic on flat roads and mountain hills roads..thanks

[@opteronprimext6867]

Thank you so much!

[@sgfreak96]

Glad to help!