RE: Transmission reliability?

[David Eaton <David.Eaton@COMPUTERLAND.CO.NZ>]

as far as i understand it, there were 2 distinct 's' model tranmissions.
 the original s2 (1991) can out with a transmission based on the
stregnthened (80 series) coupe transmission.  this was the end of the
(famed) 016 tranmission from the quattro.  the s4 transmission (which
continued until 1994), was not (imho) ome of audi's best.  it was no
great improvement on the 016 and was supposed to be more fragile (esp in
high hp applications).  i had a 1993 s2 and, although the transmisison
gave me no problems over 3 years, it was relatively slow and baulky.

audi rectified the problems with the 6-speed transmission which i
understand was a ground up new design.  this was fitted from 1994 on.
my rs2 also has one, so audi clearly think that it can handle high hp
applications without any problems.  it is a much, much better piece of
work, and shifts like a switch.  it still has that 'quattro' heaviness
which makes fast changes a matter of timing and muscle, but it is a very
nice box.  now if i could get the 6-speed into my ur-quattro.....

i'm didn't think that the 6-speed ever made it to the usa.

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

>-----Original Message-----
>
>Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 10:59:02 -0800
>From: John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>
>Subject: Re: '91 200 and '92 S4 trannies
>This is the gossip I've heard from reliable sources:  The S4 in Europe has
>a 6 speed transmission.  Our cars here have a 5 speed.  This is because the
>EPA doesn't (or didn't) have fuel economy testing standards that accounted
>for this transmission.  I've heard that their doctrine mandates that the
>fuel economy ratings are done in a certain gear(s) and because of this the
>Audi 6-speed transmission was penalized or stood to be penalized for not
>meeting some fuel mileage standard.
>