I guess I could have posted this elsewhere but I figured this would create more feedback since the 6spd owners frequent here more often. My buddy is on the verge of purchasing a 06 Audi S4 6spd and he had me test drive it since this will be his first 6spd. I noticed immediately that the gear box on the S4 seemed really unresponsive and sluggish compared to our 6spd. The clutch also seemed sluggish. Maybe I'm too biased or uniformed but I just love the feel of our 6spd. It just feels more responsive and smooth compared to the S4. Is that how most of the 6spd Audi's feel? This was my first time test driving a 6spd Audi and so far seemed really unimpressed.

 

Whenever reading reviews on car magazines, I have noticed that Honda's manual trannys are always praised for their smoothness. I own a 6spd, and I have friends with Infinit G37 and BMW 335i test drive mine. And they say they like shifting on this car better because its smoother and the clutch feels lighter.

 

Honda manual transmissions have had an excellent reputation for decades.

 

Except for the fact that in more recent years, they have had problems with synchronizers in some gear sets. And their clutches are not quite up to par.

However to be honest, I have had no issues at all with my '04 manual's transmission or clutch assembly.

 

Honda manual transmissions: teh shiz.

I've got two friends, one with a 5MT GT Mustang, another with a 95 teg with a relatively new clutch. I liked the Integra's transmission better because the shifter was light, and the clutch's takeup point was closer to the floor than the Mustang. The Mustang's shifts were long, and heavier. I liked it too, but IMO the Integra was better for day-to-day driving. The Mustang encourages slamming into gear which is great if you're in a drag race, not fun if you're engaging first to close a gap in traffic. The Mustang owner even admitted to having the gear pop out sometimes, because it wasn't engaged completely.

 

fact:

"6spd" was used 7 times in the OP.

 

I'm glad your reading comprehension is on par! You should be proud!

Now back to the topic, Aman that's how the Audi's gearbox felt. I test drove it for quite a while. During quick accelerations if felt awesome and swift. However during normal traffic conditions, it just felt so unresponsive and shifting felt like more of a hassle compared to Acura/Honda gearbox.

 

"Our" ...

 

as others have said Honda's have had excellent trannies in smoothness and such for decades (and very linear engagement of clutches; minus the TL 6-speed though, kinda small engagement point compared to other Honda's)



and a stock Honda clutch and gearbox, is probably one of the easiest manual cars to learn on if you have never driven a manual

 

honda and porsche make the best manuals

 

Tis true... however, I have driven several Audi's with manual trannies, including an S4 and I've always ranked their trannies as #2 on my list behind Honda/Acura. I've always loved Audi's manuals.

Maybe the car your buddy is trying to buy was abused and needs tranny/clutch service?

 

^^^ Agree!

I've had two Audi's (a B7 A4 2.0T and now a B8 S4), and both tranny/clutch are good. Out of the 3 makes that I've owned, I would rank Honda/Acura first, Audi second, and BMW third.

 

I just can't get used to Honda's manuals or most foreign manuals for that matter. I'm used to Domestic cars with half of those having a heavier than stock clutch. I was afraid of breaking the TL-S 6mt when I drove it. The clutch doesn't feel like it's connected to anything and the shifter feels fragile. I'm sure over time I would have gotten used to it but when you're used to the "heavier" transmission/clutches, it's hard to feel anything with the super light stuff.

 

Honda manual transmissions=butter. End of story. When I test drove Honda S2000s it was the first time I'd used a manual transmission in 12 years. It felt like I'd never stopped driving manuals.

I've never tried an Audi manual, however. Would love to!

 

It took me about a month to freakin figure out my car.
the engagement is so low, and there just isnt enough feedback(or the heavier feeling you're describing) for me to shift properly.
It took me one day to master the Challenger.

 

Hey Justin. I'm there with you. Back in '06 I was test driving 6MT and Auto TLs. The 6MT was just not smooth for me. I mised the boat on the Type S that clutch felt a lot like a more "traditional" Honda.

 

Ira, I jumped into my six speed too quickly! I should have test drove it some more. but with it being all said and done, I'm pretty happy with my purchase.

Yikes, traditional honda!? it feels like this on all honda cars!?

 

Honda 6spd's get even better with a short shift kit, weighted knob, aluminum shift bushings and GM Synchromesh.

 

I'll have to try this.

I have the syncromesh sitting in my garage

 

What Porsche makes now is very nice, their old transmissions, while very strong, didn't have a nice smooth feel to the shifter. Many of them felt like running a rusty screwdriver through a bucket of fish heads.

 

It's possible. I advised him to have a mechanic take a look at it before purchasing.

IMO you're not missing much. I'm just too in love with the feel of Honda's manuals.

I've done the Synchromesh and the others are next on my mod list!

Do it! You won't regret it!

 

I've always loved Honda's light and responsive clutch. The old cable transmissions were a bit sloppy. Then early hydraulic transmissions were notchy, but also precise. I'd imagine they've improved since the release of the 4th gen TL.

I've never enjoyed driving a car with a heavy clutch. It's always given me a numb, detached feeling. Not all that bad for drag racing, but for auto-x and track days, I like sticking with the Honda's.

 

I find the same thing. I don't drive my 6MT all that often, but when I do I always have to get used to the clutch. It feels way too light and I usually over-rev the engine until I get used to it. That being said, I love the shifter itself and cog selection of the gearbox.




Terry

 

I like heavy clutches for drag racing, but overall I prefer to drive a lighter clutch... Honda usually gets it just right. The only stock shifter that comes close to an S2000 is a Miata, just as confidence inspiring with its short, firm throws, and an ideal feeling clutch pedal - not soft but not too firm either.

 

Its very hard to find the sweet spot. on a stiffer clutch its very easy to tell the engagement point.

I find myself over-revving when in quick situations, like taking a right turn at a red light.

 

even got a chub

 

One of the reasons Hodna/Acura MT shift so smooth is the use of linear ball bearings and sleeve needle bearing used in the shift linkage inside the gearbox. I've only take apart three MT's in my life (Honda, Ford, Toyota) the one I noticed on the Honda's was the use of the percise bearings on the shift fork rods and linkage action. If you ever get a chance to mess around with a Honda MT taken apart move the shift forks around, it's pretty amazing how little force is needed.

My 05 TL 6MT is getting more notchy as time goes on (57K miles) so I'm going to replace with the GM Synchromesh in the next week or two. Hoping for the same results others have gotten.

 

yeap, took the post out of my hands....Porsche and Honda are like BUTTER

Audi is pretty good though



That said, want to build some arm muscle, get behind a T-56, lol

 

i'll disagree, i've driven porsches of all model years and have always been impressed. Yes, an old 912 isn't as smooth by todays standards, but it was back then

 

It's good stuff. I recommend Pennzoil if want to save some money.

 

both 944's i've owned shifted as smooth as both of my M/T hondas

 

I had an old Audi 5000s with a 5 speed. The take up seemed like forever, but the grab was pretty good. Sure it had longer throws, but it felt solid.

I agree you may have been driving an abused clutch.

 

They shift very nice. But if you're not careful the shifter will end up in no man's land.

 

Heh, yup. They're not smooth but I've grown to like how it feels with a Hurst short shifter. I can only imagine how nice the MGWs are. Firm, solid shifts, feels like a bolt-action mechanism. The stock shifter is beyond garbage though... at least on the F-Body.

 

Porsche's really depend on the model and year. Early 911's (up to late 80's) are very imprecise feel to them. 928's are really vague, and it also depended on the year when Porsche switched over from ZF to Borg Warner for the syncro's it made a bid difference (A friend has a 88 and had a 83). 944's are the only one I've driven that come to Honda feel. A friend had a 944 Turbo and it had a great gearbox despite the long linkage to the rear transaxle.

The newest Porsche's feel great from just shifting in the dealership.

 

it takes extra money to produce all those bearings and such (and i will say Toyota's are not that bad, but they could still use improvement to meet Honda ones though)



and as far as shifting effort, wait till a honda get's like 150k or so on it (with alot of shifting done on it, as in a bit of city driving), some of them get to the point where a flick of your pinkie will literally shift it into the next gear, cause they are so loose and such (but you can still feel what gear you are going in though)

 

^oh you're right on that. My Integra had 160k+ on it and I could pop it out of gear without even using the clutch. Just let off the gas and quickly pull it into neutral... not sure if other lower mileages Hondas could do that, always forgot to try it, or was too scared to do it on someone else's car.

 

^ have not seen it so much on a lower mileage car, but then again it all depends on what the car has gone through in it's life, and how loose it gets (think pizza delivery boys; many miles that are in residential and city type streets, so alot of shifting)

 

I once removed the top shift plate cover on my brother's 1988 BMW M6 and was surprised to see the linkage and select action only used bronze sleeve bearings. Yet the same mechanism on my Mom's Honda Civic used needle bearings. Strange, woulda thought it been the opposite.

My wife's 86 Integra gearbox got better with miles, we donated it at 254K miles and it was still shifting great and even had the OEM clutch. I used Mobil1 or Castro Syntec 10W-30 for the MT fluid and that worked very well. My 2005 TL has become more notchy with miles so I'm going to try the GM MT FM Synchromesh fluid.

 

Yes, Honda m/ts are superb.

However, it took me a minute to get used to the setup on my TL.

That's not a bad thing, but the clutch is tricky.

Aside from the 3rd gear issue that pops up occasionally (which I'll be having them fix before the powertrain warranty is up), it's flawless. The way the shifter snick snicks and how precise it is, I don't think I'm missing out on anything from another manufacturer.

Like I said, the clutch was tricky at first, but I was and still am impressed with how solid it is, even with >60k.

I don't abuse the car per se, but it did bark into third a few times when I first got it. Barking second is almost too easy.

Ask the guy with the 400k Legend who is still on his OEM clutch. That is insane.