Audi A3 8P dual clutch throttle delay

[Samul]

I recently bought an Audi A3 8P, 2.0 TDI 140hp with automatic dual-clutch transmission.
 

This is the first automatic car I drive, so I’m still getting used to the feel of it, but there is something I noticed that feels off: whenever I’m starting from a stop, regardless of how hard I push the throttle, it takes about a full second for the car to actually start moving. The engine revs up to about 1k rounds, and only after that does the car actually begin moving forward.
 

This happens in D, in S, and in manual mode.
 

Similarly, if I’m braking down to almost a stop and try to quickly get moving, it takes a little bit too long for the car to respond. It does rev up a bit, but it doesn’t actually start moving until one or two seconds. This may simply be due to the fact that the auto mode doesn’t downshift quickly enough to have the right gear and enough power to accelerate, but coupled with that other issue it got me thinking.
 

One more possibly unrelated issue: sometimes I feel like revs increase too much for the speed increase of the car when trying to accelerate abruptly in second or fourth gear. I haven’t been able to completely figure out whether I get that perception because I am actually in a higher gear and trigger kickdown without noticing, or if I am in the correct gear and the revs simply go up too much. I have a feeling if that’s the latter, then it may be a clutch slipping problem, but I am not sure.  I’m just looking for some advice from people that know more about this than me and who possibly drove this car in the past.
 

The car has 76k miles / 123,000 km on it, for reference

Edited August 18, 2023 by Samul

[cliffcoggin]

Samuele.

The car should respond much more rapidly than that to an increase in engine speed, so I suggest clutch wear or a fault in the Mechatronic clutch control mechanism. Probably the latter as they have a reputation for being troublesome.

76000 miles is an unusually small mileage for a 17 year old car. Can you be sure it is correct?

[Samul]

Hey,

That amount of mileage is what the display shows, and I have a car inspection document from 2021 that certifies the mileage at that time.

I cannot be 100% sure of course, but that's proof that the mileage hasn't been tampered with at least over the past two years, at which time the car wasn't trying to be sold (according to the previous owner, whom I had a chance to speak to on a couple of occasions).

I brought the car to a mechanic because the AC compressor needed to be replaced and also mentioned this issue. He also told me it's either the clutch or the clutch control, and he said both of them would be pretty costly repairs.

Honestly, I'm not sure it's worth it on such an old car. I have already spent around € 1.5k on the timing belt + other components, the AC compressor, and battery.

Aside from the issue I mentioned in this thread, the car overall is still pretty good. But this issue is really annoying; I guess I'll just have to get used to it for as long as I keep this car. Can't wait to get my hands on a newer A3 haha.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Samul