How to tell if automatic is wet or dry clutch?

[CambsCreative]

I’m looking at buying an Audi, not sure the model yet, A4, A5, Q5 from anywhere between 2012 through to 2018.

I like the idea of an automatic but have heard iffy things about the Audi S-Tronic (same as VW DSG I think), but I suspect a lot of the issues are down to customers not looking after their cars and not doing gearbox services/oil changes etc, but then there is the mechatronic issue.

I’ve done more research and a guy on YouTube says the wet clutch auto box in Audi’s is bomb-proof and super reliable, while the dry clutch auto box can wear out the clutch plates and be a bit ‘grabby’ at lower speeds. Is this true? Is the wet clutch auto box super reliable?

If so to last paragraph how can I find out if any given car that I look at to buy has the wet or dry clutch auto box as, I suspect, the owner won’t have a clue.

[cliffcoggin]

I have never heard of a dry clutch automatic Audi. Can you provide a reference?

As far as I know the choice is between a manual box with dry clutch, and an automatic box with two wet clutches i.e. a DSG.

As for the reliabilty of DSG, if neglected it's true they will fail, but that is no different from any other part of the car or any other brand of car come to that.

[CambsCreative]

All Audi cars are either dry clutch or wet clutch where automatic gearboxes are concerned. Dry clutch versions wear out the clutch plates, but I've since heard the wet clutch S-Tronic are dog-sh*t also and to avoid both at all costs. 

[Steve Q]

In terms of driveability the s tronic is the most refined. The other two types of Audi auto gearboxes would be tiptronic or CVT, tis is more generalised. 

Service history is key on any car you're looking at and you should be looking for prof of gearbox oil services. If you're worried then you're better sticking with the 6 speed manual