Some questions about Drive Select

[s4tress]

I have a '15, MT S4. I was hoping some people here could enlighten me a bit about the drive select modes and what they actually do. I usually keep it in either Comfort (driving with the family) or Dynamic when I'm by myself. I definitely notice a change in the suspension when I switch to Dynamic - but are there other changes as well? I could swear that I feel the a bit more power when I'm in Dynamic mode, but not sure if it's mental or not. Also I was searching around a bit and saw some posts where people are talking about fake engine noises coming from a speaker, etc for different modes. Is this actually true? It seems kind of lame to me, but now that I think about it, the engine does seem a bit nosier in dynamic mode. So is there any truth to that?

Thanks,

h

[Pyromatic177]

If you have the dynamic suspension and sports diff then they obviously change along with the steering. And what you is the "Soundaktor" with is the simulated engine noise through the speakers. It's louder when it's in Dynamic.

[Audiraz]

Yes!! Pull out fuse #5. Then you will hear the differance. I never put it back in, and just replaced the resonators with an X pipe. I love the car my sound makes naturally! But if you are the kind of person that is happy with fake boobs, just leave it in. But at least you can hear the difference and decide for yourself.

As far as the drive select, cycle through until you get dynamic again. You will notice an S with the current gear selected. Sport mode is a beast! It will never go past 6th gear and will hold the shifts longer. Everything is a bit more responcive. As for the other modes, just do a quick google search. Or read your manual. It explains them all.

[Audiraz]

Scratch that last part. Just saw that you have a MT....

But still pull fuse #5!!!

[pdqgp]

It will never go past 6th gear

it will go to 7th when you engage cruise.

[pdqgp]

I have a '15, MT S4. I was hoping some people here could enlighten me a bit about the drive select modes and what they actually do. I usually keep it in either Comfort (driving with the family) or Dynamic when I'm by myself. I definitely notice a change in the suspension when I switch to Dynamic - but are there other changes as well? I could swear that I feel the a bit more power when I'm in Dynamic mode, but not sure if it's mental or not. Also I was searching around a bit and saw some posts where people are talking about fake engine noises coming from a speaker, etc for different modes. Is this actually true? It seems kind of lame to me, but now that I think about it, the engine does seem a bit nosier in dynamic mode. So is there any truth to that?

I keep mine set as:

Engine/Trans: Dynamic - shifts just like I would in a manual holding gears just long enough but not too much.
Steering: Auto - I like light easy steering in parking lots and how it will stiffen up on the freeway
Suspension: Dynamic - unless I'm on a 2hr or so highway cruise, then I put it in comfort
Engine Sound: Comfort - just a little intake noise through the speaker and that's fine. most realistic IMO
Sport Diff: Comfort - unless I"m at the track - Comfort is Audi's "Safety" setting.

I keep the sport diff in comfort as after talking with then visiting Audi's VA offices, one of their Customer Service Reps explained and showed me how the sport diff will actually protect you from oversteer and lifting. It's actually a pre-stability control safety net on our cars. Very cool especially on surface roads that are no where near as predictable as the track. I especially keep it set in comfort mode in the winter when the roads are bad.....unless I want to be a hooligan and jump off a light with my ass hanging out. Go Stage II and you'll see what I mean.

My story on the Sport Diff in comfort mode is seen daily as the entrance ramp to our freeway is a right turn that takes you up slight elevation a bit then drops down as you enter the ramp to the freeway. just enough to shift the weight of the car at speed upwards. When it rains and in the winter there are cars off to the left daily LOL. I hit that ramp one time entering way too fast and in Dynamic mode, I was that ass-hat that had his rear end hanging out with a slight pucker factor in my pants as I really didn't expect it, but thankfully the car rotated and the AWD and stability system just shot me down the ramp. Now with the above settings if I do that, the car still rotates but not nearly as much...perhaps 1/2 as much, before the systems kick in and point me down the ramp. Very noticeable and now to me predictable comparison of handling. It's one of the best ramps to show physics of a 4,000lb car dong a lateral slide even with Pilot Super Sports on.

Here's a shot of the ramp: The turn-in is actually a lot sharper than it appears in the google street view pic.

[14S4GWM]

Your manual in the glove box will give you some insight.

[jsh139]

The "more power" you feel while in Dynamic mode is really an illusion. The Dynamic engine mode remaps the accelerator pedal so that it gives more throttle with less input. Power is still the same, but in Dynamic mode something like the first 25% of the pedal travel gives like 75% of throttle input. Those numbers are made up, but just trying to give you an idea of what is happening.

[Dippy]

I keep the sport diff in comfort as after talking with then visiting Audi's VA offices, one of their Customer Service Reps explained and showed me how the sport diff will actually protect you from oversteer and lifting. It's actually a pre-stability control safety net on our cars. Very cool especially on surface roads that are no where near as predictable as the track. I especially keep it set in comfort mode in the winter when the roads are bad.....unless I want to be a hooligan and jump off a light with my ass hanging out. Go Stage II and you'll see what I mean.

My story on the Sport Diff in comfort mode is seen daily as the entrance ramp to our freeway is a right turn that takes you up slight elevation a bit then drops down as you enter the ramp to the freeway. just enough to shift the weight of the car at speed upwards. When it rains and in the winter there are cars off to the left daily LOL. I hit that ramp one time entering way too fast and in Dynamic mode, I was that ass-hat that had his rear end hanging out with a slight pucker factor in my pants as I really didn't expect it, but thankfully the car rotated and the AWD and stability system just shot me down the ramp. Now with the above settings if I do that, the car still rotates but not nearly as much...perhaps 1/2 as much, before the systems kick in and point me down the ramp. Very noticeable and now to me predictable comparison of handling. It's one of the best ramps to show physics of a 4,000lb car dong a lateral slide even with Pilot Super Sports on.

Interesting. Despite the fact that I live in the UK I have yet to experience my S5's sports diff on really wet roads. I shall bear your comments in mind. IIRC I have it set to auto/balanced in individual, but of course in ADS dynamic it is dynamic setting.

To the OP: If your car has the dynamic steering then ADS also changes the ratio. It makes the steering light in comfort and sensitive in dynamic. And as I think was already mentioned, ACC changes with ADS setting too.

[theedge111]

Your manual in the glove box will give you some insight.

Why are you here if everything posted on the site upsets you so much?

[chopz33]

what this pulling of the fuse #5 talk?

whats that all about?

[RLB6]

what this pulling of the fuse #5 talk?

whats that all about?

It disables the "Soundaktor" which produces fake engine noise thru the speakers. The proper way would be to disable via VAG-VOM

[chopz33]

Would this be something I would notice and would exhaust be louder. I have awe exhaust

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk

[RLB6]

Would this be something I would notice and would exhaust be louder. I have awe exhaust

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk

Definitely noticeable. Give it a shot.

[Lamprey]

it will go to 7th when you engage cruise.

That's because when you have cruise control enabled the transmission switches to Drive mode.

[bberg22]

I keep mine set as:

Engine/Trans: Dynamic - shifts just like I would in a manual holding gears just long enough but not too much.
Steering: Auto - I like light easy steering in parking lots and how it will stiffen up on the freeway
Suspension: Dynamic - unless I'm on a 2hr or so highway cruise, then I put it in comfort
Engine Sound: Comfort - just a little intake noise through the speaker and that's fine. most realistic IMO
Sport Diff: Comfort - unless I"m at the track - Comfort is Audi's "Safety" setting.

I keep the sport diff in comfort as after talking with then visiting Audi's VA offices, one of their Customer Service Reps explained and showed me how the sport diff will actually protect you from oversteer and lifting. It's actually a pre-stability control safety net on our cars. Very cool especially on surface roads that are no where near as predictable as the track. I especially keep it set in comfort mode in the winter when the roads are bad.....unless I want to be a hooligan and jump off a light with my ass hanging out. Go Stage II and you'll see what I mean.

My story on the Sport Diff in comfort mode is seen daily as the entrance ramp to our freeway is a right turn that takes you up slight elevation a bit then drops down as you enter the ramp to the freeway. just enough to shift the weight of the car at speed upwards. When it rains and in the winter there are cars off to the left daily LOL. I hit that ramp one time entering way too fast and in Dynamic mode, I was that ass-hat that had his rear end hanging out with a slight pucker factor in my pants as I really didn't expect it, but thankfully the car rotated and the AWD and stability system just shot me down the ramp. Now with the above settings if I do that, the car still rotates but not nearly as much...perhaps 1/2 as much, before the systems kick in and point me down the ramp. Very noticeable and now to me predictable comparison of handling. It's one of the best ramps to show physics of a 4,000lb car dong a lateral slide even with Pilot Super Sports on.

Here's a shot of the ramp: The turn-in is actually a lot sharper than it appears in the google street view pic.

Very well described pdqgp, I know the exact feeling you are describing, and experience it pretty often myself. I personally keep my sport diff in sport but traction control in sport and notice similar behavior, but I can see that if I had more than stock power where the Dynamic setting of the diff might be counter productive as a safety net.

[14S4GWM]

Why are you here if everything posted on the site upsets you so much?

I was not upset but apparently you are by my post. The manual will tell him everything about it with pictures so therefore is relevant. Why don't you keep to yourself.

[SteveYem]

The "more power" you feel while in Dynamic mode is really an illusion. The Dynamic engine mode remaps the accelerator pedal so that it gives more throttle with less input. Power is still the same, but in Dynamic mode something like the first 25% of the pedal travel gives like 75% of throttle input. Those numbers are made up, but just trying to give you an idea of what is happening.

Are you positive that's the case? Because if so, it seems that I should be able to get the car to accelerate just as quickly by mashing the pedal in comfort mode as it would by going, say, 50% throttle in Dynamic. But in comfort mode the car just feels sluggish. It feels like it's more of a time delay thing, like in comfort mode I can mash the pedal all I want and it will just delay the amount of throttle movement that actually happens, resulting in more gradual acceleration.

[4wheelpilot]

[QUOTE=pdqgp;11902421]I keep mine set as:

Engine/Trans: Dynamic - shifts just like I would in a manual holding gears just long enough but not too much.
Steering: Auto - I like light easy steering in parking lots and how it will stiffen up on the freeway
Suspension: Dynamic - unless I'm on a 2hr or so highway cruise, then I put it in comfort
Engine Sound: Comfort - just a little intake noise through the speaker and that's fine. most realistic IMO
Sport Diff: Comfort - unless I"m at the track - Comfort is Audi's "Safety" setting.

I keep the sport diff in comfort as after talking with then visiting Audi's VA offices, one of their Customer Service Reps explained and showed me how the sport diff will actually protect you from oversteer and lifting. It's actually a pre-stability control safety net on our cars. Very cool especially on surface roads that are no where near as predictable as the track. I especially keep it set in comfort mode in the winter when the roads are bad.....unless I want to be a hooligan and jump off a light with my ass hanging out. Go Stage II and you'll see what I mean.

My story on the Sport Diff in comfort mode is seen daily as the entrance ramp to our freeway is a right turn that takes you up slight elevation a bit then drops down as you enter the ramp to the freeway. just enough to shift the weight of the car at speed upwards. When it rains and in the winter there are cars off to the left daily LOL. I hit that ramp one time entering way too fast and in Dynamic mode, I was that ass-hat that had his rear end hanging out with a slight pucker factor in my pants as I really didn't expect it, but thankfully the car rotated and the AWD and stability system just shot me down the ramp. Now with the above settings if I do that, the car still rotates but not nearly as much...perhaps 1/2 as much, before the systems kick in and point me down the ramp. Very noticeable and now to me predictable comparison of handling. It's one of the best ramps to show physics of a 4,000lb car dong a lateral slide even with Pilot Super Sports on.

This explanation, imho, is backwards and a bit misleading.
The benefit of our sport diff is that it mitigates the inherent understeer of a car with most of its weight over the front axle and 40f/60r quattro torque split.
To create more rotation, livelier dynamics and "fun", our sport diff is great.
With the sport diff off, the S4 will understeer more like a fwd car (some people refer to this as plowing).
So, it's not that the sport diff is a safety net when off, only that when off, the S4 has more understeer than oversteer.
The different handling dynamics are always a trade off between fun to drive (oversteer) and dull (understeer).
If you overcook a corner with the sport diff off, you could end up plowing off the road as the front tires and steering could not correct the car's line in time.
So in the specific situation you experienced, the combination of too much speed and an unexpectedly sharp curve (and with negative camber) could end up being bad either way.
Glad you reacted fast enough to stay safe.

[jygesq]

a review of the info provided by Audi suggest comfort mode is the most stable mode for sport diff.
Steve you have 6mt . Us with DSG find different experience on acceleration. I find in S mode the shift points are at higher rpm. but throttle response is not much different. Maybe because DSG learns drivers inputs. I give it gas in D and depending on where I push the pedal car really moves, thrusting you back into to your seat.

[pdqgp]

This explanation, imho, is backwards and a bit misleading.
The benefit of our sport diff is that it mitigates the inherent understeer of a car with most of its weight over the front axle and 40f/60r quattro torque split.
To create more rotation, livelier dynamics and "fun", our sport diff is great.
With the sport diff off, the S4 will understeer more like a fwd car (some people refer to this as plowing).
So, it's not that the sport diff is a safety net when off, only that when off, the S4 has more understeer than oversteer.
The different handling dynamics are always a trade off between fun to drive (oversteer) and dull (understeer).
If you overcook a corner with the sport diff off, you could end up plowing off the road as the front tires and steering could not correct the car's line in time.
So in the specific situation you experienced, the combination of too much speed and an unexpectedly sharp curve (and with negative camber) could end up being bad either way.
Glad you reacted fast enough to stay safe.

You're welcome to your opinion, but it's not misleading at all. With the sport diff in Dyanamic mode and all safety systems still engaged the car will rotate more than it will in comfort mode. I'm simply showing through an example of how on the daily roads we all drive that there's a difference and what it is. Call Audi if you wish to have them explain the safety net scenario to you and how Comfort mode differs from Dynamic mode as they did a great job of explaining why it's safer for drivers in inclement weather to use Comfort vs Dynamic.

Reaction wise, my steering input was / is the same, it's just the car allows for less dynamic rotation or "fun" but still saves your bacon and allows the driver to point the car where it should go. Especially useful in every day driving where one is not intentionally hitting curves with enthusiasm or has room to cross over a lane. As they explained it, the system under comfort mode will also react differently should a panic situation occur and the driver were to lift mid-corner as might happen if hitting an exit ramp too fast.

Again, I'm not the best at explaining it but the call center did a great job and it was cool to meet the team in their VA office when I was there. Several of them that I met were very much enthusiasts. It's great knowing that the car has a mode for all out fun on the track and also a much more conservative setting that allow for fun yet safety on the street.

[JohnEnglish]

The Soundaktor doesn't produce fake engine noise through the speakers; that's how BMW's system works. The Soundaktor is a speaker mounted against the firewall which uses the windshield and firewall as an amplifier for it. The sound it emits is the actual sound of the engine just that it's amplified through the vibration of the windshield and firewall.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

My daily settings are:

Engine/Trans - Comfort
Steering - Dynamic
Diff - Auto

I will flip to Dynamic for all modes with one push of the ADS button on the dash when needed, which flips the engine/trans and diff to Dynamic. I like the stiffer feeling of the wheel in Dynamic, which is why I always keep it in that. The idea behind keeping my Diff in Auto is that when I'm not pushing the car, it'll feel fine and neutral, but if I need to push it, even if I haven't flipped the engine/trans yet to another mode, the Diff will flip to more Dynamic feeling and rotate the car as intended. Keep in mind that having the engine/trans in Comfort doesn't change the output of the power available, just the ramp up and response of it, so for those of you who putt around with the Diff in Comfort, you might have well just bought a non-sports diff equipped S4 because you're just not really using it or allowing for the system to kick in and be used if you need it. Maybe I'm just more of an aggressive driver than those people are, but there's a reason Audi calls the Comfort mode for the sports diff "their safety setting"... cuz yeah, it'll err on the side of understeer rather than oversteer. And here's the thing... even oversteer on this S4 with the diff in Dynamic is so silky smooth and predictable, you really can't fuck it up... well, you shouldn't, but I'm sure someone out there probably can. hahaha

[chopz33]

if i have AWE exhaust, by pulling the soundaktor will be car be louder in the cabin or quieter. i dont want it quiet.

[absolutarin]

The Comfort Mode is another name for Better-fuel-economy-driving Mode. The gears switch up quicker while maintaining really low RPMs resulting in slow but gradual acceleration...which is why you feel sluggish performance.

While in the Dynamic Mode, two things happen to the transmission:
1. The RPM of the engine gets pushed higher (close to 2200 maybe?) than its Comfort Mode (close to 1200 rpm).

Result: You hear the engine roar louder

2. The gears switch up slower which means you stay in the same gear for a longer time than the Comfort Mode. (The downshifts are a bit rough though)

Result: You find the engine to be more aggressive and responsive. In other words, you reach 0-60 much faster and a grin shows up on your face.

For my daily driving style, I put everything to Dynamic except for Steering and Transmission which are both set to Comfort.
For my highway driving, I put everything to Dynamic. Once I reach a constant speed, I pull the gear lever down, once, and switch it to D instead of S. If I have to overtake or do some revs, I pull it down again and I move to S from D. To each his own :)

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

if i have AWE exhaust, by pulling the soundaktor will be car be louder in the cabin or quieter. i dont want it quiet.

You have a 2012, so that doesn't even pertain to your car. Soundaktor is only in B8.5 (2013+) S4.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

The Comfort Mode is another name for Better-fuel-economy-driving Mode. The gears switch up quicker while maintaining really low RPMs resulting in slow but gradual acceleration...which is why you feel sluggish performance.

While in the Dynamic Mode, two things happen to the transmission:
1. The RPM of the engine gets pushed higher (close to 2200 maybe?) than its Comfort Mode (close to 1200 rpm).

Result: You hear the engine roar louder

2. The gears switch up slower which means you stay in the same gear for a longer time than the Comfort Mode. (The downshifts are a bit rough though)

Result: You find the engine to be more aggressive and responsive. In other words, you reach 0-60 much faster and a grin shows up on your face.

For my daily driving style, I put everything to Dynamic except for Steering and Transmission which are both set to Comfort.
For my highway driving, I put everything to Dynamic. Once I reach a constant speed, I pull the gear lever down, once, and switch it to D instead of S. If I have to overtake or do some revs, I pull it down again and I move to S from D. To each his own :)

The ramp-up of the TPS input is also changed between Comfort and Dynamic.

[chopz33]

You have a 2012, so that doesn't even pertain to your car. Soundaktor is only in B8.5 (2013+) S4.

Haha good deal.

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk

[absolutarin]

The ramp-up of the TPS input is also changed between Comfort and Dynamic.

Yes. That too. Thanks for mentioning it

[pdqgp]

there's a reason Audi calls the Comfort mode for the sports diff "their safety setting"... cuz yeah, it'll err on the side of understeer rather than oversteer. And here's the thing... even oversteer on this S4 with the diff in Dynamic is so silky smooth and predictable, you really can't fuck it up... well, you shouldn't, but I'm sure someone out there probably can. hahaha

It won't understeer in comfort mode. I drive aggressive in curves and it rotates nicely. Agree that it's hard to fuck it up though. My favorite turn around here is a sharp left turn onto a secondary road near my house. I nice stab of the gas and you can feel the car push the rear end on the outside more and it just scoots around the corner. Very cool feeling. I've done it in dynamic mode too but it's easy to end up with your ass end in the other lane which I don't want. Here's a link to a great write up on the systems overall. It's in pdf format. This has been out there for a while but the call center emailed this link when I first called into to ask about the various settings when I g

[pdqgp]

if i have AWE exhaust, by pulling the soundaktor will be car be louder in the cabin or quieter. i dont want it quiet.

quieter but IMO it will likely sound crappy with the soundaktor on. you'll have noise coming from both the front and back. keep it out back and let the SC Whine thrill you up front.

[silverf0x]

The Soundaktor doesn't produce fake engine noise through the speakers; that's how BMW's system works. The Soundaktor is a speaker mounted against the firewall which uses the windshield and firewall as an amplifier for it. The sound it emits is the actual sound of the engine just that it's amplified through the vibration of the windshield and firewall.

I think that this is how Soundaktor works in the Golf R, but in our S4 it's using the sound system completly.

[jygesq]

I think that this is how Soundaktor works in the Golf R, but in our S4 it's using the sound system completly.

I do not think you are right. I hear no engine sound through my car audio system.

[JohnEnglish]

I think that this is how Soundaktor works in the Golf R, but in our S4 it's using the sound system completly.

No, just search Google for Soundaktor S4. You'll find a lot of photos and videos showing its location and how to remove it.

[DBL R]

Yes!! Pull out fuse #5. Then you will hear the differance. I never put it back in, and just replaced the resonators with an X pipe. I love the car my sound makes naturally! But if you are the kind of person that is happy with fake boobs, just leave it in. But at least you can hear the difference and decide for yourself.

As far as the drive select, cycle through until you get dynamic again. You will notice an S with the current gear selected. Sport mode is a beast! It will never go past 6th gear and will hold the shifts longer. Everything is a bit more responcive. As for the other modes, just do a quick google search. Or read your manual. It explains them all.

On the topic of fake boobs, if you can touch them, then they are real

[silverf0x]

I do not think you are right. I hear no engine sound through my car audio system.

No, just search Google for Soundaktor S4. You'll find a lot of photos and videos showing its location and how to remove it.

I was thinking this because I remember, some time ago, seeing a company that "hacked" the Soundaktor to simulate Lambo/Ferrari sound (and no I'm not talking about the SoundRacer product). So I kinda deducted my conclusion from there. Sorry if I'm wrong.

[Crucible35]

The "more power" you feel while in Dynamic mode is really an illusion. The Dynamic engine mode remaps the accelerator pedal so that it gives more throttle with less input. Power is still the same, but in Dynamic mode something like the first 25% of the pedal travel gives like 75% of throttle input. Those numbers are made up, but just trying to give you an idea of what is happening.

This is not correct......although that may be a mechanical part to the equation, there's a lot more going on with the shift points etc.

[jsh139]

Are you positive that's the case? Because if so, it seems that I should be able to get the car to accelerate just as quickly by mashing the pedal in comfort mode as it would by going, say, 50% throttle in Dynamic. But in comfort mode the car just feels sluggish. It feels like it's more of a time delay thing, like in comfort mode I can mash the pedal all I want and it will just delay the amount of throttle movement that actually happens, resulting in more gradual acceleration.

That is what I have read on here and that is what I experience in my car (even when it was stock). Mashing the pedal in any mode produces the same results. I feel like I remember reading that some people even drag race in comfort mode?

This is not correct......although that may be a mechanical part to the equation, there's a lot more going on with the shift points etc.

I probably should have clarified. I was speaking from a manual trans POV. The OP has a manual trans so there's no auto shift points to worry about.

[DBL R]

It won't understeer in comfort mode. I drive aggressive in curves and it rotates nicely. Agree that it's hard to fuck it up though. My favorite turn around here is a sharp left turn onto a secondary road near my house. I nice stab of the gas and you can feel the car push the rear end on the outside more and it just scoots around the corner. Very cool feeling. I've done it in dynamic mode too but it's easy to end up with your ass end in the other lane which I don't want. Here's a link to a great write up on the systems overall. It's in pdf format. This has been out there for a while but the call center emailed this link when I first called into to ask about the various settings when I g

The pdf just left me wanting more information about comfort vs dynamic and the changes in car characteristics in a corner.

[pdqgp]

The pdf just left me wanting more information about comfort vs dynamic and the changes in car characteristics in a corner.

track it and see first hand

or drive that baby around some remote roads of Mexico.