Audi 5 Speed Transmission
Code 2P
Close Ratio

The car was quite a bit more fun with the Eurospec head. It had become easier to drive with the extra torque and power.
The factory 4 speed had been replaced with a PSA five speed from a Fox.
The gears were a bit closer.
And I thought I was happy, though the one two shift still felt like a hole.
Just not quite the size of the one with the 4 speed.
In the summer of 2004 the transmission got a little grumpy.
The seals were leaking.
This seemed like a time to change the gears.

Fox owners with the quickest cars had reached into the VW/Audi parts bin for a close ratio transmission.

Gear Ratios

	Fox 4 PW	Fox 5 PSA	Audi 4000 2P	Quantum 3M/9Q
1	3.45	3.45	3.45	3.45
2	1.70	1.79	1.94	1.94
3	1.06	1.13	1.29	1.29
4	.78	.83	.97	.91
5	NA	.68	.80	.73
FD	3.89	4.11	4.11	4.11

The PW is where the car started.
The PSA is where the car went.
The 2P and 9Q are the options for the next level.

RPM Percentage Drop

	PW	PSA	2P	9Q
1-2	50.7	48.1	43.8	43.8
2-3	37.7	36.9	33.5	33.5
3-4	26.4	26.5	24.8	29.5
4-5	NA	18.1	17.5	19.8

Here is where you can see the 1-2 hole.
Over 50 % in the PW.
Close to 50% in the PSA.
Less in the 2P/9Q.

RPM Drop (RPM After Shift @ 6000)

	PW	PSA	2P	9Q
1-2	3042 (2958)	2886 (3114)	2628 (3372)	2628 (3372)
2-3	2022 (3978)	2214 (3786)	2010 (3990)	2010 (3990)
3-4	1584 (4416)	1590 (4410)	1488 (4512)	1770 (4230)
4-5	NA	1020 (4980)	1050 (4950)	1188 (4812)

The 9Q option with its "tight"1-2, 2-3 shift and "wide" 3-4, 4-5 struck me as a compromise that at the time I didn't want to make.
I had found that I seldom used 5th in the PSA. Driving on the freeway in this urban or mountainous environment did not allow cruising in fifth.
It was always put it in 5 back to 4 to 5 to 4 to oh bother with 5 at all.
The gearing did not allow acceleration in 5th.
I chose (and could find) a 2P.

I really like this transmission.
I use all 5 gears.
I don't avoid using 5th crossing town on the freeway as acceleration is possible.
The RPM drop between gears leaves the engine in the power band which gives a more spirited drive.

But...
It is more work.
There is more shifting to be done.
Tight corners seem to require an extra shift to match the engine speed.
Lugging around town in second can't be done.

RPM @ 100 kph (185/60R14 tires)

	PW	PSA	2P	9Q
RPM	2781	2561	3013	2750

On those rare occasions when I do end up in the Freeway cruising at a steady state, I miss the PSA.
I don't think I'll see the 45 Miles per Imperial Gallon that the PSA could achieve. (~36 MPG US Gallon)
I don't think my fuel economy is suffering greatly as I do use all 5 gears.
(Except that is fun to rip through them.)
The car is a bit buzzy.
I do check to see if indeed I am in fifth.
Sometimes I wonder where 6th is.

This transmission is not the best choice for everyone.
If you were to be regularly driving long hauls on the hiway, the economical PSA may be the best choice.
If you are driving for short stints on the highway but are able to maintain a steady speed, the 9Q may be the best choice.

If I do get to/have to redo the transmission again, I'd hope to find the 6 speed from a European diesel A4.

The Blue VW Fox Wagon