my experience is with 6-gear DQ 250 of TTS (pre- FL) and 7-gear DQ 500 of RS, so maybe not really comparable. This said, the 7th gear is probably on of the most appreciated things I found on thee RS, since I can drive at highway speed (85 mph) with the engine snoozing at 2.300/2.400 rpm, where on TTS the RPM were sensibly higher, influencing fuel consumption.
In S mode, I don't see difference between the two.
But for a real understanding, I believe that the DQ 250 of TT 230 should be compared with DQ381 of TT 40/45, having DQ 250 of TTS completely different gear ratio than TT (TT 230 very long/TTS very short).

 

One thing I would love to do is swap out the DQ250 in my 2016 TTS to a DQ500.. had the DQ500 in my old BiTDi passat and it was so good.

 

Which version of the 6 speed DQ250 are you referring to as there are a number of them. The gearbox ratios are significantly different in the TTS vs the TT230 for instance.

The ratios (1 to 6) in the new DQ381 (7 speed) are ever so slightly longer than the outgoing TTS DQ250 (6 speed) but the big change is the 7th gear which now means cruising at about 2000rpm at 70mph in 7th as oppose to cruising at about 2700rpm in the 6 speed DQ250 in the TTS, whereas 6th in the DQ250 in the TT230 is roughly equivalent to 7th in the new DQ381 in that both cars are doing about 2000rpm at 70 in 6th and 7th respectively.

The DQ500 is an entirely different gearbox with longer intermediate ratios that the DQ381 but a similar 7th gear in terms of mph per 1000rpm.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have a late 2016 TTS so i'm guessing the DQ250 gearbox?
Very insightful information , cheers.

 

yes, DQ 250 till 2018 YM, after, DQ 381

 

Had 6 speed on my previous 2017 TTS, and have 7 speed on my current 2022 TTS. I find that the 7 speed changes seamlessly, whereas the 6 speed you could feel it more. In dynamic will be in 7th gear at below 40mph

 

just interested to know, but is it the gearbox that is going to make your choice of model?

 

no just curious , at the moment, who knows in future

 

Knew I had it somewhere, see below for exact details of your car's ratios. Both are based on 245/35/19 tyres. Bizarrely the 6 speed in the TTS gets a shorter 6th gear than in the S3 or Golf R. Had it of had the same ratio of 0.87 instead of 0.81 it would be turning over about 28mph per 1000rpm in 6th which would have been nicer, strange decision from audi, but that's an aside. Below shows max speed in each gear plus mph per 1000rpm in each gear for 6 and 7 speed boxes.

6 speed gearbox for TTS

7 Speed gearbox for TTS

 

Knew I had it somewhere, see below for exact details of your car's ratios. Both are based on 245/35/19 tyres. Bizarrely the 6 speed in the TTS gets a shorter 6th gear than in the S3 or Golf R. Had it of had the same ratio of 0.87 instead of 0.81 it would be turning over about 28mph per 1000rpm in 6th which would have been nicer, strange decision from audi, but that's an aside. Below shows max speed in each gear plus mph per 1000rpm in each gear for 6 and 7 speed boxes.

6 speed gearbox for TTS

View attachment 498162
View attachment 498163

7 Speed gearbox for TTS

View attachment 498165

View attachment 498166

Thats just what I was after, thanks very much. Yes weird how the TTS gets a shorter 6th gear, that may explain why my mpg is worse on my TTS during motorway driving than the Golf R I had before

 

So in short, 7th is just an overdrive to help economy and headaches on longer runs.

 

Details for the TT RS below including in gear acceleration and standing start, don't have these same acceleration details for the tts unfortunately

Speed per 1000rpm in mph

1st gear 5.4
2nd gear 8.9
3rd gear 13.4
4th gear 18.7
5th gear 24.1
6th gear 29.5
7th gear 35.1