Just picked up a 2021 F type R 3 days ago and the car when downshifting from 5th to 4th using the paddle shifters does not smoothly engage. There is a bang/clunk which is very noticeably felt in the transmission while going into 4th gear. Every other gear downshift is very smooth as it should be. This happens in both regular mode and dynamic. When applying throttle and doing the downshift it is significantly better. My concern is every gear change besides the 5th to 4th is smooth regardless of throttle input. It just doesn't feel right. The thought of having to bring the car in for a transmission issue 3 days after purchasing is extremely worrying.

 

That is bad for a brand new car.
Only one solution - take it back to the dealer and explain the problem (and maybe let a tech take it for a test drive to confirm), odds on the fix is to reflash the TCU software.

 

Can this possibly be part of the "learning phase" of the transmission? it is a lot smoother when applying throttle and then downshifting into 4th. Dealership is about an hour commute each way so I'm curious if its something that will correct itself as the transmission "learns". The car only has a little under 200 miles.

 

You might read the ‘breaking in’ procedure, somewhere in your manual, though many here have ignored it (or are unaware of it.)

 

I would have the dealer send a flatbed to pick it up, something is not right and you don't want to make it worse by driving it.
MM

 

I have a 2021 R with 3500 miles on the clock. I have not experienced the downshift issue being described. As such, I agree with others on this thread it's time to summon a flat bed and off she goes to the dealership!

 

I bet it has something to do with adaptive software, dealer needs to flash or update.

 

If it clanks when you do a 5-4 downshift...don’t do that! At least not until it gets fixed.