Do I want DSG?

[vjr]

Hi all,

Not compeltely new to the forum, but haven't posted since I was getting advice on buying a VR6 late last year. which I never bought.

Anyway, times change and I'm looking at a recent GTI. Got my eye on an 06 DSG with some extra fruit, price is ok (haven't been to see it yet). Almost bought a new one in 06 but the waiting list was long so I went and got a Forester XT instead. That's another story.

Main question is, do I want DSG? I dislike full autos, and never tried a DSG before. I know you'll say 'go try one and see', which is what I'm about to do today. But I'm sure this has been asked many times before, and I'm wondering what percentage of manual lovers are actually happy when they end up getting a DSG. I'm going for a 3 or 4 year novated lease on this thing and will pretty much be stuck with it for that time.

Thanks for any advice!

PS: Instead of the VR6 I got an Alfa 156 manual. I detested the SeleSpeeds that I drove but I know DSG is in another universe to that.

[GTI32]

You will just get people defending their choice with sentimental answers. If you think depressing a clutch with your foot makes you enjoy the driving experience, then get manual. If you want the best performance, then get DSG.

[vjr]

You will just get people defending their choice with sentimental answers. If you think depressing a clutch with your foot makes you enjoy the driving experience, then get manual. If you want the best performance, then get DSG.

Thanks.. I agree my manual shifting will not come close to auto shifting, just wondering if there's lots of ex-manual people with regrets, or happy experiences. Maybe I should do a poll Guess it's been done before.

[blutopless2]

ex manual here... went dsg with my jetta tsi as it was the only option if i wanted the 147kW engine and top end model.. no manual available. If there was a manual option i would've ticked the box.
I initially liked the dsg but over time i have grown to not like it. find it is really lacking in a few areas that imho makes it a real pita to drive.
My wife wants a Tiguan and our experience with the dsg means she will choose the base model 6 speed manual over the top end dsg and just get it chipped to regain the kw.

[Transporter]

I drive both and prefer DSG in Golf. For performance you can't go past the DSG, especially if you drive it he city most of the time.

[bwen]

Hey mate, I've been driving manual since I was a teenager and I have gone through 7 different sports cars all manual of course. My MKV GTI was the first 'automatic' (2 pedal) car I have owned mainly because I have simply grown out of that whole modified japanese import car scene. I have driven automatic cars in the past and they were always so bland and boring mainly because people never really associated sports cars with automatic transmission. I quite enjoy my DSG GTI, I do a lot of city driving now so it helps quite a bit when I'm stuck in peak hour traffic at 8am every morning with my brain still half a sleep...

I still have my small speed thrist sometimes though and giving the car some gas with the DSG gearbox is quite good, much better than any automatic car I have driven in the past as of course it is still a 6 speed with two clutches (I'm sure you know how DSG works!) and there is still always the triptronic style padle and gearbox shifting

Another reason why I grabbed DSG was because my wife only drives automatic.

[STV4SYT]

I have also bought the Golf as my first car with no "man pedal" I do enjoy driving it, but if i was to go another one id defo consider the manual again. While DSG is a great gearbox, i dont have the confidence in it to pull across into heavy traffic. It does lurch around a bit when trying to reverse and doesnt handle speed bumps the best. I do use the tiptronic function a fair bit just to overcome the shortfalls in the automation but it is a godsend in traffic. Each to their own.


To summarise. If i had 2 identical cars sitting side by side, 1 manual, 1 DSG and i had to go for a fun drive, id take the manual, if i was commuting to work id take the DSG. For a decent compromise of the 2 , DSG wins.

The only thing that scares me is the cost of fixing the thing out of warranty. Get the extended if you do buy DSG.

[aristocrat]

Hi vjr, I must admit the DSG is a very sophisticated gearbox and on that note, cannot really compare with a normal automatic. I recently purchased an R32 with DSG and am loving it to bits.

After saying that though, if you like spirited driving and do enjoy the satisfaction of manually matching engine speed with gear and heel-toeing, get the manual. I am certainly missing that facet of the manual box.

But if you have to negotiate quite a bit of city bumper to bumper - get the DSG for it is much more practical.

That my $0.02 worth

[mtj007]

My wife wants a Tiguan and our experience with the dsg means she will choose the base model 6 speed manual over the top end dsg and just get it chipped to regain the kw.

Tiguans don't come with DSG, they come with a regular 6 speed torque converter automatic (a very nice smooth one too).

I'm happy with DSG for the most part, it does have its quirks but I am lazy and would probably have still gone for a regular automatic even if DSG wasn't on offer, especially with a diesel.

My dad's been driving manual for 35 years and hates regular autos with a passion, today he picks up a Golf VI TDI DSG... For him driving manual wasn't so much about the "fun" part of it, it was about efficiency and being in the right gear (he's an accountant... what can I say? + he's getting old ). Put him in a regular automatic and if it has a tiptronic mode he will use it, DSG he will put it in D and let it do its own thing.

[maca]

I'm an ex manual driver and while I love the DSG, I wouldn't mind going back to the manual. It kicks ass over regular autos. I drove a manual tdi Jetta the other day as a loan car and found it to be gutless as hell. No regrets choosing the DSG here! So it may be best to get out there and find manual and DSG boxes and give em a go..

[idaho]

...
My wife wants a Tiguan and our experience with the dsg means she will choose the base model 6 speed manual over the top end dsg and just get it chipped to regain the kw.

Tiguans are real automatic, not DSG.

[Steve_GTI]

I have the DSG but I will probably go back to the manual next time.
I get sick of the DSG doing 60 in 6th gear, I realise you can tap the paddle or use manual mode but if you have to mess around with changing you may as well have a manual.
Sports mode is too far the other way and is great for spirited driving but a pain for normal day to day driving.
They need to recalibrate the DSG to more realistic change points.

[tinto]

If you do go for it, I'd suggest chasing the 3yr extended warranty.
Plenty of people (ok probably not that many, but two that I know personally) have had their mechatronic unit replaced under warranty because of erratic behaviour.

FWIW - after two DSG cars, I don't ever plan on having a manual again.
I just don't see the point (plus I'm probably a bit lazy if you dig deeper).

My cars from hereon out will be some form of twin clutch automated manual.
I love it. But you've got to make the call yourself!

[STV4SYT]

I just got back form a test drive in a Pirelli, and loved the DSG in it, probably a better match than with the TDI. although i didnt really get a good chance to Hoon it.

[guliver_twist]

I test drove a golf VI diesel DSG, as well as the 118TSI manual. Very glad I got my manual

I just like having absolute control and the precise and smooth wonderful manual in the golf.

I am sure the DSG is the best auto around, but i did not like its gear change points or the inability to smoothly drive half fast... e.g. floor up to 3.5k and shift without hitting the redline...

On that note, each to their own..