Do I want DSG?

[Mr Messy]

Hmm.
I reckon DSG is better for balls-out maximum attack driving. Think about why F1 and Le Mans cars have paddle setups - for maximum efficiency so the driver can get on with the job of nailing brake markers, apexes, blocking Webber etc etc.

My car is a 5 speed Mk4 GTI, but I often drive a DSG Jetta 2.0T and can see that DSG is a very very good thing when you're pressing on. Agree that that the shift mapping is a little wierd.
I put it in pro' selecta mode every time.

[nabes]

I recently had to make the same decision. I think I come from a similar background to you. I test drove both manual and DSG and the Pirelli DSG too. In the end I decided I couldn't live with the DSG in everyday driving, even though it is a blast when going fast, those upchanges are great. It still felt heaps like an auto to me, which I just couldn't deal with that lag off the line, and I knew I would miss changing gear. So I bought the manual, I thought I might have regrets but honestly I have none. The car is made for the twisties and the reality is a good bit of road you basically stick it in 3rd and drive the corners with both hands on the wheel anyways. The car has such a good midrange you don't need to constantly change gears.

Its strange because usually its a real no brainer, an auto is usually slower, less economical and not as involving to drive, but not in this case which means the DSG should come in for serious consideration. The DSG is just not as involving to drive IMHO and performance and economy wise they are so close as to not be different, so I went the manual.

[stephen8512]

ex manual driver here

my time is divided into highway/city driving 60:40. the 40% of the time when i'm actually stuck in traffic, i'm loving the auto box because its just so much more relaxing than having to press the clutch, pop it in 1st, crawl about 40m before you have to stop, press the clutch, brake, pop it in neutral, wait.....wait.....wait...........................w ait.......then go again.

I have the Jetta TFSI and it only came in auto DSG. If there was a manual I would have probably ticked the box because I do like manual driving since I feel like I have more "control" over the car. However, I'm glad it didn't come in manual and I was somewhat "forced" to choose DSG because while the manual may be fun, the DSG is just as fun, if not more comfortable as well.

Putting it into S mode or semi-auto for a fun squirt now and again is great and the pull from the K03 turbo is enough to put a smile on my face (however an APR chip is in order after driving a golf with the chip.....it absolutely bowled me over)

Anyway, thats besides the point. If you DO get a DSG, I doubt you will be disappointed because yes, although it might not be as involved as a manual car, it will be a lot less stress on your left leg, especially if u do quite a bit of city driving

[poyta]

I initially had a DSG on order having heard all the wonderful things about it but after testdriving one I changed the order to manual. Sure it changes gears real quick and probably has a tiny performance and fuel advantage but... sorry felt like a boring auto gearbox to me.

[aristocrat]

It still felt heaps like an auto to me, which I just couldn't deal with that lag off the line, and I knew I would miss changing gear.

Have you heard of launch control

[kctt]

I have been driving manuals all my life, including the best front-drive manual car on the planet. I even proclaimed once that I would never find driving an auto fun. Then I bought an R32 DSG (recently). I have been getting acquainted with the virtues of the DSG.

Yes, I can see what the fuss about DSGs is. Yes, it's good. But it's not perfect. There are times when in fully automatic mode, it picks a gear too high. Or cruising at 100km/h, I feel the R32 has enough grunt (which it has) to accelerate on 6th - but it kicks down to 5th. Or the + and - on the DSG lever should be the other way around (but not a criticism on the DSG though).

But I have learnt to overcome those problems by mixing auto and manual in my driving. And learnt to enjoy driving in that mode. For 90% of the driving that I do, I am perfectly happy to drive that way. For the 10% of the time when I fang the car - I have also learnt how to make driving pleasurable by using paddles shift. In short, yes, I love the DSG.

Would I go back to a manual? Hmmm... maybe but only if it has the best manual gearbox on the planet. Shifting a good manual is still one of the best experience you get from driving a car.

[Maverick]

I initially had a DSG on order having heard all the wonderful things about it but after testdriving one I changed the order to manual. Sure it changes gears real quick and probably has a tiny performance and fuel advantage but... sorry felt like a boring auto gearbox to me.

1/3rd of a second quicker to 100 over a manual isn't a tiny performance advantage and neither is is the 2/3rds of a second that you gain from using launch control!

[CrazyHorse]

Hi all. I have been lurking for about three months - but have been a member of other forums (previous cars were a Pursuit XR8 Utility and a clubman 7 replica that I built myself).

I drive a MkVI TSI118 DSG for work and have a MkV GTI manual as my personal car - So I get to drive both back to back. I am on the road for a living, and have completed three advanced driving courses.

I like the DSG for about town, but only in S mode - D mode is severely economy biased and lacks initial throttle response IMHO. However S mode kills economy. DSG is great for pushing on, but no better than a manual. DSG does not make you read the road/conditions/traffic any better! Having said that, DSG is a good way of load shedding so that you have more brain space to dedicate to whats going on around you - which is why we use autos etc for work as any SAFE or USEABLE performance gain is not real with modern auto/DSG systems.

Personally I prefer my manual GTI simply because it is more involving to drive and I have full confidence in knowing what the vehicle will do gear wise. The honest truth is that on a public road, modern vehicles are so good now that most performance is excessive to needs and personal preference and 'feel' are the decisive factors (once again IMHO).

For the record the TSI is so good that I would consider not replacing my GTI, but getting a manual TSI instead - I am still worried about the long term reliability of DSG though.

[blutopless2]

If you DO get a DSG, I doubt you will be disappointed because yes, although it might not be as involved as a manual car, it will be a lot less stress on your left leg, especially if u do quite a bit of city driving

cant vouch for that here... it may be less stress on my left leg but more stress in my head as it frustrates the hell outta me with its take off lag etc.
chipping my jetta has improved its behaviour greatly but its still p*$$es me off.
and dont get me started on reversing....

[Sage]

i've loathed autos my whole life, though now im 31 and family on the way i thought i better at least look at DSG before i decided..

I must admit its more like a clutchless manual than an auto..

I like it.. its a good thing. I still prefer manual.. though you cant heal and toe in a golf anyway as once you hit the brake the throttle is disabled..

so you may as well go DSG.

[Johnbu]

GTI DSG here

DSG is fantastic.. for an auto.

quicker than manual, but lacks the feel/control of manual.

sure you can downshift manually in a DSG to get max exit speed, but I feel like i'm just fooling myself its a manual.

I got DSG because I needed an auto car for my GF.

if you don't need an auto car, get a manual.

the manual GTI gearbox/clutch is a joy to use.

[jets]

When I bought my Mk5, I didn't even test drive the DSG. At my last service I used a DSG loan car & found it didn't do it for me. I enjoy driving & find it far more satisfying with the manual.
What CrazyHorse & poyta said pretty much sums it up for me as well.

[Zed!]

Similar to Sage, I can’t stand Autos, however my wife has an Auto license so the R32 had to be DSG. I’ve always had manuals, the 6sp in my 350z was sublime. So I really wasn’t looking forward to going from that to a DSG. And yeah when it’s in ‘D’ for all intents and purposes it’s an Auto box, but I always use the flappy paddles. I like to be able to choose the gear I want and not have it choose for me. When driving it hard, round a corner, for example, the gear changes are so quick you can choose whatever gear you want within milliseconds. And even with the DSGs various flaws, that capability alone, makes it far superior to a manual box. I kind of wish I’d never driven a DSG, because I love driving a manual car, it’s so much more involving, but it would be hard for me to go back to one now. I would hazard a guess that most performance cars will be offering DSG style boxes as standard within a few years and manuals will eventually disappear. We’ll probably laugh in 30 years time about how we had to take one hand of the wheel to change gears, as we cruise around in our new GTI mark XX with it’s voice recognition gearbox.

[GTI32]

...We’ll probably laugh in 30 years time about how we had to take one hand of the wheel to change gears, as we cruise around in our new GTI mark XX with it’s voice recognition gearbox.

Some of us are laughing already

[poyta]

I'm amazed at the number of people who's reason for choosing a DSG is "because my wife/girlfriend can't drive manual". What is it with women and not being able to drive manual. My wife tried that angle with me and I just put here in a manual car and said " here you go..learn". She is now thankful that she can drive a manual.