DSG Abrupt Surge From standstill

[thezoneR32]

Hi guys. Hopefully my thread won’t get closed this time!. I picked up my R32 on Friday and I'm just getting used to how it drives. I have a question for people with dsg. When I first let go of the brake from standstill and first push down the gas, there is a little bit of downward movement without anything and then whump! The power just kicks in. I have to really caress the accelerator pedal to that point before squeezing down hard otherwise it just lurches forward quite abruptly. Is that a normal behaviour of the dsg?

Cheers

[Maverick]

The DSG clutches disengage when your foot is on the brake pedal. You probably just need to adapt to the way the car operates and wait for the clutches to engage before accelerating.

[kryten2001]

yeah the DSG is a bit funny on takeoff, sounds pretty normal.... Try taking your foot off the brake when you're on a hill (without any acceleration)...

No slip there!! It's either go or no....

[thezoneR32]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear that it’s just how the dsg works. I'm starting to get used to it. Took it for another spin tonight. I like the flexibility of the different modes. D is great and very responsive but 's' mode is crazy! A little bit too crazy. I do prefer to drive with traction off though. Much better feedback through corners. With awd why do you need a computer nanny anyway? My liberty 3rb had no traction and handled superb. Need to get used to the paddles yet will take some time. Love this car! Just found out how to get the windows and sunroof to close using the remote! Awesome!

[85turbo]

you can open the windows remotely too
(hold the unlock button down) the windows will roll down.

the sunroof wont open though.

[Nathan_B]

Have you discovered Launch Control yet?

[thezoneR32]

Yes I have! How awesome is that! Love this car! I had a look at the new gti today. The fit-out is superb! Love the new steering wheel and gps. May start a new thread on this.

[weiero]

Yes I have! How awesome is that! Love this car! I had a look at the new gti today. The fit-out is superb! Love the new steering wheel and gps. May start a new thread on this.

I'm a Subaru man thru and thru as i work for them and have driven every model that .... but nothing compares to VW build and quality!! let alone the look i get from fellow Subaru managers when i pull up to work in my GTI!!!

[silver32]

Hey thezoneR32, in you first post, were you referring to taking off on a hill/incline? If so, I think what you describe may be the hill-start assist function. when you hold the brakes, the clutch disengae; when you let go of the brakes, the car continues to hold the brakes for you while it engages the clutch, and when the clutch is sufficiently engaged, the brakes are released, this is where the lunge forward occurs - can't be helped though, that's the nature of the system. congrats on the R32 purchase! Lots of happy kms ahead - watch that speedo - it tends to run away and you don't notice until you see that flash at the corner of your eye.

[bwen]

I do prefer to drive with traction off though. Much better feedback through corners. With awd why do you need a computer nanny anyway? My liberty 3rb had no traction and handled superb.

It's not just TCS it also has ESP and some other ones activated too. Having the ESP button turned on shouldn't affect the 'feedback' of the car anyway. I think that might be the placebo affect..

[thezoneR32]

Hey thezoneR32, in you first post, were you referring to taking off on a hill/incline? If so, I think what you describe may be the hill-start assist function. when you hold the brakes, the clutch disengae; when you let go of the brakes, the car continues to hold the brakes for you while it engages the clutch, and when the clutch is sufficiently engaged, the brakes are released, this is where the lunge forward occurs - can't be helped though, that's the nature of the system. congrats on the R32 purchase! Lots of happy kms ahead - watch that speedo - it tends to run away and you don't notice until you see that flash at the corner of your eye.

No not for hill starts. Any time when I release the brake and go for the gas, I need to concentrate on squeezing the pedal down gently at first to avoid the sudden thump forward it seems to give. If i do it with the right finesse its fine if just stomp on the gas theres a millisecond delay and then whump, in comes the power. Hope this is normal.

And your right about the speed getting away from you. This thing is quick but subtly so. The lib was quick but more obvious.

[85turbo]

one thing you have to remember is that the DSG is NOT a traditional auto.
there's no torque converter in there to absorb the shock of "dumping the clutch"

which is essentially what's happening if you get off the brake then on the throttle too quickly.

my suggestion would be to get off the brake, allow the car to start to move a little before you "mash the loud peddle" see if that technique works for you.

it's not the fastest way off the line, but it is smoother (imho)

Jason.

[thezoneR32]

Thanks for the advice. I'm starting to get the hang of it now. I find if I place my heel snug into the base of gas pedal and squeeze down with the ball of my foot I can get a smooth take off. If I try to point my toe and push with my whole leg theres less finesse and thats when i get a thump forward. All good fun!

Cheers

[silver32]

I actually don't experience this at all, mine seems pretty smooth. Anyone else have this "problem"?
Could it be that he needs a "DSG reset" or calibration to reset the clutch take up points, I've heard of those but not familiar with it...

[thezoneR32]

I think maybe I need to hook up with someone in Adelaide that also has dsg!