To DSG, or not to DSG. That is the question.

[vectorskink]

We have been waiting to be able to comfortably afford a new TDI Jetta - about two years now! (interest rate rises haven't helped). We are at the stage where we almost need to take the plunge now, as our current car is acting up and will probably need some costly repairs.
Once again, I am starting to gather quotes etc and was wondering what would be better for resale - DSG or manual.
I am assuming the DSG as ANYONE can drive it then. My wife and I love manuals though and were wondering if a manual would limit our resale audience too much?
We are leasing(novated) the car for three years....

Thanks!

[Steve]

I reckon you have to be a massive fan of a traditional manual gearbox or have some fairly substantial engine modifications planned or be a bit of a tight arse to skip the DSG.

The DSG is faster, more efficient, and easier to live with...!

[Tim]

If youre are a fan of driving a manual then id say stick with the manual. I dont think resale will differ much. Although having said that DSG is a bit of an unknown out of warranty. Their values may suffer more if their long term reliability is compromised. Only time can tell.

DSG is faster yes. But not having a clutch pedal bothers me!
Just have a look through the forums for threads like "my dsg doesnt downshift when i want it to" or "My DSG gearbox had to be replaced cos VW didnt have any idea what was wrong with it"

If you want an Auto. Buy a DSG. If you want a manual. Buy a Manual.

And for all the people that are gonna whinge cos i called the DSG an Auto. Well.. I dont care how many clutches it has. If it shifts automatically then im calling it an Auto



My biased world according to Tim. (yes i bought the manual)

[Logzy]

We have been waiting to be able to comfortably afford a new TDI Jetta - about two years now! (interest rate rises haven't helped). We are at the stage where we almost need to take the plunge now, as our current car is acting up and will probably need some costly repairs.
Once again, I am starting to gather quotes etc and was wondering what would be better for resale - DSG or manual.
I am assuming the DSG as ANYONE can drive it then. My wife and I love manuals though and were wondering if a manual would limit our resale audience too much?
We are leasing(novated) the car for three years....

Thanks!

I would disregard the resale value.
Drive both in the TDI Jetta then make your decision.
I think you and your wife will be pleasantly surprised with the DSG, especially with the TDI engine.

[motk]

What Logzy said - don't worry about resale, it won't really make much difference, though AFAICS the DSG option is one of the options that don't evaporate in terms of resale value as the years go on.

Best idea is to drive both - a good drive, not just round the block and see what the seat of your bum says. Both have their pros and cons and you won't lose either way you choose to go.

[gareth_oau]

When I buy a car, I buy it with the features I want, not what the next purchaser might want in a few years.

If youre going to enjoy yrself for 3 years, dont worry so much about resale value of Manual vs DSG - use yr heart, not yr head to choose.

i personally prefer a manual. I acknowledge that the DSG's etc are technically superior and quicker, but at the same time, for me, part of "driving" is changing gears, getting the clutch right etc.

I'm also one of the fortunate few whose wife also insists on a manual!!!

If i wanted an automatic, I'd buy myself a playstation!!

(i'm also fortunate that I dont do much peak hour stop/start - so the manual doesnt bother me there either)

[STV4SYT]

I have had manual cars since i started driving 14 years ago. ive been an avid "auto hater" for all of that time. I now drive GT TDI DSG and i love it. i used to occasionally miss the clutch pedal, but im over that now. If i want to fang it i knock the gear lever to the left and use the paddles, traffic is so much easier, yes there are a couple of little things that arent 100% but u adapt your driving to them. IMO u have the best of both worlds, and i dont think resale will be affected.

[neil]

Test drive both.
Remember:
You need to be in the DSG for some time so it can adjust to your style
of driving. Its no good just going around the block if the person before you
drove it like a race car, as it will have adjusted to their style and you may
find you don't like the DSG because of it.

This is my first DSG, have always had manual and will not go back.
I stick it in D and let it do the work, have never changed the DSG manually
because I want Auto.

[mrx]

When I buy a car, I buy it with the features I want, not what the next purchaser might want in a few years.

If youre going to enjoy yrself for 3 years, dont worry so much about resale value of Manual vs DSG - use yr heart, not yr head to choose.

i personally prefer a manual. I acknowledge that the DSG's etc are technically superior and quicker, but at the same time, for me, part of "driving" is changing gears, getting the clutch right etc.

I'm also one of the fortunate few whose wife also insists on a manual!!!

If i wanted an automatic, I'd buy myself a playstation!!

(i'm also fortunate that I dont do much peak hour stop/start - so the manual doesnt bother me there either)

Couldn't agree more.

I drove both and straight away knew the DSG wasn't for me. It wasn't at all cost related.

I've also got one of those wives!

[Mischa]

i owned a dsg for a year and was so bored with it and have gone back to a manual again. its nothing compared to a manual... although of course the dsg owners will tell you otherwise. and you pay an extra 2.5k at purchase; your dsg car is NOT going to be worth anything near 2.5k more than the manual equivalent at the end of your lease. a good condition manual would still go for more than an average condition dsg. vw's are enjoying such a high resale value anwyay you hardly have to worry. go the manual dont sell out on yourself

[OilBurna]

If you drive in traffic a lot, ie the city get the DSG you won't regret it, 99% of the time will change gears faster and smoother, I've always had manuals and don't regret it at all, plus the wife can drive it also. Only unknown is maintenance / repairs out of warranty. Someone said replacement cost is $16,000??

[Mischa]

If you drive in traffic a lot, ie the city get the DSG you won't regret it, 99% of the time will change gears faster and smoother, I've always had manuals and don't regret it at all, plus the wife can drive it also. Only unknown is maintenance / repairs out of warranty. Someone said replacement cost is $16,000??

i thought id be the same as you. i commute in half an hour of the heaviest traffic known to man and i still prefer the manual

[OilBurna]

I'm a lazy old fart now mischa.. even the new Evo and also GTR have DSG style gearboxes way of the future... BMW M3 has one coming as do Porsche etc.

[blutopless2]

as everyone else has said ^^^^
buy it for your own reasons and not for its resale etc... as anything can happen to the second hand market whilst you have the car.

i bought a jetta TSI earlier this year and was initially spewin it came with only the DSG as both my wife and I only have manuals in our other cars. Having said that we are both happy with its performance, and liking it more each time we drive it.
Even though the DSG is great i think we would've picked the manual if we had the option.
Good luck on the purchase.

[Mischa]

I'm a lazy old fart now mischa.. even the new Evo and also GTR have DSG style gearboxes way of the future... BMW M3 has one coming as do Porsche etc.

well im a self confessed young hot head so what can ya do