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

[les88]

VW have made > 1,000,000 DSG boxes they should have it right by now. I love mine a choice of 3 boxes... manual... power auto.. and economy drive
les

[Northy]

seeings as this is a rather large thread about DSG id like to ask a Q. I have an R36 Passat on order and it arrives in a few weeks one thing that has me wonder is how the DSG behaves when in the "Manual" mode...at what point will it change down a gear to stop the car from stalling, When hard on the gas will it kick down or will id drive through the selected gear.

Thanks Corey

[mr_walker]

seeings as this is a rather large thread about DSG id like to ask a Q. I have an R36 Passat on order and it arrives in a few weeks one thing that has me wonder is how the DSG behaves when in the "Manual" mode...at what point will it change down a gear to stop the car from stalling, When hard on the gas will it kick down or will id drive through the selected gear.

Thanks Corey

My Jetta's DSG shifts down through the gears if I forget to drop it out of tiptronic mode when I stop. Not sure if it shifts up by itself when accelerating, cause I haven't had the balls to push it

[Steve]

I only drive our DSG equipped Golf GTI in "manual mode" and use a combination of the paddles and tapping the stick to change gears.

I down shift on hills and when slowing down, but I do know that it shifts down when the car is stopped. I just don't know when

There is a "notch" in the accelerator pedal... kind of a false floor. Floor it, and it often stays in the gear you're in. Push through that floor and the box changes down and gives you another couple of centimetres of accelerator travel. Putting it in fifth or sixth and going flat to the floor without pushing through the notch will cause the car to stay in fifth or sixth and speed up.

I've found that when giving it heaps, it is reluctant to hold gears on the edge of the red... and that's good. It changes up a few hundred RPM in to the red in manual mode, and about the same when stuck in sport mode. If the box is being an automatic and doesn't change gears itself until well in to the red, it can't be too bad for the engine... right? Right?!

[anthony]

I have always had manual cars,but when I deceided to update from my Astra,drove the manual and auto Jetta,and thought that the auto suited the car much more.
So drive both,but am really happy with my lazy decision.

[mr_walker]

There is a "notch" in the accelerator pedal... kind of a false floor

I didn't know about that - thanks for the info. I'll have to find a quiet stretch of road and check it out. It's a bit hard in the daily commute, because I never get anywhere near the end of the accelerator travel...

[metrolex]

I think the case for DSG over the manual shift is stronger where:

the engine is diesel;
the driving is predominantly city-based;
the variant is neither GTI nor TSI.

I chose a manual GTI and had had a manual 'GTD' on order.

However, were I intending to acquire a GTD in future I would seriously consider the DSG (even though my wife and I are fervent manual drivers).

[dontsailbackwards]

DSG - I like it

Noob here - Google led me here. No wonder those guys are so rich - goo on 'em.

I'm in the process of replacing my aging chariot which is minutes away from mechanical suicide.

In the last couple of days I have settled on a Series V Golf TDI DSG. I drove ...

1. an '07 Comfortline petrol 2.0 auto - better than my POS but a bit of a slug
2. an 07 Comfortline TDI manual - much fun to be had there - heaps of torque..
3. a series 4 '04 2.0 auto for comparison purposes. Nice car but the series 5 is nicer. The salesman with the series 4 recommended we get a series 5. Nice guy actually - Brad at SAAP autos in Glebe.

The missus wants an auto & I'm inclined to agree so we drove

4. an 07 Comfortline TDI DSG with 54k on the clock. The DSG is a great match fro the diesel. I like it, I want it. We got the dealer down from $30k to $25k with my '94 Calais as a trade, so $25,001 net.

As for future sales values, people still but Alfa Romeo Selespeeds and they are a timebomb. Ask anyone in the industry about buying a used Alfa, referring to reliability and the will answer with " f.....". But, they still sell and at a premium over the manuals.

So, I think DSG will hold its value ok and if the $6k rebuild is a reasonably accurate figure then that's almost tolerable.

When I buy one I'll post about it & join in.

Thanks to all for posting your experiences here - they are valuable, especially to a noob like me who knows cars, just not this one.

Now, if I can convince my mate to swap for his '08 VR32 ....

[Mischa]

whoever told you guys 6k... try 15k.

[blue_reality]

Yesterday I test drove a GTI with DSG and it is an auto - simple as that. I say that in light of people thinking that driving a DSG will be a totally unique experience. It isn't. It is quick, smooth, sounds nice on gear change, but the paddles feel really small and light to me. I was expecting a bit more of a click or a thud.

I'll be going manual, but as the car will be shared with my wife, I asked her, and she wants manual too. So WIN WIN.

[jb747]

Yesterday I test drove a GTI with DSG and it is an auto - simple as that.

I disagree with you entirely. Yep, a DSG will happily look after itself, but for it to be an auto, it would really need to have a torque converter. It doesn't. Its got a clutch...but you don't have to control it. To me, the experience is quite different to an auto...and different to a manual too. Very much horses for courses..but I'd only consider the manual on the GTI or petrol GT. The TDI and R32 are loads nicer with the DSG.

[VW Convert]

I disagree with you entirely. Yep, a DSG will happily look after itself, but for it to be an auto, it would really need to have a torque converter. It doesn't. Its got a clutch...but you don't have to control it. To me, the experience is quite different to an auto...and different to a manual too. Very much horses for courses..but I'd only consider the manual on the GTI or petrol GT. The TDI and R32 are loads nicer with the DSG.

I'm with you (to a point) jb747, DSG is noticeably different to any auto I've ever driven. Whilst it functions as an automatic, it can definitely be felt that it is a self changing manual gearbox. I disagree about only considering a manual behind the TFSI engine as I feel this engine and the DSG is a sweet combination.

As always, it is each to their own and the choice between DSG and manual is a nice dilemma to be faced with.

Cheers

George

[jb747]

.... I disagree about only considering a manual behind the TFSI engine as I feel this engine and the DSG is a sweet combination.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I would consider a manual on the GTI and petrol GT and that's the only time I would think about the manual. Not, that's the only gearbox I'd consider with those cars. I'm a real DSG convert, so I'd be unlikely to buy manual if I could get a DSG.

[VW Convert]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I would consider a manual on the GTI and petrol GT and that's the only time I would think about the manual. Not, that's the only gearbox I'd consider with those cars. I'm a real DSG convert, so I'd be unlikely to buy manual if I could get a DSG.

Sorry, misunderstood what you were saying, understand now. Looks like we are both DSG converts! LOL

Cheers

George