DSG: Problems, Questions, Likes and Dislikes

[Mk6 Golf]

DSG = I Love It..

Just wanted to start a thread for any DSG owners out there who wish to vent their likes/dislikes/frustration...

My two bobs worth - I love the DSG.

I drive a Golf 103TDI and find the turbo diesel kicks in beautifully and the gear changes, in both standard ("D") and sports ("S") mode, are very smooth, up and down. When I put my foot down, she just kicks down very nicely and takes off like a little rocket. My car has just over 15,000 km on the clock.

Although I've only owned it a few weeks (i.e. was a dealer demo) I think the DSG is one of "the best" parts of my new car. One feature I like (so I read somewhere) is the ability for the transmission to automatically skip gears smoothly, so it can go from 6th to 2nd (when I slow down) very nicely and timed "just right".

Just my opinion anyway!

[Maverick]

I agree with sharkie, If you are after the fastest 0-100 times get DSG and do the DSG hardware and software upgrades (not just a giac flash), just like the MK5 turbo R32 has done as featured in Motor Mag. Otherwise 6MT can handle a bit more punishment.

Why get the DSG hardware and software upgrades when it's not required? It may be for higher output but we're only really talking clutches which can be done when the stock ones wear out but for stage 1,2 and even 3 it's not required on GTI's. There are heaps of high powered cars running stock DSG boxes without problems.

I would stick to manual in small motor cars, just like you wouldn't get auto as you lose power.

DSG gives better fuel economy, is faster, is easier in traffic and can be used in manual mode if required.

[starionx]

Pardon my ignorance, but faster gear changes for the DSG is really only going to be useful for 'racing' purposes. For the majority of people, we are talking about normal everyday commuting and being able to change gears in an instant, is pretty much useless. When I look at a car, the only thing I am interested in (speed wise), is in-gear acceleration (for over-taking).

That being said, the only benefit I can see of the DSG is that you don't have to physically change gears... and where's the fun in that?

[Corey_R]

I would stick to manual in small motor cars, just like you wouldn't get auto as you lose power.

Who said you lose power due to a DSG?

Pardon my ignorance, but faster gear changes for the DSG is really only going to be useful for 'racing' purposes. For the majority of people, we are talking about normal everyday commuting and being able to change gears in an instant, is pretty much useless. When I look at a car, the only thing I am interested in (speed wise), is in-gear acceleration (for over-taking).

That being said, the only benefit I can see of the DSG is that you don't have to physically change gears... and where's the fun in that?

You need to go drive one. The faster changes are amazing even in every day driving, because they make the drive so 'smooth' and power is for all intents and purposes 'smooth'.
There are MANY advantages to the DSG. Basically take most of the advantages of a traditional manual, and most of the advantage of an auto, whack them together, and you have the DSG.

[Mk6 Golf]

Pardon my ignorance, but faster gear changes for the DSG is really only going to be useful for 'racing' purposes. For the majority of people, we are talking about normal everyday commuting and being able to change gears in an instant, is pretty much useless. When I look at a car, the only thing I am interested in (speed wise), is in-gear acceleration (for over-taking). That being said, the only benefit I can see of the DSG is that you don't have to physically change gears... and where's the fun in that?

Have you driving a car with DSG transmission? I have and the experience is amazing, the acceleration is so smooth and (I feel) the DSG maximises the power to the wheel without having to manually use a clutch. Fast gear change is only one part of the DSG, IMO

[starionx]

You need to go drive one. The faster changes are amazing even in every day driving, because they make the drive so 'smooth' and power is for all intents and purposes 'smooth'.
There are MANY advantages to the DSG. Basically take most of the advantages of a traditional manual, and most of the advantage of an auto, whack them together, and you have the DSG.

I've only ever driven manuals. I work nights, so I don't drive in peak hour. I like changing gears. As for smoothness... meh... not a priority (I come from an RX-7 background). I am just trying to justify a $2-3000 extra expense for the DSG, and for me, I can't. To be honest, I currently drive a Mazda 6 mps (manual), and I love it... but I want a small hatch. I am looking at the GTI, but FWD doesn't thrill me (especially with all the ECU 'upgrades' available). I am waiting to see what 'flavours' the R20 comes in.

[G-rig]

Who said you lose power due to a DSG?

I meant you wouldn't buy an auto with a small capacity engine like the old autos..

DSG vs 6MT is all splitting hairs anyway, if you are in a heaps faster car it woudn't matter.

[Corey_R]

Oh, that makes sense G-rig.

And at starionx - go drive a GTI with the 6sp DSG, then come back and have this conversation. You can't understand how good the GTI with its FWD and 6sp DSG is having come from a Mazda background. Different level of engineering quality there

[stormshark]

DSG for the most part brilliant, but in my experience there remains a "Dangerous" element to it in terms of hesitation on take off and uncertainty.Please don't tell me i don't drive the car properly.I am considering a chip mainly to alleviate this.I would never pull out and accelerate in all circumstances that i would not question doing, in previous cars.

[G-rig]

DSG for the most part brilliant, but in my experience there remains a "Dangerous" element to it in terms of hesitation on take off and uncertainty.Please don't tell me i don't drive the car properly.I am considering a chip mainly to alleviate this.I would never pull out and accelerate in all circumstances that i would not question doing, in previous cars.

That's true, my mate nearly got hit and the hesitation was an accident waiting to happen.

Hopefully htey have sorted it out with the MK6.

[Mk6 Golf]

...the hesitation was an accident waiting to happen.

Now you mention it, I have noticed a very slight hesitation when I accelerate from stop. I have the 103 TDI model. Is this a turbo thing or a DSG thing? I know there is a very small lag with the turbo (practically not noticeable for me). I only notice this 'hesitation' from stop to go, not once I'm driving, so guessing it's a DSG thing? Any ideas?

[hoi polloi]

It just means you have to anticipate take-offs... To a certain extent you already do that in a manual anyway...

The reason that a DSG is so good is that unlike a conventional auto - energy is not wasted churning up transmission fluid to drive the wheels... Conventional autos cannot do this (yes, some do have lock-up torque converters that come into play once moving)... This is what traditionally killed performance from automatics in small cars - in big cars it didn't matter so much...

Regards,
- Anthony.

[xblode]

My two cents on DSG

My GTI is basically two cars. On Friday it took me over two hours to get home.

It was in "D" for the vast majority of the trip. Apart from boredom, the drive was easy. The DSG was super smooth. As soon as the traffic cleared, the car turned into something else. A couple of sweepers here and there before home in manual mode. Put the smile back on my face.

Regarding the dead spot when taking off, it reminds me of my XB GT when the auto trans fluid was running low. When cold it would take a second or so to engage gear. The DSG is no where near this second or so but still. I normally get off the brake and only apply throttle once it's engaged so it's not a problem really.

The only issue I have is "S" mode. OK, I understand that "D" is all about economy but "S" is just too far down the other end. If only "S" shifted about 600-1000rpm later than "D" mode, it would be sweet, leaving the full manual mode for those cruises down the coast.

[HereGoes]

haha good ol' forum politics...

I have always been a manual guy but for an auto the DSG impressed me enough to get it.

The good
Smooth
Quick
S is great when you want to go nothing but balls out
D is great in traffic
M is for everything else.

The bad
Lag on take off freaks me out
D going to 6th gear as quick as possible is great for economy but if you need power in a hurry it is doughy and that bang you are all power and going some place not nice. I would not like to test it in an emergency

The verdict
It is the best auto out there but still an auto, gotta take the good with the bad and over all i love it... with a little hate through in every now and again.

[G-rig]

Shame you can't have both somehow, DSG is almost there hopefully. keen to try it out next time but the jerkiness and hesitation worries me a bit.