Do you actually use the DSG, or is it always in automatic mode?

[DarkCloudNebulae]

Thanks Coreying,
I hear ya about the timing, and I was suggesting it more as a response to needing two clutch pedals. not too much as a serious option (though you never know what you will see).

I have read (I think on this forum) about the Scirocco having a DSG also that did not auto shift in S and manual and this was why I was asking, however Ill have to go back and dig it up and recheck it, I looked a while ago about the DSG well before the new Polo was coming up.

I will defiantly test drive the new Polo once available, however I am very happy with the current one for now! Just always interested in the way things work. I guess this is one of simple differences between a sequential manual or a 'DSG' style box.

Very interesting stuff anyway! Thankyou for the info!!

Cheers
DCN

[nau]

after few days in my new GTI got only one thing to say about DSG.... its fantastic in auto but in manual really dont see much use for it unless u want buttons to push...
big thing about downshifting (in other cars that I drove in a last few years) that u can slow down without breaking .... GTI just goes in higher revs without any issues and a bit more sound to it ... cant really say that Im disappointed and maybe it will grow on me but thats just how it is in my opinion

[hooba]

Old car saying, gears are for go, brakes are for slow. If you don't believe me, get a quote on how much a clutch versus a brake pad replacement costs.

[rossw]

Old car saying, gears are for go, brakes are for slow. If you don't believe me, get a quote on how much a clutch versus a brake pad replacement costs.

There are two different things here that people often confuse.

1 . Slowing down for a corner or traffic lights. Here it makes a lot of sense to use the brakes rather than trying to use the clutch or torque converter as a brake.

2. Holding speed down a steep hill. Here, it makes more sense to shift to a lower gear and allow the engine braking to stop you from speeding up (with the clutch fully engaged, i.e. not slipping). If you use the brakes continuously instead, they will heat up and on older cars or a long descent, may stop working before you get to the bottom. In extreme cases you can warp or crack the discs.

There is no wear caused to the engine because the load is a small fraction of what it sees when you accelerate. Oil continues to circulate and there is no harm done at all. There is no wear caused to the clutch (manual or DSG) because apart from actual gear changes it is fully engaged, unless you are terrible at downchanges.

So yes, actively slowing down - use brakes and match gears only, don't brake using the clutch. Holding speed on a descent - use a lower gear and avoid riding the brakes. A lot of modern automatics will do this for you if they sense excessive brake usage (eg, Mitsubishi, Honda, others).

There is a good reason why steep descents will have a sign that says "trucks must use low gear". IT's a good idea in a car too, manual or auto

[7R]

30% manual control, 70% fully let it do its own thing. I do however put the selector into N if I am stuck in peak hour traffic. Take it out of D, S or M+- for the time I am sitting in queues which is a lot in Sydney. Also even in D or S I tend to drive it like manual just without a clutch pedal so I work the accelerator through the revs in each gear and use throttle position to prompt gear changes as much as possible.

Its a great box - I do miss manual but the downshift farts from the exhaust, especially in S are great the hear.

[brimway]

Around town / traffic, I let it do its own thing. I hardly ever use S unless I need to get away quick from the lights. The DSG is a bit smarter than me at selecting the right gear to suit a myriad of variables, although it is nice when I get it right in M mode.

[AdamD]

I do however put the selector into N if I am stuck in peak hour traffic. Take it out of D, S or M+- for the time I am sitting in queues which is a lot in Sydney.

I've read (but haven't had confirmed) that VW don't recommend this behaviour because by putting the gearbox in neutral, it's not circulating oil and cooling the gearbox and clutches as it otherwise would. I'm not suggesting that's correct, but in the absence of definitive evidence to the contrary, best to be aware of it.

[Candyman]

Car is pretty much in S mode all the time (appears to be much more well behaved than it was in our GTI, where it was a maniac).

D mode in really really heavy traffic and if I use it other times, I mix it up with the paddles.

Manual mode rarely these days. If I was only using manual mode, I would not have bought a DSG.

[GTREA]

99% Auto

Occasionally I blip it up and down

[Rob_R]

100% of the time in manual mode for me.

[ConR]

Yup. With above. Manual almost all the time.

[Candyman]

100% of the time in manual mode for me.

Should have bought a manual then

[Rob_R]

Should have bought a manual then

It is a manual...... they just forgot to put the third pedal in !!

[Candyman]

It is a manual...... they just forgot to put the third pedal in !!

Gee, first thing after Easter, get that car into VW - you have a lemon

[Rob_R]

Gee, first thing after Easter, get that car into VW - you have a lemon

Hahahahaha!!!!! Imagine their faces if I drop by with that complaint.