What's the DSG like to drive?

[brw0513]

I'm keen to find out more about owning a Polo GTI. The long lead time is a surprising shock though! And may actually make me look at other options.

Not sure how to ask this question in the right way.......But....What is the DSG like to drive?

I'm hoping in "manual mode" its crisp clean faultless gear changes on command. With a nice shove in the back changing up and and a little blip on the throttle when changing down.

My current car is a Peugeot 205Gti. I really enjoy ripping gently through the immediate gears and feeling that seductive shove in the back as the car accelerates nicely.

The Polo GTI should be right up my alley I reckon, but keen to hear of others experience.

Thanks.

Ian

[yas786]

The DSG is awesome man. Manual mode for when you miss the feeling of control of a conventional manual, and sport mode for when you want sporty gear changes but allows you to still focus on the twisties.

[bizarre]

I have always hated autos with a passion
I have always driven old school hi po VW's (1975 bug) - obviously a manual

Whatever - I LOVE the DSG

I would call it an intellegent auto.
I have found it changes down on occasions when you want it and gives engine braking - rolling/coasting down hill.
The sport mode is fun.
Personally I find the 7 speed in manual form just too many gears to choose from and just leave it in D for 75% of the time and S when I know the coast is clear

[brw0513]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

I got a call from my local Dealer today Seems a test drive to find out first hand is going to be as likely as finding a chicken with a great set of pearly whites smiling at me while perched on top of a steaming mound of rocking horse poo.

Although my memory is crap these days, I'm quite sure the Dealer told me "this won't be a car for you if you are not prepared to wait for 12 months to take delivery". That was a rather deflating episode.

If this really is the VW sales mantra, then I'm shocked. It's a bit hard to sell a secret isn't it?

[RoknRob]

I went through a broker to get mine quicker. It worked. Took only 2 months.

The dealer has lent me a silver 3 door GTI - their demo - while they perform some warranty work on mine... when I give it back, maybe give them a call for a test drive? PM me for details if interested.

[ATYPIC]

My feeling is the DSG prefers to be driven harder... as opposed to pottering along in slow traffic where the shifting in D mode is a little odd at times.

[Gambit]

I gotta say. the Polo GTI is a brilliant drive even with the DSG, this is coming from someone who also drives a 400bhp Subaru.
Not only is the power to weight ratio great, but its lightness and feel mid corner and its slingshot pull out of a corner is a blast. The 7sp DSG is just very much misunderstood.

[broxigar1983]

I gotta say. the Polo GTI is a brilliant drive even with the DSG, this is coming from someone who also drives a 400bhp Subaru.
Not only is the power to weight ratio great, but its lightness and feel mid corner and its slingshot pull out of a corner is a blast. The 7sp DSG is just very much misunderstood.

+1... for the last part

The DSG is awesome in the TSI, flying up and down the gears are quick and seamless and as Gambit pointed out, drop a few gears and it is like a slingshot out of corners or when overtaking slower cars

[nomodlowkmgti]

Fast frontwheel drive shoot out motor mag june said

It doesn,t always downshift when commanded to.You cant short shift if flooring it .it will kick down to lower ratio not hold the gear even in manual mode.By the way the story was a good read .

[Miles Away]

Its great, I wouldnt go for anything else to be honest. Its smooth in D and the S mode is just incredible. My only complaint is that the S mode doesnt adjust itself to your driving style like the HSV's do. But then again this gearbox is a million times better!

[pologti18t]

I quite enjoyed the DSG in the 2 polo GTIs I drove. Didn't experience any of the "issues" others seems to have had (starting on a hill, reversing).
Then again I treated it much like an auto and didn't try to confuse it with sudden/dramatic changes in throttle (which confuse normal torque converter autos as well).

Found S mode far too hyper for around town. Held gears far too long before changing up. Probably good for a mountain fang

[RoknRob]

I quite enjoyed the DSG in the 2 polo GTIs I drove. Didn't experience any of the "issues" others seems to have had (starting on a hill, reversing).
Then again I treated it much like an auto and didn't try to confuse it with sudden/dramatic changes in throttle (which confuse normal torque converter autos as well).

Found S mode far too hyper for around town. Held gears far too long before changing up. Probably good for a mountain fang

I agree. For around town D is ideal - and way more economical. Just be wary of that initial lag when taking off.

S is fantastic on windy mountain roads!

[Ralfi]

Seeing as i'm still struggling to score a test drive in the new Polo GTI (will be trying again today), i'd really like to know peoples comparisons between the 9N3 & 6R GTI Polos & whether they think the DSG is as much fun as the full manual? Most media reviews seem to say no, but most of those who have the 6R here seem to be very happy with the DSG, though i'm not sure they've driven the 9N3 for very long or at all, to compare the two properly? Very interested in this..thanks.

[Gambit]

Can't compare to the older gti manual but I regularly swap between my manual Subaru 6 sp manual and the gti dsg, and the dsg is a breath of fresh air when i want to take a relaxing drive in D mode around town. Or Switch to S mode for a late night fang or early morning mountain run, and it's a pleasure, to rev out to redline where it should shift at for an attack style run.

[Frostee]

I've always friven manuals and just came from a 6 speed manual Mini Cooper S. I have to say I love the GTI on so many counts, one of which is the DSG transmission. As Gambit says it is a breath of fresh air. I also agree with the comments re the use of D and S modes. Also, manual gear change in either mode is fun and intuitive. It is really easy to get into the zone with those paddles.

Being a predominately city driver I cannot imagine myself going back to anything but what I have now or similar. Coming from a person who has traditionally said he hates auto's is quite a statement.