power lag with new T5 with DSG

[sga]

Sold my 128kW T5 with tiptronic and have bought the current model T5 - 103kW with 7 speed DSG. Wish I had my old T5 back for several reasons but the most annoying one is the frustrating lag in power delivery when taking off from stationary. It's not only frustrating but on occasions is dangerous!
Local VW service manager says its due to a programming issue between the engine and dsg when responding to the demand for power from the (drive by wire) accelerator. He doesn't know if VW are going to bring out a program update for one or other of the affected control units.
Does anyone know if there is a fix for this?
Cheers

[Sunny43.5]

To me this seems like a typical VW thing bring out new technology and create new issues . Here is my current problem I had back in 2004 a T4 2.5 petrol that I used for my business , after righting it off decided to buy T5 , went to VW dealer and checked out options with engines etc . I couldn,t justify the cost of the 2.5 turbo diesel model and was told by the dealer not to bother with the 1.9 diesel . So next question what about a 2.5 petrol ?? no not available anymore VW have come out with a 2.0 litre petrol that delivers the same power as the old 2.5 . What a crock what they had done was to put a smaller capacity engine with more modern fuel injection but the trick they pulled was to lower the final drive ratio so from the 2.5 at 100KMH sitting on about 3000 rpm the new one is doing 3400 for the same 100kmh !!!!! . I will be quite honest here , this 2.0 litre struggles to go places that the old one would easily handle , and if I were to load it up to the rated load carrying I doubt it would handle the hill I live on the side of , as it is now the clutch has just about had it because I have had places that it will not drive out of without slipping the clutch . Howard

[Tornado T5]

I understand exactly sga as I had to get used to this on the loan van while my conventional auto T5 was being serviced. I think you have to really change your driving technique with the DSG. I found that getting off the brake when stationary at lights earlier and relying on hill hold to keep you still before moving forward was the way to go. No matter what others have said the "old fashioned" box is just superior for driving smoothness in constant stop-start traffic, which is how most of Melb, Syd, Brisbane metro driving is. My loan van was also a 103 kw model and I think that would have also aided to your feeling of inferiority in the T5GP as it hasn't got the torque/power delivery of the old 2.5tdi and only the new 132kW version is where the T5GP become the better option, if coming from a 128kW T5. It's probably the first time ever for me where my current vehicle is just perfect for me and the new model offers no compelling reason to upgrade apart from the 132kW/awd version.

[Transporter]

It's probably the first time ever for me where my current vehicle is just perfect for me and the new model offers no compelling reason to upgrade apart from the 132kW/awd version.

It's amazing feeling, isn't it.
I could install RNS510 in mine and pretend that I have a new van.

[sga]

Thanks for your reply Tornado T5, it has helped me understand where I'm at with this i.e. what I'm facing. I will try your suggested technique for taking off, thanks for the suggestion.
I could get the van retuned via Superchips to get a boost in torque and power which would bring it up to the 2.5 T5 but I would still have the lag wouldn't I?

[sga]

Thanks for your comment Transporter. What does RNS510 refer to please? Also, what are your thoughts about retuning the T5GP (using Superchips) i.e. should I be worried about shortening the life of the engine to any significant extent due to running it at the higher state of tune?

[Seano]

What you are experiencing is a relatively normal aspect of DSG's. To that end, you can get DSG's retuned (just like an ECU). But if thee were me....either swap it for a manual or adapt your driving style.

[T5Pete]

this is the reason i didn't get DSG. however try the following. left foot on brake (I think basically it dips the clutch at stop) right foot on gas to bring up revs then release brake. I drove the polo tsi and it was terrible trying to pull a right turn through traffic. I didn't try the above tho. basically it needs to get the revs up before letting the clutch go. I'd love to know if this works. my theory behind this was that i had a light foot on the brake whist in drive and pulled on the handbrake and let the brake go and the car wanted to pull itself off the handbrake touching the brake seemed to remove drive.

[Tornado T5]

Thanks for your comment Transporter. What does RNS510 refer to please? Also, what are your thoughts about retuning the T5GP (using Superchips) i.e. should I be worried about shortening the life of the engine to any significant extent due to running it at the higher state of tune?

the RNS510 is a high end VW satnav RNS510 < Innovative Technology < Volkswagen World < Volkswagen Australia

[Tornado T5]

Thanks for your reply Tornado T5, it has helped me understand where I'm at with this i.e. what I'm facing. I will try your suggested technique for taking off, thanks for the suggestion.
I could get the van retuned via Superchips to get a boost in torque and power which would bring it up to the 2.5 T5 but I would still have the lag wouldn't I?

I believe I may have read in some roadtest that this DSG characteristic isn't as "bad" in the 132kW engined versions although I now can't find that review. Then again I'm not sure why the engine output would make any difference however it was a point raised specifically in that article. I have to admit that 250km later when I was returning the loan van I think I was gettig used to it until I drove out in my own van after pick-up. I missed the lightening fast gear changes but gained slow speed smoothness.

[sga]

Hi Howard, sorry to hear about your frustration. The 2.5 T5 was a stronger, more powerful and smoother vehicle to drive wasn't it? It was also finished off to a higher standard in regard to seats, instrumentation, steering wheel and plastic finishes inside cabin. I presume yours is a manual, if so how do you find the gear changing - smooth and positive (apart from having to ride the clutch in some situations)?

[Lams]

I went from a manual 1.9TDI caddy to a 1.6TDI DSG caddy
I've owned it for a month now and you do have to adjust to it - I usually let the hill hold feature hold the car before I take off, I find it helps to get the turbo spooling sooner. I also find I'm in tiptronic mode most of the time
VW makes more money by making DSG a compulsory option... then there's the DSG service at 60000km which requires 5L of DSG oil at $70/L! VW is not stupid