DSG

[tyranical]

What do people think of it? (the DSG gearbox i'm referring to, stating this to eliminate the possibility of any "hey I think i'm funny" replies like the 1 below) I like the sound of it in theory but in real use i'm not sure if i'd like it?

Edited by tyranical on Sunday 16th January 12:47

Edited by tyranical on Sunday 16th January 12:47

[Flintstone]

It has a nice ring to it and could be a tantric chant if you say it over and over again. DSG, DSG, DSG, DSGDSG, DSGDSGDSGDSGDSGDSG.....ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

As an aside I'd suggest EOA ASAP before TMP log in with 'WTF?'.

[sebhaque]

Appreciate the technology but when they go wrong they're very costly to fix. My old TT was a DSG and while it worked it was brilliant - seamless acceleration - but when the gearbox goes wrong there are horror stories of costing up to £4000 to fix it

[cuprabob]

I love it but it's like marmite. It has a few traits that you need to drive around and change you're driving style to get the most out of it. It also depends what it's connected to. I have a lovely 3.2 V6 which it suits to a tee.

Only thing to do is test drive one for an extended period and make yo're own mind up.

[Rich_W]

Unless you drive "spiritedly" everywhere. You'll get bored of flicking the paddles all the time and leave it in Auto mode 95% of the time. It's a well sorted system, but it IS an automated manual.


EDITED OUT MISINFORMATION SORRY! So when sitting at lights ON HILLS too many people leave it in D with their foot on the brakes, slipping the clutches. Which aren't cheap.

Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 16th January 19:09

[m30dus]

I had one in tuned A3 2.0 TFSI and it bored me to tears. It changed very much like an auto with almost seamless changes regardless whether you stuck it in auto, or used the paddles. Also, even in manual mode it would still force up/down shifts if it thought best (although I beleive you can re-map the gearbox to resolve this).

Of course the seamless changes are good (read fast) but I much prefer the mechanical clunk and roughness you get with the older BMW SMG boxes and that in the likes of the F430 F1, which, in my opinion offer the best of both worlds.

Edited by m30dus on Sunday 16th January 12:54

[PKLD]

G/f has auto only licence and I like driving so it was the best/only compromise I would have! Test drove other auto & even cvt and they left me cold.

I still prefer the manual in my company car but as some northern ph'ers will know the TT is surprisingly quick in a straight line as there is no break in acceleration! Launch control is fun for childish behaviour as well

[J500ANT]

Another who needs a 2 pedal car, so I love DSG. Not had any issues with the DSG cars i've had, my brother has a SEAT Altea dsg, 92k and no DSG issues so far. I previously agreed about leaving it in auto, but on my Leon FR I used the paddles and enjoyed it more. Will miss those when the replacement Altea dsg (7spd) arrives.

[Sam_68]

After about 4,500 miles with one, I'm still undecided...

As above: the paddle shift is a novelty that I don't use very often.

The fast, seamless gearchanges are nice when you're accelerating in a straight line (nice to be able to overtake a long stream of cars without worrying about the rev limiter and timing your next upchange), but it does sometimes get it wrong and give a snatchy gearchange, or get confused by steep gradients or bends and give you an inappropriate/unsettling shift.

If you think of it as a conventional automatic with a much sharper response than the average torque converter, you're about there.

Edited by Sam_68 on Sunday 16th January 13:39

[thinfourth2]

I still want know if there is anything mechanical to stop them selecting two gears at once

[kambites]

thinfourth2 said:

I still want know if there is anything mechanical to stop them selecting two gears at once

You mean by both clutches engaging simultaneously? I'd always assumed that that was mechanically impossible, but I don't actually know.

[Rich_W]

It is so long as nothings broken. The clutch lever is either on Clutch 1 or Clutch 2. And the selector shafts are such that its either/or not both. Very much like a regular manual cannot engage 2 gears.

Heres a vid
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2491445337...

Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 16th January 14:25

[stabilio]

For me its a natural progression in the world of motoring.
So many people slate DSG (or whatever the manufacturer calls it) without trying it. In my last 3 previous cars a manual wasn't an option and i was sceptical but its so much better with DSG.

The thought of using another pedal, moving a stick and constantly dipping the accelerater to me now just seems ancient

[redtwin]

"So when sitting at lights too many people leave it in D with their foot on the brakes, slipping the clutches. Which aren't cheap."

Really?. This sounds a serious design flaw. Why wouldn't the clutches be fully disengaged while stationary with foot on the brake?

[Scuffers]

redtwin said:

"So when sitting at lights too many people leave it in D with their foot on the brakes, slipping the clutches. Which aren't cheap."

Really?. This sounds a serious design flaw. Why wouldn't the clutches be fully disengaged while stationary with foot on the brake?

they are.

only time they are not is if you sit in gear with no foot on brake.

[cuprabob]

The clutcvhes do disengage fully when you are sitting at the lights with your foot on the brake, That's why there is a small delay before it creeps or drives when pulling away which a lot of people don't like, but you do get used to it. One of the traits I was referring to.

The other main one is when slowing down for roundabouts and then you need to accelerate quicky for a gap it seems to take ages to select the correct gear. Only seems like ages cause you're waiting for it whereas in the manual you're mind is occupied by physically changing gear. Always seems longer waiting for something than doing it.

[Sam_68]

redtwin said:

"So when sitting at lights too many people leave it in D with their foot on the brakes, slipping the clutches. Which aren't cheap."

Really?. This sounds a serious design flaw. Why wouldn't the clutches be fully disengaged while stationary with foot on the brake?

I can't honestly say that I've tried to work it out (mine is a company car, repair bills/maintenance costs aren't a worry), but:

• The owners handbook categorically states that it is fine to leave it in D and hold it on the brakes at lights and junctions.
• When you take your foot off the brake (with the box in D) there is a slight delay before it will start to creep forward like a normal automatic.

I had assumed, therefore, that the same switch that triggers the brake lights tells the gearbox to disengage the clutch fully when you have zero forward speed, but I could be wrong.

And then, of course, there's the 'hill hold' function, that stops the car rolling back for a couple of seconds when you come off the brake and onto the throttle for a hill start. This appears to be acheived with the brakes rather than by slipping the clutch, 'cos I can't detect and change in engine note or load when it is activated.

[redtwin]

Wow, that is a shocker I will be giving them a wide berth then. If I wanted to faff about with shifting levers or paddles or switches every time I came to a stop I would have bought a manual.

Over half a century of automotive engineering advances and not even the mighty VAG can better the good old torque converter equipped autobox.

[redtwin]

Right so the score is 2 for the clutches slip team and 2 for the clutches don't slip team.

[Sam_68]

redtwin said:

If I wanted to faff about with shifting levers or paddles or switches every time I came to a stop I would have bought a manual.

Re-read the three posts immediately above.

You don't need to faff about with anything - you leave it in D.

The clutches disengage themselves when you come to a standstill with your foot on the brake. Take your foot off the brake and it will start to creep forward, just like a 'normal' automatic.