VAG DSG opinions?

[Rob P]

Lentilism has effected me to the point where I actually would quite like an automatic

40k miles a year has taken its toll so was thinking about swapping over to a Leon/A3/Golf with the DSG shift, anyone driven one with the 140TDI engine?

Is it smooth? Is it good in fully auto and does it blip the throttle on downchanges?

[I HATE GATSO]

In fully auto its really smooth, in Sport auto up changes are smooth but downshifts are more aggressive and you get a blip. I find i very rarely use the paddle shifts for changing gears, if i want i zap i put it into sport auto. You will also notice a bit of snatch when going from R to D if you press the accelerator to quickly.

Edited to say that's on a 3.2 tt

Edited by I HATE GATSO on Thursday 26th October 18:09

[Rob P]

Thanks

So is it smooth pulling away?

Just been looking at the SEAT website, looks like you can only get the DSG on the 140bhp derv, not the 170 version , strange as you can on the A3 and I pressume its the same engine and box.

[baSkey]

Rob P said:

Thanks

So is it smooth pulling away?

Just been looking at the SEAT website, looks like you can only get the DSG on the 140bhp derv, not the 170 version , strange as you can on the A3 and I pressume its the same engine and box.

seat: you can't get it at all on the 2.0turbo petrol can you? you can't get it on the skodas anyway. it'sa bit of joke how limited the availability is...

[I HATE GATSO]

Pulling away and coming to a stop in D is smooth but in sport coming to a stop is jerky. Make sure its had the ECU software up-grades because mine hadnt and last week in got stuck in 2nd and then was really jerky in every gear, ask for them to do because it probably wont have been done unless its 2006 car.

Edited by I HATE GATSO on Thursday 26th October 18:20

[Rob P]

baSkey said:

Rob P said:

Thanks

So is it smooth pulling away?

Just been looking at the SEAT website, looks like you can only get the DSG on the 140bhp derv, not the 170 version , strange as you can on the A3 and I pressume its the same engine and box.

seat: you can't get it at all on the 2.0turbo petrol can you? you can't get it on the skodas anyway. it'sa bit of joke how limited the availability is...

As far as I can see you can get it on the diesel, just not the more powerful one. SEAT website aint great though..

[ph123]

IMHO it's brilliant.
All other boxes are history.
First came out on 956 Porsches. Omly drawback is that they are still big and heavy. Porsche 911 will have them next.
But they work brilliantly.
The only way to go.

[Luca1973]

only hear good things about it

[lenny007]

Currently driving an A3 S-Line DSG with the 140 diesel lump in it.

DSG? In a word, phenomenal. Want to waft? Leave it in D and all is well. Want back road responses? Plonk it into "manual" and away you go. Coming up to junctions and tap-tap-tap down 3 gears is brilliant. Fly up to a junction in 5th and slam the anchors on and by the time you stop, you're in first.

To be honest, i don't really use the Sport mode of the auto as the other 2 modes suit both my driving styles. Combining the box with the diesel is brilliant. the 2.0TDi is quite peaky - max power is 4K out of 4.5K but the torque is availably low down.

People do report a delay from putting the pedal down to getting a response but i think that it isn't any worse than the manual diesel with the caveat that you pull away in either S or manual.

I'm not entirely sure what i'm going to do when i come to replace my car - i guess i'm now sucked into buying VAG - well, until Porsche gets their DSG in action.

Oh, another matter, its now S-Tronic not DSG. If you are in the nice position to be able to afford and R8, don't get the R-Tronic as it's a rebadged E-Gear from the Gallardo, not DSG.

Put it this way - if it's good enough for the Veyron, it's good enough for me.

[J500ANT]

HWWLTTHMBO has an Altea DSG TDi, very good indeed. I'd recommend them to anyone - thats why my brother now has one too!

Dont forget there is a DSG service needed on them at around 40k iirc, iro £150 for a DSG oil and filter!

[skodaku]

J500ANT said:

HWWLTTHMBO has an Altea DSG TDi, very good indeed. I'd recommend them to anyone - thats why my brother now has one too!

Dont forget there is a DSG service needed on them at around 40k iirc, iro £150 for a DSG oil and filter!

A DSG service, eh ? Bet that's not top of the salesman's list of "Selling Points". Didn't know that, so thanks for the info. Still reckon it's worth it though, but that bit of info might just allow some fun with the salesman when the time comes.

[J500ANT]

skodaku said:

J500ANT said:

HWWLTTHMBO has an Altea DSG TDi, very good indeed. I'd recommend them to anyone - thats why my brother now has one too!

Dont forget there is a DSG service needed on them at around 40k iirc, iro £150 for a DSG oil and filter!

A DSG service, eh ? Bet that's not top of the salesman's list of "Selling Points". Didn't know that, so thanks for the info. Still reckon it's worth it though, but that bit of info might just allow some fun with the salesman when the time comes.

NEVER believe what a salesman says about servicing, or if you do listen to what they say it'll turn out to need it much more often.

[Rob P]

J500ANT said:

skodaku said:

J500ANT said:

HWWLTTHMBO has an Altea DSG TDi, very good indeed. I'd recommend them to anyone - thats why my brother now has one too!

Dont forget there is a DSG service needed on them at around 40k iirc, iro £150 for a DSG oil and filter!

A DSG service, eh ? Bet that's not top of the salesman's list of "Selling Points". Didn't know that, so thanks for the info. Still reckon it's worth it though, but that bit of info might just allow some fun with the salesman when the time comes.

NEVER believe what a salesman says about servicing, or if you do listen to what they say it'll turn out to need it much more often.

The chap who delivered my Leon said no need to run it in, give it a good thrashing from 0 miles to loosen it up. To$$er. In disbelief I got the manual out and the found the bit about keeping the revs below 3000rpm.

[J500ANT]

Rob P said:

The chap who delivered my Leon said no need to run it in, give it a good thrashing from 0 miles to loosen it up. To$$er. In disbelief I got the manual out and the found the bit about keeping the revs below 3000rpm.

If its a diesel then he's right!

Have a look on www.seatcupra.net and theres a load of comments re running in a diesel. It appears to be best practise to use it normally in all honesty. The old Maestro's diesel engine used to glaze the bores if it had been gently run in!

Also see this: www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=540546#post540546

Edited by J500ANT on Saturday 28th October 08:57

Edited by J500ANT on Saturday 28th October 09:02

[Rob P]

J500ANT said:

Rob P said:

The chap who delivered my Leon said no need to run it in, give it a good thrashing from 0 miles to loosen it up. To$$er. In disbelief I got the manual out and the found the bit about keeping the revs below 3000rpm.

If its a diesel then he's right!

Have a look on www.seatcupra.net and theres a load of comments re running in a diesel. It appears to be best practise to use it normally in all honesty. The old Maestro's diesel engine used to glaze the bores if it had been gently run in!

Also see this: www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=540546#post540546

Edited by J500ANT on Saturday 28th October 08:57

Edited by J500ANT on Saturday 28th October 09:02

I've been ranting about this for a year, dont tell me I am wrong

[minghis]

I have this in my 2.0Tdi Passat and I have to say I'm impressed (with the gearbox, not the car...) If you're used to autos you probably won't notice a huge difference other than the fact it's much better to use as a tiptronic, or semi-auto. In drive there really isn't any difference over an ordinary auto IMO.

Probably best suited to those who want to use the tiptronic (sequential) function most of the time, if so than it's good as it changes really quickly and doesn't have the mushiness of an ordinary auto. It matches the engine revs to the downshift gear making for jerk-free changes and will automatically up shift or downshift if you forget whilst in sequential mode giving you the best of both worlds really..

Disadvantages I've found is that mines a bit clunky as there seems to be a bit of slack between gearbox/engine/wheels and it can be a bit hesitant (in drive) when wanting to make a quick getaway - the dealer says they all do that as it has to select 2 gears at the same time, or something like that.

In summary, for the sporting driver who wants control over the gearbox then yes it's good (more so on a petrol than a diesel I would imagine) but if you want to just leave it in drive there isn't really any difference over an ordinary auto. That's just my opinion, though...

[Rob P]

minghis said:

I have this in my 2.0Tdi Passat and I have to say I'm impressed (with the gearbox, not the car...) If you're used to autos you probably won't notice a huge difference other than the fact it's much better to use as a tiptronic, or semi-auto. In drive there really isn't any difference over an ordinary auto IMO.

Probably best suited to those who want to use the tiptronic (sequential) function most of the time, if so than it's good as it changes really quickly and doesn't have the mushiness of an ordinary auto. It matches the engine revs to the downshift gear making for jerk-free changes and will automatically up shift or downshift if you forget whilst in sequential mode giving you the best of both worlds really..

Disadvantages I've found is that mines a bit clunky as there seems to be a bit of slack between gearbox/engine/wheels and it can be a bit hesitant (in drive) when wanting to make a quick getaway - the dealer says they all do that as it has to select 2 gears at the same time, or something like that.

In summary, for the sporting driver who wants control over the gearbox then yes it's good (more so on a petrol than a diesel I would imagine) but if you want to just leave it in drive there isn't really any difference over an ordinary auto. That's just my opinion, though...

Is it the 140bhp Passat? If so its the same engine they match to the DSG in the Leon. The only thing to add is that it is a company car and I think the DSG does not harm the emissions like a normal auto so the tax is lower

[minghis]

Rob P said:

minghis said:

I have this in my 2.0Tdi Passat and I have to say I'm impressed (with the gearbox, not the car...) If you're used to autos you probably won't notice a huge difference other than the fact it's much better to use as a tiptronic, or semi-auto. In drive there really isn't any difference over an ordinary auto IMO.

Probably best suited to those who want to use the tiptronic (sequential) function most of the time, if so than it's good as it changes really quickly and doesn't have the mushiness of an ordinary auto. It matches the engine revs to the downshift gear making for jerk-free changes and will automatically up shift or downshift if you forget whilst in sequential mode giving you the best of both worlds really..

Disadvantages I've found is that mines a bit clunky as there seems to be a bit of slack between gearbox/engine/wheels and it can be a bit hesitant (in drive) when wanting to make a quick getaway - the dealer says they all do that as it has to select 2 gears at the same time, or something like that.

In summary, for the sporting driver who wants control over the gearbox then yes it's good (more so on a petrol than a diesel I would imagine) but if you want to just leave it in drive there isn't really any difference over an ordinary auto. That's just my opinion, though...

Is it the 140bhp Passat? If so its the same engine they match to the DSG in the Leon. The only thing to add is that it is a company car and I think the DSG does not harm the emissions like a normal auto so the tax is lower

Yep - 140bhp. Bad engine, bad car but good gearbox...

[catso]

I have an A3 3.2 with DSG and I like it. I wanted an Auto for some occasions and a manual for others, the DSG gives IMHO the best (or better) of both worlds as you don't get the power loss and 'slushy feel' of a conventional auto and the manual mode shifts faster and smoother than a person can shift a conventional manual, as such acceleration is actually faster than the manual. Occasionally if in 'D' it can get caught 'off-guard' in the wrong gear but that is true for all autos. I never use 'S' as 'D' is best for relaxed auto mode and manual with paddles is more fun for spirited driving.

Only downsides that I have experienced are a 'grabby' start from stop which can make pulling up close to a wall (for example) a little tricky as you can't 'slip' the clutch and any touch of the brake disengages the drive (but you can do it with the handbrake ) and the slight delay when changing from forward to reverse which although not long seems an age if you're in a hurry.

[SJobson]

If you're in a very slow moving queue of traffic (say a serious motorway jam), I always feel more comfortable in an auto and letting it creep rather than slipping a clutch. How does DSG feel in those circumstances?