DSG - Anyone use the +/- nudge changer?

[Kev]

I was out for a while earlier and realised I'd never really tried the shifter nudge to change gear so tried it out for a few miles.
mmm
I'd rather use the paddles.

It felt a little backwards to me. I think I'd like to pull for up changes and push for down changes.

Does anyone use it on a regular basis?

[stuaz]

I have had a play with it on the Scirocco I have at the moment (Only cos it didn't have the paddles - one of the many missing things!).

I find the only use I have for it is in slow traffic on hills - doing around 40 -50 on hills means I will be like 5 or 6. Sometimes it struggles a bit so I just slip into the plus and minus and shift down a gear and keep it like that for a bit.

I dont think they are around the wrong way though - but some people say that about the paddles as well. (Left should be up and right down), where I perfer right up, left down...

I do find myself using Sport more than I thought I would though. Getting out of junctions or overtaking. Put it in sport and it quickly drops down 1 gear and bang POWER!! mwhaha

[mike-p]

I never use the stick for up/down changes, the paddles are much more intuitive.

[stevieboy]

I use the stick most of the time whilst generally driving around .

I use the paddles when I'm driving with more 'spirit' .

I only use the auto function when I get stuck in traffic .

[skyblues11]

I tend to combine both the paddles and the stick shift.

The paddle does not follow the steering wheel whilst being turned, so i have to use the stick.

eitherway, i find the 1st gear too short. And did not like the auto-downshift. Picture this, i am appraoching a roundabout, underbraking and slowing down. Eyes on traffic and coasting, all clear, so i accelarate.

the engine revs like crazy because the DSG has dropped the gears to 1st! So annoying when i could continue ahead on 3rd.

why it does not let me downshift myself? i can;t imagine living in Milton Keynes!

[stuaz]

why it does not let me downshift myself? i can;t imagine living in Milton Keynes!

I slow early for the roundabouts so generally when I then want to accelerate I am in gear 2 ish (Sometimes 3) - plus Traffic is so free flowing in MK most of the time, nothing is coming anyway!

[raffoul232]

I prefer using the +/- then the paddle shifts, it feels like you are more in control. Not sure if it makes sense, but i just dont like to drive with 2 hands on the steering wheel tbh...

[stuaz]

I prefer using the +/- then the paddle shifts, it feels like you are more in control. Not sure if it makes sense, but i just dont like to drive with 2 hands on the steering wheel tbh...

Quite funny really considering you are deemed in control of your car when your hand are at "10 & 2" - well thats how my instructor taught me anyway.

But I do agree with you Raff

[pat15312]

It felt a little backwards to me. I think I'd like to pull for up changes and push for down changes.

Your right kev, it is backwards!
Sequential shifters started of in racing. If you look at sequential gearbox shifters in like a touring car for example, you pull back for upshifts and push forward for downshifts.

The reason for this is simple, you do your most downshifting when braking and whilst braking, your weight is shifted forwards.
It would be more difficult to pull the stick backwards whilst your body and arms are being thrown forwards by the change in momentum.
This is why downshift should always be push forward when using a "stick" instead of paddles.

The reason consumer vehicles very rarely have this feature is because it makes more sense to Mr. Average Consumer to push forward for an upchange and push backwards for a downchange.

[Gary_Monkey]

I've had my car since November last year and I can say I've only used the stick shift twice. Didn't feel quite right using it with an auto box. Just my opinion. However, when I want more control I much prefer using the paddles as my hands are roughly in the right position for changing gear.

I still find it interesting how many options there are for chaning gear in a DSG Scirocco. Full auto, full auto with manual override, full(ish) manual, paddle shift and stick shift. It's great. An option to suit all - unless you want a old skool manual of course ;-)

Gary

[SmiffyDSG]

It's paddles all the way for me. Although to be honest I only tend to use them in sport mode.

[Jonesy]

Personally I would prefer the nudge changer to be pull back for upshift and push forward for downshift ..... seems more natural to me