Going DSG

[jonosussex]

I love my Rising Blue 'roc, but she's 52k old and still worth a bit so am trading her for am Indium Grey with DSG. Like the box on test drive (3!) but as the wait goes on I am getting all nervous. Anyone else made the switch from manual to DSG and how did it go? What are the problems and the advantages? Looking for comfort here!

[ayeaye]

You'll be fine - I couldn't believe how good it was when took the Scirocco out on a test drive. Wouldn't change back now.

I had a niggle with mine which I think was present from new - would judder when going from 3rd down to 2nd, took into the dealers recently and ended up getting mechatronics replaced under warranty. And I swear it's now better than it ever was, so I'm happy!

[Cuprabob]

I have had a DSG R32 for the last 5 years and the box is brilliant although there are some niggles that you need to drive around but you quickly get used to it. You do need to change you're driving style to get the most out of it though and you need to be patient the first couple of weeks until you get used to it. I found Sport too frantic and only used paddles / gearstick in manual mode now and again. Most of the time it was in D so it made me lazy :-)

One thing to note is that the DSG oil and filter need changed every 40k miles without fail. Costs £179 at the moment. VW will not entertain any warranty claim or goodwill if it has not been adhered to.

Only reason I didn't go for DSG in the Rocco was that I wanted a change

[Shaun]

The R is the first DSG or auto I have ever owned, I came from a manual edition 30 and had the same worries, even just daft things like going up steep hills and having to do handbrake stops then pull away etc had me worried, Tbh I was worrying about nothing, they are amazing boxes when you get used to them, the thing I struggled with the most was that the D mode goes up the box to six too quick and in S mode it revs too high for too long for normal day to day driving, it grows on you though, the other thing that was odd was when in a manual I would coast upto traffic lights (yes I know it's wrong) but the DSG of course doesn't do that and almost pulls you along when your trying to brake, again you get used to it.

[jonosussex]

Thanks guys; the one that worries me is I am an old fashioned driver; I use engine baking, like to approach roundabouts or whatever in 2nd or 3rd for quick pull away; presumably the trick in the DSG is to use the paddles? Will it then kick back to auto as i accelerate out?

How do you find REALLY slow speed control? like for reverse parallel parking? Assume you use the break instead of playing the clutch?

[Shaun]

Just approach the roundabout and brake really lol, if you want a fast getaway you can either kickdown on the accelerator which drops a cog and you fly off or you can go into S mode and you fly off, or you can use paddles, as for slow speed control just again use the brake, if anything its easier than a manual as you dont need to mess with the clutch etc.

[Billc]

You can chop & change between auto and manual at will. I quite often drop down a cog using a paddle to get some engine braking, to get back to auto just pull the right paddle and hold for a couple of secs and it puts auto back on. Either that or don't touch either paddle for about 20 secs and auto comes back in by itself. The DSG really is very clever, don't think of it as an auto because it isn't, it's a manual box with an auto clutch and rarely makes stupid decisions.

[Kev]

I'm in my first DSG and I don't think I'll go back to a manual. I absolutely love it.

I'm always flicking between auto and paddle shift when the mood takes me and it's an absolute blast to drive if you're on a cross country A road jaunt.

[martdy]

Just to add my tuppence worth - Agree with all above but would also like to add that you get used to the point where the accelerator will kick the box down i.e. just a gear or more depending on pressure of your right foot. Hope that makes sense
I remember the first time I floored it, after the run in period, to overtake on a country road - Holy sh*t I thought I was going to take off
To sum up : great fun, amazing bit of technology, that if you spend the time to really explore it's potential will reward you - enjoy

[Billc]

I remember the first time I floored it, after the run in period, to overtake on a country road - Holy sh*t I thought I was going to take off

Haha, oh yes, I forgot to mention that! My first time doing that I gave it way too much right foot, it dropped two cogs and I nearly smacked the thing I was going to overtake! But you're right, with practice you get very used to right foot control of the gears and can pick whichever one you want with the right amount of pressure on or off the pedal.

[rococco]

I had similar reservations before getting my DSG. I loved changing gears in a manual and was worried that I would miss that interaction with the car. But it is a very impressive system. Performance is markedly better than a manual; every gear change is instant and smooth. It shouldn't be considered a conventional automatic transmission, but more of a semi-automatic. The fully-automatic mode is convenient when pottering along in traffic, but manual is still there when you want it.

The more I drive the car the more time I spend in manual mode. And I am continually shifting between manual, D, and S, just as you'd shift gears on a regular manual. It took me a few weeks to get accustomed to the DSG transmission, but now that I have, any time I find myself on a twisty, empty road it's straight into manual. Or, when that gets too hairy, into sport!

[coops1221]

Getting a DSG was the best decision I made when choosing the Roc... it offers the best of any situation... if you fancy a blat just stick it in manual and go for it... however if you just cruising stick it in auto and relax... I tend to put it in D and comfort setting for the drive to work and put it in manual and sport for the Friday drive home (its better than a crunchie for that Friday feeling) ... my mate was so impressed with the DSG that when he ordered his Roc it was the first thing that he chose... sport does get a little techy and you tend to always want it to change up quicker than it does... but it is good for quick overtakes or approaching a roundabout where you need to be quick.

The one thing i learnt from getting the DSG was that i would never go back to a manual ...

Hope you enjoy... it takes no getting used to and is worth every penny

Also only found out at the weekend that you can flick between N and D without having to hold the gearstick button down – useful in traffic

[jonosussex]

Thanks guys; mind at rest! Jono

[Kev]

I love it when a plan comes together

[jonosussex]

well guess the final test will be on September 1st....

[chrisyboyc]

My last Audi A3 had 155,000 miles on the clock when i sold it and at 154,000 i had the clutches replaced in the DSG as the dealership told me that was what was causing the engine vibration when in Neutral or park ( I thought it was the dual mass flywheel ) Anyway that cost £1,700 oouch!!!.although Half covered by after market warranty. When i got the car back the car seemed fine but i noticed that the engine idled higher. Before when i revved the engine with the accelerator when the car was vibrating the vibrating stopped. So I'm still convince the DSG was absolutley fine and all they did was increase the tickover, but i might just be paranoid. I know the car is still running 20months after selling it as I saw it last week so who knows
Anyway the DSG is great I love it.

[mjc6852]

I just got delivery of mine with DSG and its wonderful I had automatics in the past (10 years ago) but this is something else- smooth and fast I will never go back to manual .

[infinidim]

We really like the DSG gearbox on our one. Well worth the money

[gibbsy]

I had a couple of autos in cars in the past, a Mazda and a Ford Cougar V6. Although both were nice to drive, they certainly were not fun. The DSG is real fun. The kick down is instant and although I've got it mated to the 170 diesel engine it gives you a real push. At the moment the change is not as smooth as in the test drive car, also a 170 DSG, but I fully expect it to get better. Saying that it is still light years ahead of my previous autos. It makes the car so easy to drive in heavy traffic, just concentrate on the brakes and loud pedal. On the open road, just brilliant.

[Gadgetbuster]

this is my first automatic, if you can call it that, yeah it does take a little getting used to after owning manuals all my life, but man o man it is fantastic, it actually makes driving more fun. You can put it in to sports on an open windy country road and concentrate more on the driving than the constant changing of gears in a manual. i have only had mine just over a week now and am getting used to using the paddles and gear stick to slow down using the engine. It is very clever. i honestly don't think i will go back to a manual car now :-)