semi auto box what do you think ?

[alanr]

Hi will be picking up my new candy white 170 GT week , it’s a semi auto and this is a first time for me owning one of these , what do you semi auto owners think of them

Cheers

[barclay-89]

DSG is the best thing ever! Quicker gear changes then normal manual, smoother all round and just damn right perfect! Cant fault it, it is technically a manual gear box with two clutches and a whole lot of technology.

[voyager]

DSG boxes are a bit like marmite - love them or hate them. I took one for a test drive before I bought one with a manual box and just couldn't get my head around it, biggest problem was having to place my hands on the wheel at what is to me an unnatural position and i just couldn't get to grips with hill starts. Not that there's anything wrong with the box itself, just doesn't suit me, for others it's probably brilliant.

[Kev]

It took me about a week to get used to it but I love it now and I don't think I'll go back to a manual to be honest.

Hill starts are easy. You just take your foot off the brake and it'll hold you there for 3 secs or something before auto box creep kicks in or you press the accelerator.

[gibbsy]

My DSG is my third automatic car and I've also driven many other autos through my work which includes HGVs. Without doubt the DSG is the best box I've had. Changes are quick and seamless. It makes for very safe overtaking, either through 'kick down' or, as I normally do, using the paddles to downshift.

Mated to the 170 diesel it is a very efficient gearbox indeed. I love it.

[Rocstar]

Had mine for a couple of weeks now. Now that the novelty has worn off albeit I'm still learning is nuances, I think it's fair to say it is a great system, smooth and quick changes make it fairly rewarding for eating up the tarmac and you do certainly feel like you've hit a ton quicker than you would have using a manual. Having said that, for me personally I'm not "completely" taken with it. Perhaps a few more weeks and my mind will change, but today, I still prefer a manual gearbox. I really want to like it as I love all this technology and witchcraft the DSG system seems to have but it's lacking a little soul or perhaps its the old fashioned traditionalist in me.

One of the problems is test driving the DSG. Going for a 10 mile drive in traffic isn't going to make you think it's any better than an automatic, you really need to stretch its legs. If you are lucky enough to enjoy a blast through the back roads on your test drive you will not immediately feel the benefit. The reason I say this is you will be thinking about your gear changes as opposed to doing it naturally, you'll be looking for the clutch pedal because your left leg is now redundant and of course you will be throwing your arm out to the side in readiness for that oh so sweet, heel and toe blip of the throttle on the down shift. Oh....no.... that won't happen as all you will do is shift it into neutral. lol. And you'll do all this whilst trying to explain to the guy sat next to you that you "can" drive and if you were in a manual you'd scare the living daylight out of him. lol

By all means get a test drive, but in my opinion, try to have more than 10 minutes, a few days minimum I would say then you will be able to make a better and more informed decision.

[scott.taylor]

I've driven Manuals (Petrols) for 3.5 years and decided to take the leap and swap my Manual 1.4tsi (122) for a DSG 2.0 TDi (140)

I picked it up yesterday and I've driven about 130 miles with it already. I'm loving the DSG it's brilliant ! So quick changes without caring when to do it and I've got the option of using the paddles to shift. Thing I like most is the super fast kick-down for overtaking and since it's diesel there is plenty of torque to boost you away.

My 140 feels quicker than my Remapped 122. And tht had 155bhp.