DSG and other auto boxes....

[wullie_t25]

Need some advice about modern auto boxes. Are the DSG or powershift (Ford) any good?

Have read about a few problems with clutch plates on the DSG boxes and problems with the ford system, have these improved any with the latest cars? (I cant find any recent threads discussing this)

I currently have a Fiesta Ecoboost Zetec S which is great but I am either commuting in traffic or long distance on the motorway and I am fed up with a manual box. Considering getting a Fabia/Ibiza 1.2/1.4 TSI DSG.

[furtive]

The Powershift in my S-Max is very good. Nice and smooth. I've not heard of any issues with them

[liner33]

I have a 1.4TSI Fabia , heard lots of stories about the gearboxes failing but mine had been fine apart from a very occasional (once a month)delay in taking up drive, my mum also has one and its been fine also. Its a nice gearbox

[irfan1712]

we have the DSG box in our transporter sportline.

its fantastic, the gear changes are absolutely seamless.

for every day driving its cracking, there is one annoying niggle I found;

if you pull off from a standstill, i.e roundabout etc, it hesitates for a split second and sometimes feels like it needs a slap to wake up, but we're talking a few (noticeable) milliseconds. I spoke to REVO who say a DSG remap could solve this and any flat spots.

The S mode I find is a bit pointless, it just holds the revs a lot longer before gear changes and I believe makes the throttle more responsive.

earlier DSG's as found in the mk5 r32 etc did have a few mechatronic failures which is a £1k+ fix, however, I can assume that 80% of the comments of said failures is just scare mongering, im not sure how many early DSGs actually failed. either way when and if they do fail its going ot be a more costly repair than the manual.

Either way, I wouldn't hesitate to own anything with the DSG box (although if its a all out performance car it would have to be manual for me, end of!)

my 2p!

Irfan

[LeoSayer]

I prefer normal autos for low speed manoeuvring as they creep in a much more linear fashion and they seem much better at hill starts.

dual clutch gearboxes tend to lurch a bit from rest while drive is taken up, however I prefer the seamless gear changes they offer one on the move.

[KTF]

The DSG style box a fantastic. There are a lot of scare stories about the mechatronics unit failing but, so far, the friends I know that have a DSG style box have had no problems.

[wullie_t25]

Thanks for the replies.

Will go and have a test drive of a couple of cars and decide from there...

[Howard-]

furtive said:

The Powershift in my S-Max is very good. Nice and smooth. I've not heard of any issues with them

The Powershift in my Mondeo is, on the whole, very good as well. Very occasionally it can give you a bit of a jolt as it changes gear at low speeds but as a rule it's very smooth and pleasurable to drive. I've not heard of any real issues with them either, provided the oil is changed as per Ford's schedule (37.5k/3 years).

[Paddymcc]

DSG boxes are fantastic certainly better than my Merc's CLS gearbox.

Mine still worked perfectly at 135k miles too.

[KTF]

If the reliability aspect worries you a bit then you can get them in the KIA Ceed as well now with 7 year backup. Probably the same box that everyone else uses as well.

[wullie_t25]

KTF said:

If the reliability aspect worries you a bit then you can get them in the KIA Ceed as well now with 7 year backup. Probably the same box that everyone else uses as well.

I have been considering the Ceed but thought that it would have had a conventional slush box, will have a better look at them. Thanks.

[Krikkit]

wullie_t25 said:

KTF said:

If the reliability aspect worries you a bit then you can get them in the KIA Ceed as well now with 7 year backup. Probably the same box that everyone else uses as well.

I have been considering the Ceed but thought that it would have had a conventional slush box, will have a better look at them. Thanks.

New Cee'ds have a dual-clutch box.

[KTF]

Krikkit said:

wullie_t25 said:

KTF said:

If the reliability aspect worries you a bit then you can get them in the KIA Ceed as well now with 7 year backup. Probably the same box that everyone else uses as well.

I have been considering the Ceed but thought that it would have had a conventional slush box, will have a better look at them. Thanks.

New Cee'ds have a dual-clutch box.

I have had a few as rentals and its just as good as the DSG equivalent. Seamless shifts up and down. If the mechatronics cooks itself at 6 years and 11 months then who cares as the warranty will cover it. Try getting VW to do the same...

[liner33]

KTF said:

I have had a few as rentals and its just as good as the DSG equivalent. Seamless shifts up and down. If the mechatronics cooks itself at 6 years and 11 months then who cares as the warranty will cover it. Try getting VW to do the same...

In fairness Skoda have covered repairs for me outside of warranty, if its a known issue its hard for them to argue

[va1o]

I've had a couple of DSGs now and like them a lot. Super smooth and relaxing whilst retaining the same performance and economy you'd get from a Manual. Don't think I'll be switching back

[fangio]

irfan1712 said:

if you pull off from a standstill, i.e roundabout etc, it hesitates for a split second and sometimes feels like it needs a slap to wake up, but we're talking a few (noticeable) milliseconds. I spoke to REVO who say a DSG remap could solve this and any flat spots.
Irfan

The delay is caused if you go from footbrake to throttle, as a switch in the brake dis-engages the clutches. If you use the handbrake, the throttle response is instantaneous.