Golf R - to dsg or not?
Discussion
Dont have a Golf R, but have an Audi S4 with Stronic (which is effectively the same as DSG).
My experience is that for 99% of the time I wouldnt change the Stroncic for the world. 1% of the time however, usually when blasting down a B road I sometimes miss changing the cogs manually. The Paddle shift does an very admiral job, but its not as involving as a manual box. The truth is I very very rarely use the paddles, as when in sport mode its very good in its own right. However thats only 1% of the time as in virtually every other driving situation thereafter the stronic (IMHO) has the manual beat.
I personally would suggest driving both, BUT get an extended drive with the DSG as it will no doubt take a bit of time for you to adjust.
My experience is that for 99% of the time I wouldnt change the Stroncic for the world. 1% of the time however, usually when blasting down a B road I sometimes miss changing the cogs manually. The Paddle shift does an very admiral job, but its not as involving as a manual box. The truth is I very very rarely use the paddles, as when in sport mode its very good in its own right. However thats only 1% of the time as in virtually every other driving situation thereafter the stronic (IMHO) has the manual beat.
I personally would suggest driving both, BUT get an extended drive with the DSG as it will no doubt take a bit of time for you to adjust.
The manual gets some criticism for its change quality esp 1-2 over on rforum, re dsg I agree with the above, the odd moment of frustration but 99%of the time it just works, so drive for traffic or around town and paddles when on the open road for me, but it takes a long time to get into a flow with it, you need much longer than a 20-30min test drive.
In my experience, pretty much as above really.
I recently (Jan this year) switched from a manual V8 S4 (quite a lazy car as you could drive it in most gears with the torque available) to an S-tronic 2.0 S3
It’s taken me a good 6 months to get used to the gearbox if being honest.
What I like about it:
The upshifts and downshifts are seamless
The exhaust (fart) noise between shifts is a giggle.
It’s rapid and stick your foot to the floor, you’ll always be away quicker than manually shifting.
The ability to use the paddles is good fun and makes you much more part of the process if you feel that way inclined.
99% of the time it does a superb job, especially in traffic. It’s effortless.
What I don’t like about it:
Occasionally you feel there is a small pause between putting your foot down to actually moving. Just need to be wary of this at roundabouts, as it can coast up in 2nd gear unless you fully come to a halt. (or just flick the paddle to come down to 1st gear).
The gearbox in D mode always tries to get to top gear ASAP, for fuel consumption optimisation, which occasionally I find a little annoying.
In summary…..its taken 6-8 months, but the gearbox takes some beating and it makes the car 2 very different animals.
I’d struggle to go back to manual if being totally honest, but don’t expect it to be 100% perfect. (but then, you’ll never get 100% perfection with a manual box)
I recently (Jan this year) switched from a manual V8 S4 (quite a lazy car as you could drive it in most gears with the torque available) to an S-tronic 2.0 S3
It’s taken me a good 6 months to get used to the gearbox if being honest.
What I like about it:
The upshifts and downshifts are seamless
The exhaust (fart) noise between shifts is a giggle.
It’s rapid and stick your foot to the floor, you’ll always be away quicker than manually shifting.
The ability to use the paddles is good fun and makes you much more part of the process if you feel that way inclined.
99% of the time it does a superb job, especially in traffic. It’s effortless.
What I don’t like about it:
Occasionally you feel there is a small pause between putting your foot down to actually moving. Just need to be wary of this at roundabouts, as it can coast up in 2nd gear unless you fully come to a halt. (or just flick the paddle to come down to 1st gear).
The gearbox in D mode always tries to get to top gear ASAP, for fuel consumption optimisation, which occasionally I find a little annoying.
In summary…..its taken 6-8 months, but the gearbox takes some beating and it makes the car 2 very different animals.
I’d struggle to go back to manual if being totally honest, but don’t expect it to be 100% perfect. (but then, you’ll never get 100% perfection with a manual box)
I speccd DSG because I have never had one before. Have driven a diesel TT with dsg but only in london for 15 minutes. I wasnt sure I liked it but I think that was more to do with the diesel engine. Yet to take delivery of my R (its a few months yet!) but am looking forward to playing with it. I already have 3 manual cars and a full auto, so will be nice to compare and see if the DSG is something I grow to like.
Another vote for DSG here. I bought my Mk5 GTI DSG at the start of the year and loved it after having only had manuals before. No regrets, it's an excellent gearbox allowing a relaxing drive whilst retaining good performance and economy. The decision of gearbox for my recently purchased Mk6 was a no brainier 
Personally, for me, no.
I bought my currenty Octy vRS back in 2011 and I took both the manual and the DSG out for extensive test-drives. In the end I just preferred the manual box.
Now this is based purely on a couple of test-drives, so those who actually have DSG on a daily basis will be in a better position to tell you exactly what it is like.
I don't regret my decision and the only time I'd love a DSG would be slow, city driving. Otherwise I'm more than happy with my ability to choose my own gears.
I bought my currenty Octy vRS back in 2011 and I took both the manual and the DSG out for extensive test-drives. In the end I just preferred the manual box.
Now this is based purely on a couple of test-drives, so those who actually have DSG on a daily basis will be in a better position to tell you exactly what it is like.
I don't regret my decision and the only time I'd love a DSG would be slow, city driving. Otherwise I'm more than happy with my ability to choose my own gears.
I bought a 335i at the beginning of the year, went from an E46 M3 with a manual box to a steptronic box in the 335i and I absolutely hated it... not just because of the slurry changes (something that won't be a problem in a DSG) which made acceleration and overtakes annoying if they required WOT gear changes. But because when out for a 'drive' drive it took quite a bit of the enjoyment out of it, for me. I had to get rid of it after 6 months because I genuinely couldn't stand the car, couldn't stand the garage I bought it from pissing around with warranty issues and missed my M3 massively; I'll not be buying another automatic car if I ever plan to use it in anger at any point. Which is the reason I ordered a manual R.
I currently have an E39 540i with a slush box and its great, perfectly suited to the car and the wafty nature of it. But it in no way urges me to flick it across to manual and give it stick, it lives in D and at most, 3k revs.
Everybody is different though. So it is really down to personal preference.
Cheers,
Grant
I currently have an E39 540i with a slush box and its great, perfectly suited to the car and the wafty nature of it. But it in no way urges me to flick it across to manual and give it stick, it lives in D and at most, 3k revs.
Everybody is different though. So it is really down to personal preference.
Cheers,
Grant
A couple of cars ago, I had an Infiniti with auto / paddle-shift and never really got on with it. Whilst I appreciate the DSG box is not quite the same thing as that, I've always preferred manual boxes unless having to do lots of town driving and the Golf R manual box and clutch are very easy to get on with, if a little lighter in action than I would ideally choose.
Again, others will disagree but I find that, combined with the stop/start and the auto "hand" brake, it actually all works together very well.
Beside the additional cost of the DSG, as some others have mentioned elsewhere, it seems that the days of manual gearboxes are numbered so make the most while you can IMO .
Again, others will disagree but I find that, combined with the stop/start and the auto "hand" brake, it actually all works together very well.
Beside the additional cost of the DSG, as some others have mentioned elsewhere, it seems that the days of manual gearboxes are numbered so make the most while you can IMO .
Edited by BreakingBad on Monday 17th November 22:13
DSG, but remapped to change a few things, such as making the paddles fully manual. Handy for track days.
VAG manuals are a chore in traffic. The knee ache caused by constant clutch pedalling aside, the abruptness of the DBW throttle closure, along with soggy engine mounts (they always have been a major VAG fail) and short gearing in sporty models, gives a very frustrating and unrewarding experience. VAG manuals hate being rushed as well, so cog crunching is way too easy when 'pressing on'.
I don't know why some people are so keen on manuals still. They are completely dated and outmoded and need to die, quite frankly.
VAG manuals are a chore in traffic. The knee ache caused by constant clutch pedalling aside, the abruptness of the DBW throttle closure, along with soggy engine mounts (they always have been a major VAG fail) and short gearing in sporty models, gives a very frustrating and unrewarding experience. VAG manuals hate being rushed as well, so cog crunching is way too easy when 'pressing on'.
I don't know why some people are so keen on manuals still. They are completely dated and outmoded and need to die, quite frankly.
I've spent the past 7 weeks and 4k miles in a MK7 Golf 1.4TSI ACT DSG, given the mileage I do DSG is right for me, and it makes very early work starts a little easier, but for me if I was doing less than 10k miles and almost entirely for personal use I'd go manual.
There is no doubt in my mind that the DSG masks a level of interactivity with the car, and don't forget this is on a car with 150ps, let alone the R. For me it would be manual, but as has been said it depends what you use the car for.......
I would add that DSG and the adaptive cruise works well, it isn't perfect but it is a VERY good combo, if like me you spend a lot of time on motorway/dual carriageways it makes sense, but still with fewer miles I'd go manual.
There is no doubt in my mind that the DSG masks a level of interactivity with the car, and don't forget this is on a car with 150ps, let alone the R. For me it would be manual, but as has been said it depends what you use the car for.......
I would add that DSG and the adaptive cruise works well, it isn't perfect but it is a VERY good combo, if like me you spend a lot of time on motorway/dual carriageways it makes sense, but still with fewer miles I'd go manual.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
I don't know why some people are so keen on manuals still. They are completely dated and outmoded and need to die, quite frankly.
...because I find them far more enjoyable and involving in a car which isn't my daily driver.Sure, the DSG/DCT gearboxes are tenths of a second quicker 0-60 and every gear change is fractions of a second quicker than a good manual shift.. but I'd trade ultimate pace for the enjoyment and involvement that comes with having a third pedal/manual stick. I'll happily live with being a few seconds later to the end of the road and have a much bigger smile on my face than I would have had in a DSG equipped car.
Cheers,
Grant
The R is my only car at the moment and I went for manual - I had DSG in my 'rocco and wasn't that keen on it - it dulled the experience for me. The clutch is light so not too much of a pain in traffic. I don't do that many miles though. Then again, if I did, I wouldn't buy an R, I'd have bought a GTD.
It's a personal choice in my view, and I'd not swap for DSG.
It's a personal choice in my view, and I'd not swap for DSG.
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