Golf R32 manual Vs DSG

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Porsche GT3

Original Poster:

282 posts

234 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
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Hey guys,

A friend of mine is interested in changing his current R32 (2007) for one with a DSG gearbox instead. Can anyone comment on the DSG, recommended over manual, likes and dislikes?

Thanks!

Tame Technician

2,467 posts

205 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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Golf R32 is the same as the 3.2TT's I work on.

They shift up and down on there own, regardless of what the driver wants, even in manual mode. Can be harsh pulling away, just not nice.

As far as all the customers i know, 90% love the DSG. As far as all the technicians and "real drivers" are concerned 99% hate the DSG.

Heres a true story. (sale demo, not customers car)

3.2 TT 2007 model DSG. Winding b road, coming out of 2nd gear bend, short blast to very tight corner wanted to go up to rev limit in 2nd then brake hard to say 3000rpm for turn in, (FORGOT LIKE A FOOL) it wouldn't do that, it changed up onto third just before i braked, so i press the down shift paddle, it was just a bit to much for the box to change down at that speed, to save over revving the engine it wont allow the down shift, ok i think i'll just take the bend in 3rd, no bog deal. Just as I'm off the brake and turning in........Yep you guessed it, it now decides its ok and selected 2nd gear and seriously upset the balance of the car, flicked the back end right out(lift off oversteer style) and if it didnt have ESP i may well have binned it.

Its jurky in town, and not great getting away, it changes up at high rpm, even when you supposed to be controlling the up shifts, and as detailed above, it can even make you crash. DSG Marmite indeed, I hate it, kids with play stations and people who pose love it.

However it is faster 0-60 by about 0.4 of a sec or something daft, but how often do you do that, If you think you are a bit of a driver, or like some sort of involvement with he car,
ITS GOT TO BE A MANUAL.


Regarding reliability.

They are fairly reliable, but most of the ones we see are in TT's and they dont do big miles 40 - 60k max, so if your planning on 100k your in unknown. I know of 3 or 4 cars had to have new mechatronics units inside the box, and a few that had to have special adaption drives done when the pull aways got harsh, other than that they dont really break.


Many people dont agree with me here, so with respect to balance see here.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Porsche GT3

Original Poster:

282 posts

234 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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Great post, thanks!

Does anyone know when the next generation R32 is being released or if the R36 that has been talked about is coming soon?

Difficult choice with the DSG box...

cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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I've got a R32 with DSG and love it but you have to change your driving style to get the be out of it. I do a lot of stop start driving on my daily commute so it's a godsend. I find the gearchanges seamless although it can be a bit jerky at low speeds but you get used to it.

I would just say go and drive one for an hour, it's like marmire some love it and some hate it.

With regards to th MK6 R32/R36, I don't think it will happen due to fuel prices and heavy taxation. I think we've seen the last of a V^ in a small hatchback. I would put my money on the next generation "flagship" Golf being a 4 pot turbo with 4motion along the lines of the Audi S3 and TTS.

Mr Noble

6,535 posts

234 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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I wonder if the 'box is less great when mated to a more powerfull engine that pushes it to its functional limits, the changing down thing mentioned above could be due to this.

I like to regard myself as a "driver" after 2 years in an elise ages 21 onwards, then later 3 years in a Noble and about 20-30 trackday with excellent tuition in a range of cars, but, I must say that after 2 weeks with my golf gti dsg, I think its pretty good.

I use the car for work, as the Noble satisfys my "driving fun" so I really wanted an auto car that was more fun than other autos. (came from an A4 Avant 1.8T tiptronic and yes, I never used the tiptronic!)

The DSG makes the B roads a whole lot more enjoyable during my working day, its great fun being able to "drive" for the corners, brake and change when YOU want and then turn in in the correct gear rather than wishing the 'box would do it in auto mode, which it won't.

The changes are a little slower than I hoped and certainly nowhere near say a Ferrari 360/430 or an M3 CSL's automated manual 'box's. But its still a lot of fun and blinking impressive IMO.

I think to sum up, the DSG is superb if you'd drive an auto otherwise, but you'll not love it as much if you normally like to "drive" a manual.

G

Porsche GT3

Original Poster:

282 posts

234 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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Great help. Probably pretty difficult to get hold of an R32 with DSG, easier with a GTI. Do you guys think it makes a difference, the gearbox should be the same?

When did the current Golf come out? Should be a number of years for the next one one to be released?

Thorny

1,076 posts

211 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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I have a golf GTI with DSG and think it is great and i do consider myself a 'real driver'!

Having said that most of the driving is around town but the DSG is great fun for B road blasts too - never had a problem with it...

Mr Noble

6,535 posts

234 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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There have been noted issues with a snatchy throttle response on R32 DSG cars. Mush smoother on the GTi.

I drove both and didn't really see a huge difference in the 2. The R32 felt more planted to the road and defo had better traction out of corners, but for the cash difference and deeper boot in the GTi wink I thought the GTi was the better car for me.

Read the whole of the thread that TTech pointed to above as that answeres all your questions mate.


cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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When i was decidingwhich version of R32 to buy in late 2005, there were no R32 with DSG about so i drove a GTI to see whether I liked the box and I obviously did. If you can't get a R32 with DSG to try have a lok in an Audi dealers for a 3.2A3 with DSG. It'll give you an idea.

I agree wih the point above the R32 does have a natchy throttle so it can take sometime to get use to with the DSG.

I also liked the GTI as well but already had a 4 pot turbo Leon Cupra R and wanted something different i.e. a V6.

I'll also add that up until i tried the DSG I hated automatic cars and would always prefer manual but I do fing that DSG is the best compromise in 90% of circumstances.

DoctorFan

276 posts

200 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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Porsche GT3 said:
Great post, thanks!

Does anyone know when the next generation R32 is being released or if the R36 that has been talked about is coming soon?

Difficult choice with the DSG box...
My 2p worth....I test drove a 57 plate R32 whilst my passat was being serviced and I thoroughly enjoyed driving it until pootling around town I found it a bit annoying that even though when in DSG mode (and not normal auto 'D' mode) the car still takes over the gears for you. Having said that its pretty awesome at how quickly it changes up and the neat way the whole system does a bit of 'heel and toe' action on the down shifts.

Whilst I was there I asked a salesman about the Passat R36 and he told me he thought they would be releasing it around August September time.

cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
If you have it in manual mode to you can use the gearstick and or paddles the computer will only change gears if you hit the red line or stop in which case it selects 1st gear for you.

There are basically 3 modes

D - Changes up and down when the computer fels like it
S - More performance focussed, changes up late and down early
+/- - Basically manual change up and down using paddles or gearstick

Nore when in D you overide using the paddles and use as manual and then 20secs after last gearchange will go back into D mode.

With DSG you also have launch control.

Put it in S Mode, switch ESP off, left foot on brake, right foot on full throttle, car holds revs and release brake and enjoy

Edited by cuprabob on Friday 18th April 15:47

baz1985

3,598 posts

246 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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Manual is probably best for the enthusiast. The DSG throttle is not very linear- which pretty much eliminates any hint of adjusting the attitude of the car using the throttle. Only advantage is left-foot braking....but unless you only feather the brakes.....the throttle cuts out- so pretty useless in that respect too.

sdmac27

7 posts

193 months

Friday 18th April 2008
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I've had a DSG R32 for 7 months now and have never once regretted it or wished to have a manual. I do a mixture of town, motorway and B road driving and it has been excellent in all situations. You can be lazy and let the box do all the work or use the manual mode with the paddles which yes, does change up at the limiter, but it has never proved to be a problem.

I'll agree with the guys above who have mentioned it being clunky pulling away in 1st sometimes but you can stop that once you get used to the box.

That said, the gearbox 'learns' your style of driving and adapts the timing of gear changes accordingly - mine holds 2nd a bit higher into the rev range in D than when I first bought it.

R32 with DSG is definitely a good combination!

Porsche GT3

Original Poster:

282 posts

234 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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Has anyone here reprogrammed their DSG gearboxes for better performance and usebility?

Anyone know if a new Golf R32 it on its way?

cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Wednesday 30th April 2008
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There has been talk of a R36 with a 3.6litre V6 for many years however if it does happen it won't be until the MK6 Golf is out which is due next year. The R version is normally a few years after launch so 2010/11 if it does happen.

IMO I dn't think they will put a large V engine in the Golf again due to the relatively high taxation and fuel cost. They are more likely to go down teh route that Audi has with a 4 pot Turbo as used in the S3 producing around 300bhp.

With regards to reprogramming DSG don't know but if you speak to someone at APS www.aps.co.uk they will know

Porsche GT3

Original Poster:

282 posts

234 months

Wednesday 30th April 2008
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Cheersbyebye

thehawk

9,335 posts

208 months

Wednesday 4th February 2009
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Old thread but I'm doing research on DSG

One point about real 'drivers' and manual gearboxes, Would it be fair to say that the best drivers in the world in nearly every branch of motorsport now use paddles or semi-automatic shifts? F1, WRC etc.

cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Wednesday 4th February 2009
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I would sugest that the main driver for these types of gearbox in motorsport is improved speed of the gearchange.

DSG will always split opinion down the middle.

Spiritual_Beggar

4,833 posts

195 months

Saturday 7th February 2009
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cuprabob said:
There has been talk of a R36 with a 3.6litre V6 for many years however if it does happen it won't be until the MK6 Golf is out which is due next year. The R version is normally a few years after launch so 2010/11 if it does happen.

IMO I dn't think they will put a large V engine in the Golf again due to the relatively high taxation and fuel cost. They are more likely to go down teh route that Audi has with a 4 pot Turbo as used in the S3 producing around 300bhp.

With regards to reprogramming DSG don't know but if you speak to someone at APS www.aps.co.uk they will know
Unfortunately...there is no planned R36 golf variant.

Next flagship golf is to be the GTI-R, which is to use the same engine as the S3. No more V6...and no more V6 rumble :'(

cuprabob

14,738 posts

215 months

Saturday 7th February 2009
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I'll have been right then :-)