Golf R 7.5 DSG - what a miserable gearbox
Discussion
DSG’s are all just nasty comprimises.
Loved my manual Golf R.
If they don’t do a manual mk8 R then i’m not interested. I’ll stick with my Up GTI.
For those of you whinging about auto’s being great in traffic, go get yourselves a Tesla. Yes i’ve had one of those too, and if you want an easy drive its perfect.
Electric car for commute and manual for fun. DSG’s can be confined to hell.
Loved my manual Golf R.
If they don’t do a manual mk8 R then i’m not interested. I’ll stick with my Up GTI.
For those of you whinging about auto’s being great in traffic, go get yourselves a Tesla. Yes i’ve had one of those too, and if you want an easy drive its perfect.
Electric car for commute and manual for fun. DSG’s can be confined to hell.
What all the posts seem to illustrate is that the DSG varies depending on the type (6 or 7 gears, dry or wet clutches). How the particular manufacturer sets up the controlling software also obviously makes a huge difference.
With my 2012 Skoda Octavia VRS diesel I see none of the hesitation or problems in reverse reported by some drivers. My next car will definitely have DSG with paddles.
I also accept that the DSG does need some getting used to and, perhaps, a change in driving style.
Complaining it reacts badly to heavy braking followed by heavy acceleration is a comment on driving style rather than the gearbox.
With my 2012 Skoda Octavia VRS diesel I see none of the hesitation or problems in reverse reported by some drivers. My next car will definitely have DSG with paddles.
I also accept that the DSG does need some getting used to and, perhaps, a change in driving style.
Complaining it reacts badly to heavy braking followed by heavy acceleration is a comment on driving style rather than the gearbox.
I've had a BMW 330d with ZF8 for a few years and it is very competent and the perfect car for me when I was working - mainly driving up and down motorways. But it really is dull! Not sure whether it's because it's an auto (my first) or because the engine is so quiet that when in manual mode I have to be constantly looking at the tachometer to see which of the 8 gears I should be in. I'm lucky enough to have an Elise as well, which is so much more fun to drive - and part of that fun is the engine note (sport exhaust) and changing gear, with pedals well placed for good old heal and toe. But even my wife's Hyundai i20 is more fun to drive around town and country lanes than the BMW (but too slow and bouncy on faster roads) - again engine note (3 cylinder) and manual gearbox is a big factor.
I'll be changing the BMW quite soon and as I don't need something for big mileages anymore I intend to get something that's fun but still quite practical (i.e. estate). The Golf R and Leon Cupra are obvious candidates but the estates only come with DSG. My head tells me that DSG is the best of both worlds and that changing manually will be natural in a car with an audible engine. But my heart is telling me otherwise!
This thread (and others) has been informative - thanks all - and I think I'm swaying towards manual. I'll have to see what the new Focus ST is like. And see if I can get a long test drive of a Golf R.
I'll be changing the BMW quite soon and as I don't need something for big mileages anymore I intend to get something that's fun but still quite practical (i.e. estate). The Golf R and Leon Cupra are obvious candidates but the estates only come with DSG. My head tells me that DSG is the best of both worlds and that changing manually will be natural in a car with an audible engine. But my heart is telling me otherwise!
This thread (and others) has been informative - thanks all - and I think I'm swaying towards manual. I'll have to see what the new Focus ST is like. And see if I can get a long test drive of a Golf R.
Having been a die hard manual man in the past like I said I’m a convert but then I’m getting old and lazy ;-) I’ve even started driving in auto mode in Forza which is something I never thought would happen !
Having said that I do use all the modes all the time. I don’t just stick it in auto and leave it.... I don’t really get those who say your’re wasting your money if you do anything apart from that.
On any given drive I will use auto, sport and manual any number of times.
I can’t ever remember an occasion when the car was in the incorrect gear for the situation.
Learn to use it properly and it can be great fun granted without the ultimate involvement of a manual.
Having said that I do use all the modes all the time. I don’t just stick it in auto and leave it.... I don’t really get those who say your’re wasting your money if you do anything apart from that.
On any given drive I will use auto, sport and manual any number of times.
I can’t ever remember an occasion when the car was in the incorrect gear for the situation.
Learn to use it properly and it can be great fun granted without the ultimate involvement of a manual.
I’ve got a 430d with the 8 speed ZF and I just gave back a friends manual MK7.5 GTI after 3 weeks as we swapped.
I fell in love with the Golf and honestly speaking, not once did I think it needed a DSG, very smooth gear change and lovely when driving normally, it’s got so much torque, it almost felt like a diesel with petrol throttle response, it also returned better MPG than my diesel 4 series based on my driving.
I don’t know how autos return better MPG on paper but I feel like a manual can return a lot more in real world driving.
I fell in love with the Golf and honestly speaking, not once did I think it needed a DSG, very smooth gear change and lovely when driving normally, it’s got so much torque, it almost felt like a diesel with petrol throttle response, it also returned better MPG than my diesel 4 series based on my driving.
I don’t know how autos return better MPG on paper but I feel like a manual can return a lot more in real world driving.
Narcisus said:
Learn to use it properly and it can be great fun granted without the ultimate involvement of a manual.
The daft bit is, a direct shift box is great when really going for it, ie on the track, really fits in well with maximum attack, especially the more 'mechanical' ferrari box, it just wakes up on the track, just dont like them on normal road fun driving, always seems to add nothing. I suppose its the loss of something rather than anything else 
Gary C said:
The daft bit is, a direct shift box is great when really going for it, ie on the track, really fits in well with maximum attack, especially the more 'mechanical' ferrari box, it just wakes up on the track, just dont like them on normal road fun driving, always seems to add nothing. I suppose its the loss of something rather than anything else
Yeah I can see your point. I am driving a Skoda Estate though so it will never be the ultimate drive lol !Just over 3 years in so I guess I’m still in the DSG honeymoon period Still get a childish kick from hanging one arm out of the window and planting it at the lights !
Mid life crisis...
Chestrockwell said:
I don’t know how autos return better MPG on paper but I feel like a manual can return a lot more in real world driving.
I guess it depends on the scenario. I reckon a 6-speed Manual in real world will return better MPG than the DSG 6. But a ZF8 will beat a 6-speed Manual mainy because it's keeping the RPM lower at speed. va1o said:
Chestrockwell said:
I don’t know how autos return better MPG on paper but I feel like a manual can return a lot more in real world driving.
I guess it depends on the scenario. I reckon a 6-speed Manual in real world will return better MPG than the DSG 6. But a ZF8 will beat a 6-speed Manual mainy because it's keeping the RPM lower at speed. Gary C said:
va1o said:
Chestrockwell said:
I don’t know how autos return better MPG on paper but I feel like a manual can return a lot more in real world driving.
I guess it depends on the scenario. I reckon a 6-speed Manual in real world will return better MPG than the DSG 6. But a ZF8 will beat a 6-speed Manual mainy because it's keeping the RPM lower at speed. The Auto was the better car though as the 120d was a chore to drive, BMW’s used to make decent manual boxes, not any more !
Took a test drive in a Golf R DSG Mk7.5 and manual Golf GTI PP Mk7.5 at the weekend.
For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.
On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.
Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.
For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.
On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.
Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.
Gary C said:
But a ZF has a torque converter, which always uses some energy ? So, ultimately a manual could always deliver better MPG if the user chooses to drive it that way.
Assuming the gearing is the same which they aren’t. The auto has a taller top gear. And 7 gears to play with before it gets into top gear. g7jhp said:
Took a test drive in a Golf R DSG Mk7.5 and manual Golf GTI PP Mk7.5 at the weekend.
For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.
On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.
Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.
Think the DSG/manual question is always going to be divided: DSG makes sense for city use and motorway cruisers, manuals for performance oriented cars. There's also the £1000 price increase for the DSG, and possibly extra servicing costs, even if it's only at 40,000 miles. Tuning a Golf and adding an uprated clutch is easy on a manual, but could be expensive if DSG clutches fail. For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.
On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.
Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.
Clarkson went for a DSG in his GTI, but that doesn't mean much. :-)
I like the DSG 7 in my 2016 2.0 TDi, especially after cog-swapping a gazillion times from one end of the Euston Road to other in my previous GTD manual. 'Sport' mode though just adds noise.
I guess it really comes down to what you want from a daily driver.
The DSG is great in stop-start traffic, and for pootling. And lets be honest, these days you *have* to do a lot of pootling in daily driving - there isn't the opportunity to open the taps. Well, at least not down here in the congested South round my way.
I don't think anyone is denying that a manual box is ultimately more rewarding, and that the DSG is a compromise. But, certainly for me, it is a compromise I was happy to make. For the kind of daily driving I do, the DSG is a much better choice for me. But then again, I am lucky enough to also own an extremely hardcore car for weekend / fun driving.
The DSG is great in stop-start traffic, and for pootling. And lets be honest, these days you *have* to do a lot of pootling in daily driving - there isn't the opportunity to open the taps. Well, at least not down here in the congested South round my way.
I don't think anyone is denying that a manual box is ultimately more rewarding, and that the DSG is a compromise. But, certainly for me, it is a compromise I was happy to make. For the kind of daily driving I do, the DSG is a much better choice for me. But then again, I am lucky enough to also own an extremely hardcore car for weekend / fun driving.
On my second DSG and I'm a convert.
Sure the first one (early A3, 3.2) was a bit clunky at low speed and 'inching' forwards was a bit jerky but the later version in my S4 is brilliant.
As an aside, when I first bought a DSG I thought I would drive it in 'manual' mode using the paddles all the time but that didn't last long and is now reserved only for 'special' moments, so good is the auto mode.
Sure the first one (early A3, 3.2) was a bit clunky at low speed and 'inching' forwards was a bit jerky but the later version in my S4 is brilliant.
As an aside, when I first bought a DSG I thought I would drive it in 'manual' mode using the paddles all the time but that didn't last long and is now reserved only for 'special' moments, so good is the auto mode.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff