DSG Gearbox in Golf/A3 Hatches - whats it like to live with?
Discussion
Gys,
Looking to buy a Diesel shopping car for the wife and ideally she wants a diesel Auto - but something compact for easy parking (and less bumper damage!.
Short list is:
Golf GT with DSG
Audi A3 Sporthatch with DSG
Seat Leon Tdi with DSG
BMX 120Tdi with "proper" Auto-box
Not having owned a DSG equipped car (or even driven one for that matter) - I am intrigued as to their usability in day to day activities and in traffic - (things a short test drive won't tell me)
So how does the gearbox perform - is it near enough like a reagular Automatic in "Auto" mode - i.e will my wife be able to tell that it hasnt got a Torque convertor (and no - she doesnt know what one of those is - but she not a bad drier and she will need to "like" whatever she's driving) - and if that's the case - how may compromises do you need to make for the fact that it's not a "proper" Auto??
Many thanks in advance for any feedback!
Looking to buy a Diesel shopping car for the wife and ideally she wants a diesel Auto - but something compact for easy parking (and less bumper damage!.
Short list is:
Golf GT with DSG
Audi A3 Sporthatch with DSG
Seat Leon Tdi with DSG
BMX 120Tdi with "proper" Auto-box
Not having owned a DSG equipped car (or even driven one for that matter) - I am intrigued as to their usability in day to day activities and in traffic - (things a short test drive won't tell me)
So how does the gearbox perform - is it near enough like a reagular Automatic in "Auto" mode - i.e will my wife be able to tell that it hasnt got a Torque convertor (and no - she doesnt know what one of those is - but she not a bad drier and she will need to "like" whatever she's driving) - and if that's the case - how may compromises do you need to make for the fact that it's not a "proper" Auto??
Many thanks in advance for any feedback!
Hi!
No compromises at all.
Better performance, lower fuel consumption, than a conventional auto.
Bottom line is that your wife will think "It's an auto" and you'll have fun playing in manual mode.
The make and model you eventually go for will just depend on the budget you can stretch to to get the best quality car at the price, with Seat at one end of the scale and Audi at the other.
Happy hunting!
No compromises at all.
Better performance, lower fuel consumption, than a conventional auto.
Bottom line is that your wife will think "It's an auto" and you'll have fun playing in manual mode.
The make and model you eventually go for will just depend on the budget you can stretch to to get the best quality car at the price, with Seat at one end of the scale and Audi at the other.
Happy hunting!
I've got an Audi A3 DSG.
On the whole if driven in 'D' it behaves like a conventional auto except; it doesn't hold itself on a hill as would an auto. So if you're starting on a steep hill there is a bit of jiggery-pokery required (best to use left foot on brake) this is particularly noticeable if reversing 'stop/start' out of a steep driveway, especially if there's something solid in front in which case you might want to use the handbrake to stop you dropping forward as the clutch bites.
The other issue is that (on mine anyway) the clutch take-up from stopped can be a bit grabby which makes creeping up to a wall (for example) a little tricky, as pressing the brake disengages the clutch and releasing re-engages it. So it's difficult to 'feel' the clutch for slow manoeuvring and the action is a bit 'on/off'.
Otherwise it is better than an auto and a manual (IMHO) with seamless quick shifts and an enteraining paddle shift that works (some don't). There is also a 'launch-mode' for quick starts but some find the manual side of it a bit too 'Playstation' for their tastes.
You need to test drive it particularly under the circumstances above to be sure, my wife finds the clutch grabbiness a little worrying, whilst I have got used to it but it is always an issue.
On the whole if driven in 'D' it behaves like a conventional auto except; it doesn't hold itself on a hill as would an auto. So if you're starting on a steep hill there is a bit of jiggery-pokery required (best to use left foot on brake) this is particularly noticeable if reversing 'stop/start' out of a steep driveway, especially if there's something solid in front in which case you might want to use the handbrake to stop you dropping forward as the clutch bites.
The other issue is that (on mine anyway) the clutch take-up from stopped can be a bit grabby which makes creeping up to a wall (for example) a little tricky, as pressing the brake disengages the clutch and releasing re-engages it. So it's difficult to 'feel' the clutch for slow manoeuvring and the action is a bit 'on/off'.
Otherwise it is better than an auto and a manual (IMHO) with seamless quick shifts and an enteraining paddle shift that works (some don't). There is also a 'launch-mode' for quick starts but some find the manual side of it a bit too 'Playstation' for their tastes.
You need to test drive it particularly under the circumstances above to be sure, my wife finds the clutch grabbiness a little worrying, whilst I have got used to it but it is always an issue.
Edited by catso on Wednesday 12th September 17:05
I had an As 2.0TDi DSG for 15 months and 46,000 miles...
DSG was brilliant- stick it into D when you can't be bothered (motorway and congestion)- Used it in manual the rest of the time. The gearchanges are genuinely virtually seamless- although I tended to use the lever rather than paddles when giving it wellie...
Note that you will require a new DSG filter c. 30k miles... I think it cost £200.
Just swapped the car for Octavia VRs 170bhp diesel. Surprisingly I miss nothing.... except the DSG!
DSG was brilliant- stick it into D when you can't be bothered (motorway and congestion)- Used it in manual the rest of the time. The gearchanges are genuinely virtually seamless- although I tended to use the lever rather than paddles when giving it wellie...
Note that you will require a new DSG filter c. 30k miles... I think it cost £200.
Just swapped the car for Octavia VRs 170bhp diesel. Surprisingly I miss nothing.... except the DSG!
I have the same "grabby" problem with my DSG. It is silky smooth for most gear changes, but when first engaging gear from a stop it is very sudden. This is especially the case when I first start off, although I'm not sure if it is because the box is cold or because I am. I thought I'd get used to it over the years, but no such luck yet (and I've had it 2 years).
It can be embarassing when you set off and put your foot down and it looks for all the world like you've just mucked up a manual change as you and your passenger's noses head towards the windscreen! I sometimes get round it when manoevering by just letting it creep forwards or backwards if I'm particularly worried about hitting something.
I asked for Audi to look at it under warranty six months ago and they just said "they all do that sir", but when I took it in for it's 30,000 mile service a week ago (without mentioning the problem) they pointed it out themselves. They then changed the gearbox oil under warranty in an attempt to cure it, but to no avail. They said the next step would be to send the gearbox off to be examined, which I didn't fancy - I'll live with the grabbiness.
It can be embarassing when you set off and put your foot down and it looks for all the world like you've just mucked up a manual change as you and your passenger's noses head towards the windscreen! I sometimes get round it when manoevering by just letting it creep forwards or backwards if I'm particularly worried about hitting something.
I asked for Audi to look at it under warranty six months ago and they just said "they all do that sir", but when I took it in for it's 30,000 mile service a week ago (without mentioning the problem) they pointed it out themselves. They then changed the gearbox oil under warranty in an attempt to cure it, but to no avail. They said the next step would be to send the gearbox off to be examined, which I didn't fancy - I'll live with the grabbiness.
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