Golf 7.5 GTi - 6sp DSG v 7sp DSG - cruising speed RPM?

[kmpowell]

Very close to going down the new Golf GTi route (new & unregistered stock car preferably) as personal circumstances dictate I will only need one car that does everything with two young kids.

The 'performance' 245hp with the 7sp DSG is the natural pull (for obvious man math and petrolhead reasons), but it's £1500 more than the normal 230 6sp DSG GTi, and there's lots more normal 230ps cars knocking around for immediately delivery with bigger savings off list.

However, my main consideration is that as well as nursery runs etc, it will also be used on the motorway for long journeys, so it has to be a good cruiser. Am I right in thinking that the 7sp will be geared to a lower RPM at cruising speed in comparison to the 6sp? Thus giving better fuel economy, but more importantly a quieter ride? If I could I would drive the cars back to back, but finding them both to drive and getting out on a motorway is nigh on impossible.

I asked the dealer, and they "reckon" it'll have a lower RPM on the 7sp, but it didn't sound convincing.

Can anybody comment who may have had access to both?

[Andy665]

All logic would suggest that at least the higher ratios would be slightly lower geared in the 7 speed with 7th being slightly higher geared than 6th in the 6 speed box

[mcg_]

The engine noise won’t be a problem at that speed for sure. Tyre noise more so.

I’ve got a manual mk7.0 GTI pp, pretty good on the motorway, get near enough 40mpg on a run. ACC great too.

[andrewparker]

Can only compare on the R, but the difference is around 800rpm. The long seventh is noticeably better on the motorway.

[kmpowell]

andrewparker said:

Can only compare on the R, but the difference is around 800rpm. The long seventh is noticeably better on the motorway.

Thanks, perfect. It’s what I suspected, but thought I should sanity check it before I made the mistake of the 230 DSG.

800rpm is a fairly substantial amount more at that speed. I’d go for the 18’s if I ordered, so that would also help.

[andrewparker]

I actually didn’t realise that they hadn’t upgraded to the 7 speed ‘box for all MK7.5 GTIs. Seems a bit silly.

The only irritation is that when you’re in 7th in D on the motorway it’s very eager to change down, so a very slight depression of the accelerator and it will change to sixth, but all you really get for it is higher RPM and increased engine noise, but not really much more acceleration. I tend you drive it in M so you have ultimate control of what is going on.

DSG also has a coasting feature when in Eco mode. I’ve never tried it as fuel consumption isn’t really of huge concern or interest to me, but it’s suppose to help with economy.

[marcosgt]

andrewparker said:

I actually didn’t realise that they hadn’t upgraded to the 7 speed ‘box for all MK7.5 GTIs. Seems a bit silly.

The only irritation is that when you’re in 7th in D on the motorway it’s very eager to change down, so a very slight depression of the accelerator and it will change to sixth, but all you really get for it is higher RPM and increased engine noise, but not really much more acceleration. I tend you drive it in M so you have ultimate control of what is going on.

DSG also has a coasting feature when in Eco mode. I’ve never tried it as fuel consumption isn’t really of huge concern or interest to me, but it’s suppose to help with economy.

The Eco mode on the DSG is quite impressive - I got 35 MPG going to and from my Mum's house over the weekend (a c 70 mile trip each wY, mostly on the M3/M27/A31) in my Golf R.

I _know_ the point of a Golf R isn't economy, but when you're travelling in 3 solid lanes of traffic doing 70-80, sticking it in Race Mode and surging up behind people and then backing off just makes you look a bit of a twonk, so Economy is ideal for these kinds of trips.

M

[Adrian E]

Can't say I've found the gearing of our 6 speed DSG 2015 PP GTI anything worth worrying about - fuel economy perfectly acceptable and refinement is fine at fast motorway cruise speeds.

If mans maths at work, feel free to crack on and justify the expense to get the 7 speed

[va1o]

I didn't realise they still offered the 6-speed DSG, I thought everything had moved over to the 7-speed now. The GTD for example used to have the 6 but is now 7 only.

FWIW I've got a TT with the 230PS 2.0 TFSI and 6-speed manual, it will average 45mpg on the motorway pretty easily sitting at 80mph. Can't remember the rpm but it isn't massively high.

[andrewparker]

va1o said:

I didn't realise they still offered the 6-speed DSG, I thought everything had moved over to the 7-speed now. The GTD for example used to have the 6 but is now 7 only.

It’s really unusual. The only reason I can think of is to give the PP an extra selling point, but even then you’d think it caused them more headache than it’s worth.

[kmpowell]

Spec decided on the 7sp PP, local dealer contacted, awaiting their best price (taking into consideration my p/x) versus what I've been quoted 'cash'(PCP) by the brokers...

GTI Performance 2.0 TSI 245PS 7spd DSG 5dr
Indium Grey (Metallic) or Isaac Blue Steel (Metallic) - £575
18" 'Parker' Wheels - standard
Red 'Jacara' Cloth - standard
Dynaudio Excite soundpack - £550
Rear view camera - £265
£33,035 OTR

Best broker price found so far: £27,657 OTR which I don't think is too bad.

[andrewparker]

My R estate is Indium Grey, and although I love it I’d definitely go with Isaac Blue on the GTI. It’s a lovely colour, but definitely harder to appreciate in photos.

[VAGLover]

kmpowell said:

Spec decided on the 7sp PP, local dealer contacted, awaiting their best price (taking into consideration my p/x) versus what I've been quoted 'cash'(PCP) by the brokers...

GTI Performance 2.0 TSI 245PS 7spd DSG 5dr
Indium Grey (Metallic) or Isaac Blue Steel (Metallic) - £575
18" 'Parker' Wheels - standard
Red 'Jacara' Cloth - standard
Dynaudio Excite soundpack - £550
Rear view camera - £265
£33,035 OTR

Best broker price found so far: £27,657 OTR which I don't think is too bad.

Why a Golf GTI and not an R?

[kmpowell]

VAGLover said:

Why a Golf GTI and not an R?

I don’t want the potential theft/risk/agro that goes with owning an R.

I can afford an RS3 etc, and in an ideal world that would be perfect for my soon to be new personal situation, but sadly owing a fast 4WD practical hatch in today’s society currently brings too much risk/bother for my liking.

[Patch1875]

kmpowell said:

VAGLover said:

Why a Golf GTI and not an R?

I don’t want the potential theft/risk/agro that goes with owning an R.

I can afford an RS3 etc, and in an ideal world that would be perfect for my soon to be new personal situation, but sadly owing a fast 4WD practical hatch in today’s society currently brings too much risk/bother for my liking.

I went from mk7 GTi to an R, just got rid of the R due to attempted theft.

I actually regretted getting the R as I didn’t feel it as being much better than the GTi something about it I just preferred.

Sounds good spec but not a fan of the parkers that would be my 1st change got an Audi A4 just now but can see me going back to a GTi.

[rattyuk2000]

OP - I had the same thoughts before I ordered my 7.5 vanilla (6 speed DGS) GTI.

I never did get a sensible answer, but if it helps, I checked this afternoon and it's ~ 290 rpm per 10 mph in 6th, based on interpolating the rev counter at 50 /60 / 70 / 80 mph.

And to agree with a poster above, at cruising speeds 70 mph+, tyre / road noise and wind rustle off the mirrors are both more pronounced than engine noise.

[A900ss]

Can’t help re:GTI but if the 6/7 speed DSG's are the same as the GTD, top gear in the 7 speeder vs top gear in the 6 speeder is about 10% fewer revolutions at any given speed.

6 speeder is the DQ250, 7 speeder is the DQ381 (with 80k service intervals rather than 40k intervals for the 6 speeder) so i'll let you check if they are the same in the petrol car.

Edited by A900ss on Tuesday 13th March 19:38

[A900ss]

kmpowell said:

I’d go for the 18’s if I ordered, so that would also help.

That wouldn’t make any difference to the gearing of the car. All the different wheel sizes have the same rolling circumference

[va1o]

A900ss said:

Can’t help re:GTI but if the 6/7 speed DSG's are the same as the GTD, top gear in the 7 speeder vs top gear in the 6 speeder is about 10% fewer revolutions at any given speed.

6 speeder is the DQ250, 7 speeder is the DQ381 (with 80k service intervals rather than 40k intervals for the 6 speeder) so i'll let you check if they are the same in the petrol car.

Edited by A900ss on Tuesday 13th March 19:38

I just can’t get my head round them still offering the DQ250, it’s bloody ancient! The Mk5 GTI used the same ‘box 13/ 14 years ago. Exceptionally good back in the day but now bettered by the ZF8 etc.

I still need to try the DQ381. I was disappointed by the 7-speed dry clutch DQ200 they’ve been using in smaller engined cars for past few years