Golf R 7.5 DSG - what a miserable gearbox
Discussion
I've got a 7 speed DSG in an Arona and the box is not as smooth or quick as even the old 5 speed in a C55 AMG I had a couple of years back and scratching my memory not as good as the boxes in Range Rover and Sport from 2002-2008. My biggest gripe is when you approach a junction hard ish on the brakes but don't quite come to a stop the start stop kicks in and the box can't quite decide whether to go or not.
edc said:
My biggest gripe is when you approach a junction hard ish on the brakes but don't quite come to a stop the start stop kicks in and the box can't quite decide whether to go or not.
Up to you, but we turn stop/start off, and the autohold is a nonsense in an auto - I hate the way it starts with a jolt, whereas releasing the footbrake and letting the car pick up drive before applying the gas is so much smoother.Had a MK3 Octavia VRS with a DSG and echo at lot of others on here - bloody hated it.
Dim witted, changed up constantly in normal mode but refused to change up in sport, would frequently change up when you didn't want it to, ie half way around a roundabout when you want to accelerate out, hesitant at junctions ... Just didn't get on with it.
The 8 speed ZF in the Alfa Giulia that followed it, and in the 440i that soon followed the Alfa were both considerably better (and the same box).
The setup in the Alfa was almost telepathic.
Dim witted, changed up constantly in normal mode but refused to change up in sport, would frequently change up when you didn't want it to, ie half way around a roundabout when you want to accelerate out, hesitant at junctions ... Just didn't get on with it.
The 8 speed ZF in the Alfa Giulia that followed it, and in the 440i that soon followed the Alfa were both considerably better (and the same box).
The setup in the Alfa was almost telepathic.
Sheepshanks said:
edc said:
My biggest gripe is when you approach a junction hard ish on the brakes but don't quite come to a stop the start stop kicks in and the box can't quite decide whether to go or not.
Up to you, but we turn stop/start off, and the autohold is a nonsense in an auto - I hate the way it starts with a jolt, whereas releasing the footbrake and letting the car pick up drive before applying the gas is so much smoother.They say that a non-switchable Stop/Start will be a requirement for all new cars in the future.
kick buttowski said:
We have been running a 2017 Golf R with 7 speed dsg for nearly 20,000 miles and I just don't understand the love for this awful gearbox.
I must be one of the only people who doesn't get on with it judging by the all the plaudits and people who go weak at the knees over it. We had the 8 speed zf in recent 330d and m135i's and that performed really well. I know the zf is a proper torque convertor auto. But this dsg is just appalling.
Some of the annoying characteristics include - desperation to change into next gear asap - on a light throttle round town its in 4th at 20mph, 5th soon after and 7th at less than 40mph. That's barely above tickover. This makes the car feel sluggish and unresponsive. Coming up to junctions or roundabouts, it wont let you accelerate forward gently in 2nd, it changes down into 1st with a delay and a lurch. Its often sluggish to respond from stationary making pulling out onto roundabouts etc pretty hit and miss and often leaving you flooring the accelerator with nothing happening for a second or two followed by a flat out rush. On a 40 / 50 mph a or b road in traffic, the gearbox changes up and down relentlessly, sometimes every couple of seconds, sometimes it will change up then back down immediately and then back up again and so on. At motorway speeds, the slightest pressure on the throttle, even at 75 plus, results in a downshift and then no upshift for ages. The shifts aren't usually very smooth and the damn thing is constantly busy up and down the box even on a steady throttle. If you are in say 4th gear, and lift off for a junction or corner, it will change up through the gears into 7th as soon as it can with a surge between each change, even though you want to slow down gradually.
It was checked at the last service and apparently its performing as intended. Of course I can change gear manually but it still overrides you a lot of the time. I've tried all the different modes and its smoothest and least frenetic in eco mode but we didn't get the car for economy and lower performance.
Are they all like this? Its so bad it ruins the car in my opinion and I would never have another vw dsg. I'm interested to know what are other peoples experiences like?
if only there was a simple type of transmission that only has one clutch and the gears are engaged by a manual leaver I must be one of the only people who doesn't get on with it judging by the all the plaudits and people who go weak at the knees over it. We had the 8 speed zf in recent 330d and m135i's and that performed really well. I know the zf is a proper torque convertor auto. But this dsg is just appalling.
Some of the annoying characteristics include - desperation to change into next gear asap - on a light throttle round town its in 4th at 20mph, 5th soon after and 7th at less than 40mph. That's barely above tickover. This makes the car feel sluggish and unresponsive. Coming up to junctions or roundabouts, it wont let you accelerate forward gently in 2nd, it changes down into 1st with a delay and a lurch. Its often sluggish to respond from stationary making pulling out onto roundabouts etc pretty hit and miss and often leaving you flooring the accelerator with nothing happening for a second or two followed by a flat out rush. On a 40 / 50 mph a or b road in traffic, the gearbox changes up and down relentlessly, sometimes every couple of seconds, sometimes it will change up then back down immediately and then back up again and so on. At motorway speeds, the slightest pressure on the throttle, even at 75 plus, results in a downshift and then no upshift for ages. The shifts aren't usually very smooth and the damn thing is constantly busy up and down the box even on a steady throttle. If you are in say 4th gear, and lift off for a junction or corner, it will change up through the gears into 7th as soon as it can with a surge between each change, even though you want to slow down gradually.
It was checked at the last service and apparently its performing as intended. Of course I can change gear manually but it still overrides you a lot of the time. I've tried all the different modes and its smoothest and least frenetic in eco mode but we didn't get the car for economy and lower performance.
Are they all like this? Its so bad it ruins the car in my opinion and I would never have another vw dsg. I'm interested to know what are other peoples experiences like?
Seriously, I hate the DSG type boxes for normal driving, even spirited road driving. On a track, the Ferrari box i drove was great, but Auto or manual shift, I just dont like the DSG, PDK etc. BUT, i do think the auto mode is dreadful due to trying to meet emissions targets. Programmed for driving, they would be markedly better.
johnao said:
My local Audi dealership tells me that the Stop/Start on the latest A6 can’t be switched off.
They say that a non-switchable Stop/Start will be a requirement for all new cars in the future.
That'll make manoeuvring in tight spots interesting! They say that a non-switchable Stop/Start will be a requirement for all new cars in the future.
SEAT dealer we just bought an Ateca from insisted once it was turned off it stayed off.
Sheepshanks said:
That's what we have in Tiguan and I think it works fine, at least in the 'just get in and drive' kind of way you drive an SUV. What do you find so bad about it?
I find it's incredibly hesitant when you're doing a 5MPH or less and want to pull away quickly, the 6 speed can suffer with this but far less than the 7 speed. It's also desperate to be in 7th all the time even in Sport mode. The R in sport mode is horrid - have the 7.5R estate and hate it in sport mode, have to have it in manual mode to get into 7th gear. It stays in 5th / 4th on the motorway for example at 70 mph.
There seems to be confusion here with the different modes though. My R if left to its own devices in sport mode dsg will not go into 7th for example on the motorway. If you car is a R and going into 7th in sport mode you are not in true sport mode, your setting might be sport but your gearbox is in normal or eco.
Unless of course my R is broken.
There seems to be confusion here with the different modes though. My R if left to its own devices in sport mode dsg will not go into 7th for example on the motorway. If you car is a R and going into 7th in sport mode you are not in true sport mode, your setting might be sport but your gearbox is in normal or eco.
Unless of course my R is broken.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
I don't really understand all the bad experience people have had. I've had absolutely no issues or annoyances with the DSG on my 2014 Golf R, neither when pootling, nor fast road use, nor on track.
That will be the 6 speed though, not the 7 speed in the mk7.5 that the OP is complaining about.I also have the 6sp in my TT and its fine. Admittedly its tries to get you into 6th as soon as possible but what modern mainstream car doesn't eco nag?
For me the benifits outweigh the drawbacks in traffic.
I've got the DSG in my Golf R Estate (no option) and I can't say I like it much.
It IS pretty good if you leave it in manual and press on, with fast changes, but it always seems to be in the wrong gear and slow to change (and get the car on boost) for pulling out or overtaking in automatic mode.
I only got the DSG because you don't have the manual option on the Estate and I'll almost certainly get a manual again next time - Even driving my wife's 1.6 Citroen C4 is more entertaining 90% of the time than driving an auto box - I thought I'd give it a go, but I don't enjoy it.
The big problem is finding something fun with a manual box these days!
M
It IS pretty good if you leave it in manual and press on, with fast changes, but it always seems to be in the wrong gear and slow to change (and get the car on boost) for pulling out or overtaking in automatic mode.
I only got the DSG because you don't have the manual option on the Estate and I'll almost certainly get a manual again next time - Even driving my wife's 1.6 Citroen C4 is more entertaining 90% of the time than driving an auto box - I thought I'd give it a go, but I don't enjoy it.
The big problem is finding something fun with a manual box these days!
M
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 4th January 12:30
missing the VR6 said:
I find it's incredibly hesitant when you're doing a 5MPH or less and want to pull away quickly, the 6 speed can suffer with this but far less than the 7 speed. It's also desperate to be in 7th all the time even in Sport mode.
I know you said you worked for VW but as another poster has said that (changing into 7th in Sport) isn't normal. As the other poster suggested, maybe the car isn't in the mode you think it is?I also don't get the hesitancy in ours - and at the end of out road we have to almost come to a stop to join the main road due to poor sight line. I'd prefer the car didn't drop into 1st and then immediately change to 2nd, but maybe it thinks it needs to that as it's too slow revs for the turbo.
6 speed DSG in our GTI PP is spot on - to the earlier poster commenting on parking with stop-start, in ours if you take your seatbelt off it deactivates stop-start for exactly this reason. I can't see that changing for later cars
Our S5 has the 7 speed s-tronic and it's definitely more 'lurchy' than the 6 speed in the Golf, but I've adapted my driving style to suit the box and can avoid abrupt power take up under 99% of conditions.
The tendency for boxes to shift as early as possible is nothing new, but the latest WLTC drive cycle combined with RDE testing on real roads will only make this more common that the 'out of the box' start setting will be very eco focused.
Our S5 has the 7 speed s-tronic and it's definitely more 'lurchy' than the 6 speed in the Golf, but I've adapted my driving style to suit the box and can avoid abrupt power take up under 99% of conditions.
The tendency for boxes to shift as early as possible is nothing new, but the latest WLTC drive cycle combined with RDE testing on real roads will only make this more common that the 'out of the box' start setting will be very eco focused.
marcosgt said:
I'll almost certainly get a manual again next time - Even driving my wife's 1.6 Citroen C4 is more entertaining 90% of the time than driving an auto box - I thought I'd give it a go, but I don't enjoy it.
The DSG is certainly very competant but it does kill the last few tenths of driving enjoyment.In fact I'd go so far as to say it reduces grippy DSG FWD/Haldex cars to a pretty one dimensional driving experience - there is little to do other than point a feel-free electric steering rack.
To those wondering why it won't go into 7th on a motorway in Sport mode - surely you realise it's because Sport mode is designed to keep the revs up for quicker response/acceleration? It'd probably drop into 7th once you get north of 100-120mph... Also - why Sport mode on the motorway when you want to cruise?
I've found the DSG to be pretty much spot-on and I've also experienced the ZF8 box in 1, 3 and 5-series BMWs - it is also an excellent box. The DSG has been caught wrong-footed perhaps twice in the 9k miles I've put on mine but overall it's superb. Even works well in stop-start/auto-hold mode etc.
I've found the DSG to be pretty much spot-on and I've also experienced the ZF8 box in 1, 3 and 5-series BMWs - it is also an excellent box. The DSG has been caught wrong-footed perhaps twice in the 9k miles I've put on mine but overall it's superb. Even works well in stop-start/auto-hold mode etc.
Edited by Funk on Wednesday 9th January 21:59
I thought the ZF8 was a brilliant box, smooth and brilliant in manual. The DCT in the M3 is also a brilliant box, but obviously not as smooth. I don't get the hype over the DSG, I've driven the Seat Ibiza FR with it and it's no better than the Aisin in the Touareg, which isn't a great box.
I've been using the 7 speed wet box in my GPF equipped daily. I can't say I really fault it all.
As others have said/suggested, I have stop start selected off and don't have any issues leaving junctions.
I tend not to accelerate hard until I have forward movement. This isn't down to the DSG box, it's just the way I've always driven. The added benefit of haldex sorts out any potential tyre scrabble on damp surfaces.
"Sport" mode is ok, but does hang on a bit too much for my liking, but, then again, isn't that the whole point of the setting?
Mine tends to stay in drive most of the time with the occasional shift of the lever to sport for an overtake, easy!
As others have said/suggested, I have stop start selected off and don't have any issues leaving junctions.
I tend not to accelerate hard until I have forward movement. This isn't down to the DSG box, it's just the way I've always driven. The added benefit of haldex sorts out any potential tyre scrabble on damp surfaces.
"Sport" mode is ok, but does hang on a bit too much for my liking, but, then again, isn't that the whole point of the setting?
Mine tends to stay in drive most of the time with the occasional shift of the lever to sport for an overtake, easy!
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