Golf R32. DSG or no DSG
Discussion
Hi, I'm new to the pistonheads forum and wanted some of your expert opinions on a possible new car purchase.
As the title suggests I have been looking at MKV Golf R32s and can't decide whether to go for a DSG box or a manual. Has anyone any experiences of the car with either gearbox, I have heard about some reliability issues with the DSG
cheers
As the title suggests I have been looking at MKV Golf R32s and can't decide whether to go for a DSG box or a manual. Has anyone any experiences of the car with either gearbox, I have heard about some reliability issues with the DSG
cheers
As long as the DSG has been looked after, it'd be fine. There's an oil change every 40k miles IIRC.
FWIW, I tried a DSG GTI and DSG R32 back-to-back when I bought the GTI and I thought the manual GTI was better than the DSG version, but the DSG R32 was better than the manual R32.
However, personally if two identically equipped R32s (one manual, one DSG) came for sale, i'd still take the manual, I'd always be (probabaly wrongly) worried about the gearbox popping otherwise.
The DSG-equipped R32 comes with multi-function wheel and the better 'highline' computer as standard, whereas I'm noticing that more often than not, the manual MKV R32's usually don't have these options.
FWIW, I tried a DSG GTI and DSG R32 back-to-back when I bought the GTI and I thought the manual GTI was better than the DSG version, but the DSG R32 was better than the manual R32.
However, personally if two identically equipped R32s (one manual, one DSG) came for sale, i'd still take the manual, I'd always be (probabaly wrongly) worried about the gearbox popping otherwise.
The DSG-equipped R32 comes with multi-function wheel and the better 'highline' computer as standard, whereas I'm noticing that more often than not, the manual MKV R32's usually don't have these options.
No DSG.
Having owned a DSG equippped car these are my reasons.
Removes driver enjoyment- just buy a dsg equipped diesel rather than a R32 if this isn't important to you
Extra service cost
Fear that the thing would malfunction and cause me to have to spend my cocaine/hooker money on car repairs totalling thousands of pounds.
Having owned a DSG equippped car these are my reasons.
Removes driver enjoyment- just buy a dsg equipped diesel rather than a R32 if this isn't important to you
Extra service cost
Fear that the thing would malfunction and cause me to have to spend my cocaine/hooker money on car repairs totalling thousands of pounds.
I'm a manual person really but drove a DSG Mk5 R32 for a month around the Lake district.
It was fine for the journey up there....BUT.....once you get on to the twisty fun stuff, I wasn't convinced. Yes the gearchanges are lightening fast but more often than not i wanted a different gear to what the DSG offered me.
I've had similar problems in a 2011 DSG VW Polo!
I'd suggest driving both but really, if you dont mind automatics then go for it, if you prefer manuals, stick with manual. Yes they're slightly more work at times but a lot more fun.
It was fine for the journey up there....BUT.....once you get on to the twisty fun stuff, I wasn't convinced. Yes the gearchanges are lightening fast but more often than not i wanted a different gear to what the DSG offered me.
I've had similar problems in a 2011 DSG VW Polo!
I'd suggest driving both but really, if you dont mind automatics then go for it, if you prefer manuals, stick with manual. Yes they're slightly more work at times but a lot more fun.
Motorrad said:
No DSG.
Having owned a DSG equippped car these are my reasons.
Removes driver enjoyment- just buy a dsg equipped diesel rather than a R32 if this isn't important to you
Extra service cost
Fear that the thing would malfunction and cause me to have to spend my cocaine/hooker money on car repairs totalling thousands of pounds.
All reasons why I went for the Manual when I had one.Having owned a DSG equippped car these are my reasons.
Removes driver enjoyment- just buy a dsg equipped diesel rather than a R32 if this isn't important to you
Extra service cost
Fear that the thing would malfunction and cause me to have to spend my cocaine/hooker money on car repairs totalling thousands of pounds.
M5Tom said:
I'm a manual person really but drove a DSG Mk5 R32 for a month around the Lake district.
It was fine for the journey up there....BUT.....once you get on to the twisty fun stuff, I wasn't convinced. Yes the gearchanges are lightening fast but more often than not i wanted a different gear to what the DSG offered me.
I've had similar problems in a 2011 DSG VW Polo!
I'd suggest driving both but really, if you dont mind automatics then go for it, if you prefer manuals, stick with manual. Yes they're slightly more work at times but a lot more fun.
I thought the whole point was you picked the gear, unless you were feeling lazy? Not being picky but I thought if you saw a fun bit of road, you popped it across and changed with paddlesIt was fine for the journey up there....BUT.....once you get on to the twisty fun stuff, I wasn't convinced. Yes the gearchanges are lightening fast but more often than not i wanted a different gear to what the DSG offered me.
I've had similar problems in a 2011 DSG VW Polo!
I'd suggest driving both but really, if you dont mind automatics then go for it, if you prefer manuals, stick with manual. Yes they're slightly more work at times but a lot more fun.
The paddles/buttons in a Mk5 R32 are stupidly small and NOT something you wanted to fiddle with whilst 'pressing on'. Even using the paddle/button it would change up on it's own when you redlined it, which for someone who enjoys a bit of engine braking is annoying.
It's personal preference really.
It's personal preference really.
Having owned a DSG one for nearly 3 years I would say go that route. Allot faster, better emissions and economy and the Sport gears are so well programmed it makes for rapid B road progress. Plus you've got launch control.
Never did buy all the "Oh the manual is the better drivers car" nonsense. I drove a few manuals and they aren't half the car; they just feel like a hatchback with a thirsty engine. DSG combined with the 3.2 the four wheel drive feel like they made for one another.
Never did buy all the "Oh the manual is the better drivers car" nonsense. I drove a few manuals and they aren't half the car; they just feel like a hatchback with a thirsty engine. DSG combined with the 3.2 the four wheel drive feel like they made for one another.
I have the manual and just spent a load on having the computer and steering wheel upgraded so can confirm that these options are less common.
A big reason to buy this car is the noise it makes. You need to be able to take every opportunity to open the windows and rev it, or blip the throttle or hang on to a gear when you want to, not when the gearbox allows.
Go manual.
A big reason to buy this car is the noise it makes. You need to be able to take every opportunity to open the windows and rev it, or blip the throttle or hang on to a gear when you want to, not when the gearbox allows.
Go manual.
MrP80 said:
I thought the whole point was you picked the gear, unless you were feeling lazy? Not being picky but I thought if you saw a fun bit of road, you popped it across and changed with paddles
You still don't have full, proper, manual control. The DSG disconnects you from the process of actually driving, if you want to feel like you're using a playstation then go DSG. To me that isn't what driving is about but then again I do it for pleasure rather than a means of getting from A>B most of the time. 
Drive both and buy the one you prefer...simples.
I had DSG R32 for 5 years and loved it. Really suits the smoothness of the V6, but downside is that because to was so smooth you lost the sensation of acceleration and it could feel slow, althoough it isn't. DSG is not perfect and you need to change your driving style to get the best out of it.
As said above it needs a DG oil and filter change every 40k miles at a current cost of £179 at VW dealers.
Mechatronic units have been known to fail at a cost of circa £1,500 but I did over 84k miles in mine and never had an issue with the gearbox although I do drive with a high degree of mechanical sympathy.
You also get Launch Control with DSG :-)
But only you can decide
I had DSG R32 for 5 years and loved it. Really suits the smoothness of the V6, but downside is that because to was so smooth you lost the sensation of acceleration and it could feel slow, althoough it isn't. DSG is not perfect and you need to change your driving style to get the best out of it.
As said above it needs a DG oil and filter change every 40k miles at a current cost of £179 at VW dealers.
Mechatronic units have been known to fail at a cost of circa £1,500 but I did over 84k miles in mine and never had an issue with the gearbox although I do drive with a high degree of mechanical sympathy.
You also get Launch Control with DSG :-)
But only you can decide
The DSG really suits the R32, as has often been said......it's a brilliant system, with very few drawbacks. Using the paddles in sport mode is great fun, way better than the manual.
There is no major reliability issue with DSG at all.
Serviced, and treated with mechanical sympathy, you'll have no worries.
DSG all the way!!
There is no major reliability issue with DSG at all.
Serviced, and treated with mechanical sympathy, you'll have no worries.
DSG all the way!!
I'd definitely try the DSG before committing - I think it's the right choice and love mine, but some really don't get on with it so you'd definitely want to make sure.
Day to day driving, the dsg car is a lot faster than the manual, it's a lot faster than some much bigger engined kit about town. Others can keep up till the end of first gear, the really determined can keep up till the end of 2nd. But really it's great to float along not trying - it'll still be faster than 99% of cars you'll meet.
Judging a car purely on the traffic light grand prix is a bit simplistic though.
You need to budget for a dsg remap if you want to be able to hold the car on the redline on track (it changes gear so fast ive never found this an issue but others do).
Day to day driving, the dsg car is a lot faster than the manual, it's a lot faster than some much bigger engined kit about town. Others can keep up till the end of first gear, the really determined can keep up till the end of 2nd. But really it's great to float along not trying - it'll still be faster than 99% of cars you'll meet.
Judging a car purely on the traffic light grand prix is a bit simplistic though.
You need to budget for a dsg remap if you want to be able to hold the car on the redline on track (it changes gear so fast ive never found this an issue but others do).
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