Discussion
Well Molly and I have driven a few miles in her new Polo GTI. IT is fitted with a DSG gearbox. My God it is good in fact it is Brilliant . Aston Martin if you are reading this a similar box should be at the very top of your shopping list for future model introduction. If it was an option by the very nature of its operation it would transform every model in the range.
Before you manual Guys throw your hands up in despair DSG is the way forward . I have driven a new 911 fitted with Porsche's latest PDK incarnation which is also fantastic. I didn't want to buy one , I purchased my S instead. I would admit ASM2 is a little agricultural in comparison but I love my Aston Martin! Back to the Polo.
Gearchanges go unnoticed whilst in the drive setting. When using the paddles you do not need to lift off the accelerator pedal. Or should you opt to use the gear lever in sequential mode it is just as involving as any manual box.
Without any new model introduction I am confident Aston Martins sales would increase dramatically if such a gearbox was offered. To any Doubting Thomas's out there go and try any car fitted with a DSG box , you will be very surprised.
By the way Molly is very pleased with her Polo, especially as we have been told to wait until the oil is up to temperature then thrash the little Bugger! She seems very happy to oblige.
Before you manual Guys throw your hands up in despair DSG is the way forward . I have driven a new 911 fitted with Porsche's latest PDK incarnation which is also fantastic. I didn't want to buy one , I purchased my S instead. I would admit ASM2 is a little agricultural in comparison but I love my Aston Martin! Back to the Polo.
Gearchanges go unnoticed whilst in the drive setting. When using the paddles you do not need to lift off the accelerator pedal. Or should you opt to use the gear lever in sequential mode it is just as involving as any manual box.
Without any new model introduction I am confident Aston Martins sales would increase dramatically if such a gearbox was offered. To any Doubting Thomas's out there go and try any car fitted with a DSG box , you will be very surprised.
By the way Molly is very pleased with her Polo, especially as we have been told to wait until the oil is up to temperature then thrash the little Bugger! She seems very happy to oblige.
I have DSG in my Scirroco GT it is very good but has a few faults IMHO
1) It races up to sixth leaving you in a low gear for overtakes, the kick down is cumbersome, Sport mode revs it WAY past the red line and kills the economy. I've found the best way is drop it two gears on the paddles and go, now that is QUICK
2) If you use the paddles to go down and do not make a large enough throttle change it will put you back in to auto after 10-15 seconds and head to sixth, again leaving you in the wrong gear for whatever you were planning.
3) I often coast down to roundabouts to save stopping and enable a quick nip out in traffic. DSG has other ideas and will not drop the gears low enough, if you got too slow it will put it in first.
Having said all that 90% of the time it is a very quick and smooth box which give better fuel economy than my last beater which was an oil burner.
1) It races up to sixth leaving you in a low gear for overtakes, the kick down is cumbersome, Sport mode revs it WAY past the red line and kills the economy. I've found the best way is drop it two gears on the paddles and go, now that is QUICK
2) If you use the paddles to go down and do not make a large enough throttle change it will put you back in to auto after 10-15 seconds and head to sixth, again leaving you in the wrong gear for whatever you were planning.
3) I often coast down to roundabouts to save stopping and enable a quick nip out in traffic. DSG has other ideas and will not drop the gears low enough, if you got too slow it will put it in first.
Having said all that 90% of the time it is a very quick and smooth box which give better fuel economy than my last beater which was an oil burner.
Well said Rob,
Totally agree and would love to see this offered as an option,it would suit my needs perfectly.
Whether AM would want it I don't know or whether its just a matter of time we will have to wait
and see,maybe their just to busy getting 565bhp into a V12 Vantage Limited Edition or so called
RS.......
Personally I hope that one day they will do a PDK type box as it may bring in a lot of new and returning customers
to their fold and continue to strengthen the brand without taking anything away from what the purist may desire.
Totally agree and would love to see this offered as an option,it would suit my needs perfectly.
Whether AM would want it I don't know or whether its just a matter of time we will have to wait
and see,maybe their just to busy getting 565bhp into a V12 Vantage Limited Edition or so called
RS.......
Personally I hope that one day they will do a PDK type box as it may bring in a lot of new and returning customers
to their fold and continue to strengthen the brand without taking anything away from what the purist may desire.
Ed, I am with you 100 per cent! I think the only criticism of the current crop of new AM's is the six speed auto box. I have been fortunate enough to drive the new DB9 , the criticism is a load of old tosh , the car is superb! Would be so much better if DSG was fitted though.
I would like to think that as we write the good Dr. Bez is in negotiation with the manufacturer of DSG boxes talking a supply deal. He has the pennies now. New models cost a fortune , bringing current models up to date would generate new business which would then finance new model production.
Mikey , pop down to your VW dealer, try a Polo GTI , I think the latest box will surprise you! It does not perform as you describe.
I would like to think that as we write the good Dr. Bez is in negotiation with the manufacturer of DSG boxes talking a supply deal. He has the pennies now. New models cost a fortune , bringing current models up to date would generate new business which would then finance new model production.
Mikey , pop down to your VW dealer, try a Polo GTI , I think the latest box will surprise you! It does not perform as you describe.
Rob,
Dr Bez may well now have the pennies from new investment,but will he be the man to spend them wisely in their eyes.
Lets hope so, although I have long term doubts on that score with Young Guns and all that, but time will tell I'm sure.
Haven't tried the new 9 but can see where your coming from on the slusher and must admit I thought it would have been a 7 speed
this time round.
Dr Bez may well now have the pennies from new investment,but will he be the man to spend them wisely in their eyes.
Lets hope so, although I have long term doubts on that score with Young Guns and all that, but time will tell I'm sure.
Haven't tried the new 9 but can see where your coming from on the slusher and must admit I thought it would have been a 7 speed
this time round.
Edited by Ed50 on Saturday 2nd March 20:33
My wife has a model 981 Boxster with PDK gearbox. I think it's sublime. Gear changes are unnoticeable and it is responsive on kick down. The paddles are great IMHO, and if AM put one inTo a new vantage ( assuming a new vantage is designed and produced) then I would be sorely tempted!
According to articles I have read and comments on the Porsche forum the PDK gearbox is multi plate and runs in a bath of oil similar to a motorbikes. The clutch is supposed to last the life of the car ( although that remains to be seen!). However, not having to worry about clutch replacements and reversing would be a big plus for me!
According to articles I have read and comments on the Porsche forum the PDK gearbox is multi plate and runs in a bath of oil similar to a motorbikes. The clutch is supposed to last the life of the car ( although that remains to be seen!). However, not having to worry about clutch replacements and reversing would be a big plus for me!
ROBMollyGTi said:
MaverickV12 said:
What does DSG and PDK stand for? 
DSG = Dual sequential gearboxPDK = Porsche Doppel..blah blah blah ...(German version of the above!)
Sequential Manual Gearbox in a BMW ( they are all German
)Edited by Tony V12V on Saturday 2nd March 22:21
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