Please settle a debate for me.. to DSG or not to DSG?

[Mikey2312]

Hi all

In the continued hunt for a car, I’m finding myself treading back into the VW Passat corner as I had one previously that got to 182k happily it was just other components such as bearings, etc that caused a headache.

I’ve seen one that looks pretty decent with the common rail engine on 58k but.. has DSG.. mentioned it to a work colleague and they had nothing but bad things to say and that I should stay clear, it’s 11 miles from me so saves a drive to go and get it

Question is, is a DSG box really that bad that it’s worth avoiding?

[Pica-Pica]

Funnily enough, I was just about to type this question myself. We are thinking of going to one car, or at least change one of them. I had my mind on a 1.5TSi Skoda Scala, Seat Leon, or Golf, probably with a DSG.

[cowboyengineer]

I would only have an auto daily car now.

My Passat did 100k trouble free miles in 2 years before I sold it. Had DSG in my 3 t6 vans all did 50k a year with no issues.

What exactly is it you want to know

[brillomaster]

maybe this'll help:

https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/167114/...

what exactly were the complaints from this work colleague? were they related to reliability, or useability?

personally, i dont think i'd have a problem buying a car with a dsg box. still creeps like a normal auto, but is more efficient and changes gears a lot quicker.

[vikingaero]

For a 3 year old car, you can get fixed price servicing from a VW dealer. It's about £200 for a DSG gearbox oil and filter change for a Passat and was cheaper than most independents that I got quotes from.

[Pent]

Personally don’t like them.
Prefer a manual as at least it’s a simple process to replace if it gets knackered.
My current vw has 173k on the box no issues

[cootuk]

I hated the dgt in my Skoda Yeti just for one reason...as you're approaching roundabouts/junctions it will preselect the lower gear as you slow. If you see a gap and hoof it, then it wants to select a higher gear, and leaves you without power for a second as it deselects the lower gear to reselect the higher gear.
I used to snick it in to sports mode for certain roundabouts to hold the gear.
Other than that, they're good.

Not a patch on CVT like the Prius and Subaru though.

[Fuzzarr]

Avoiding DSG limits your options considerably.

Going down the manual route in theory results in reduced maintenance costs and less exposure to big bills if the DSG box throws a wobbly.

A couple of years ago I had the same choice when looking at Octavia vRS. Went manual for more engagement and avoiding DSG repairs was an added bonus.

[stevemcs]

I wouldn't touch DSG at all, other than they are not the most reliable i hate the way they drive compared to a torque convertor box.

[Dannbodge]

Had a DSG in my Leon Cupra and got one in the current Octavia.
Two different DSG boxes (cupra was 6spd wet clutch, Octy is 7spd dry)

Both are brilliant and have been faultless.

[dibblecorse]

Ran a 58 plate Scirocco 2.0 TFSI from 41k to just over 100k, had the DSG box serviced as per the intervals, no issues at all, would have another without hesitation, good box and does what its meant to well, far better than the crap Multitronic box i had in my A4

[Pablo16v]

Dannbodge said:

Had a DSG in my Leon Cupra and got one in the current Octavia.
Two different DSG boxes (cupra was 6spd wet clutch, Octy is 7spd dry)

Both are brilliant and have been faultless.

Similar experience here. Got a 7 speed in my Cupra ST and had a 6 speed one in my 2016 Octavia Scout and had no issues with either of them.

[MikeGTi]

fwiw I've got a Mk 6 Golf GTI, it's on just shy of 180k now and the gearbox has been pretty much perfect. I've owned it since new and have made sure it's been serviced in line with the schedule.

The only minor issue was some corrosion on the front plate about 2 years ago, sorted by a local VAG indy for a price I can't even remember it was that insignificant.

[ZesPak]

cootuk said:

I hated the dgt in my Skoda Yeti just for one reason...as you're approaching roundabouts/junctions it will preselect the lower gear as you slow. If you see a gap and hoof it, then it wants to select a higher gear, and leaves you without power for a second as it deselects the lower gear to reselect the higher gear.

Drove a bit older auto A6 a while ago. The gearbox was horrendous for this, didn't know whether it was a DSG or not though...

[Sheepshanks]

stevemcs said:

I wouldn't touch DSG at all, other than they are not the most reliable i hate the way they drive compared to a torque convertor box.

In what way do you feel they're different?

I had an older Merc with their well regarded 5 speed box when my wife got a DSG Tiguan. I'd say they drive just the same. I do think the Tiguan would be a 'nicer' drive with the de-coupling that a torque convertor gives you.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Had a DSG box in my old mk5 GTI which I ran up to 130k miles. Was absolutely brilliant and wouldn't hesitate to have the same again.

[Mikey2312]

Sorry guys just catching up at the minute!

So he said he’s had one that went bang and it cost the Earth to repair, didn’t like how it drove overall and has friends that have owned one with DSG and haven’t got much to say for reliability, the Passat in question is 2008, looks clean in the photos.. I’d have no issue buying another with the common rail engine and as much as I would like to go auto I just don’t want the worry of a bill as my mondeo is laid up facing a £2.5k repair for the clutch and turbo.. ironically it’s a manual

I’ll be using the car to travel around and use to carry diving gear

[Pica-Pica]

cootuk said:

I hated the dgt in my Skoda Yeti just for one reason...as you're approaching roundabouts/junctions it will preselect the lower gear as you slow. If you see a gap and hoof it, then it wants to select a higher gear, and leaves you without power for a second as it deselects the lower gear to reselect the higher gear.

Surely that’s just immature software?
If so then it sounds like it won’t be a patch on a torque converter, especially like the one on my 335d, which uses Sat Nav to ‘read-the-road’ and down change at roundabouts etc. Shame if that is so, I was hoping to either downsize from the 335d, or my wife to upsize from her Fabia.

[Aunty Pasty]

The old 7 speed dry clutch boxes were apparently less reliable than the wet clutch boxes. I'm guessing the passat being a bigger car with higher torque requirements will have the 6 speed box. I don't have any issues adapting to the DSG drive at all. I can throw it into sport mode, or use paddles/stick to override at any time.

Downside is they are more than a manual when buying new and you're supposed to service then every 40k at over £200 a time.

[Sheepshanks]

Mikey2312 said:

... the Passat in question is 2008,

I suppose the issue with a car of that age is a DSG fault is probably going to write it off.