DSG Ice and Snow?

[Gazzab]

Am going to sort a test drive in a GTi and an R32. Hopefully will get to try DSG. I quite like the idea of it (except for the Evo mags R32 experiences). I do however live in a reasonably rural place with very big, steep hills that are very cold and open to the elements. They are often very icey in the morning. It really tests my merc (E320CDI estate) which is an auto.
I am wondering if a DSG car is probably best avoided and maybe a manual is more sensible.

[catso]

But the Merc is RWD whereas the Gti is FWD and the R32 4WD, they should be leagues better DSG or not.

I have an A3 (3.2 Quattro) with DSG and have taken it into my back garden (approx 2 acres & on a hill) in the snow to see how it faired and it did OK (steering & stopping aside) considering the road tyres, DSG is not a problem in snow. Previously had a BMW 323 which sometimes couldn't even get up my drive in the snow.

[Gazzab]

The merc comparison wasnt that helpful of me to suggest. I am not sure DSG will be up to very very steep inclines ie I understand that the throttle is trigger happy? I am not sure how good the golfs are in the snow, particularly the R32 what with tyre spec etc... My worst car ever for snow was my Subaru p1. My TVRS and merc and various BMs were better.

[steebo888]

the r32 will have no issues in snow and ice with the 4wd. i had the mk 4 4 motion golf and had absolutetly no issues.

the dsg is highly rated and will have no issues either

Edited by steebo888 on Monday 14th January 13:18

[david968s]

The only problem I would foresee with DSG is that in snow and ice you might use it in manual mode to pull away, and it won't let you pull away in a higher gear. I am not sure what the limits are (not much snow here in south Texas), I will check what gear it will let me pull away in tonight on my way home.

4wd on the R32 will obviously help, but if you think you can live without it, I personally don't consider the R32 to be worth the extra cash over the GTi, as nice as it is. The throttle sensitivity is supposed to be worse on the R32 I think, I don't find it a problem in my GTi. There are ways to sort it with a remap I believe anyway.

[brisel]

I have a MK 4 R32 & the throttle is very sensitive indeed. Against that, the Haldex 4motion all wheel drive will more than compensate, especially if you leave the ESP switched on.

To be honest, your worst enemy in snow & ice is ABS, which you can't switch off.

If you are heading down a slippery hill, no amount of brake pedal pressure is going to lock the wheels up enough to build up a block of snow to help slow you down. DSG would help - just stand on the brakes, disable ESP, engage reverse and bury the throttle. You should dig your way to a stop pretty quickly!

[david968s]

Checked tonight - can't pull away in anything other than first, which is soon going to have you buried in a flurry of wheelspin... irritating. You can't beat a manual in snow...

[ian2144]

[ just stand on the brakes, disable ESP, engage reverse and bury the throttle. You should dig your way to a stop pretty quickly!
[/quote]

This sound a bit brutal,you my avert an accident.... but you could brake something on thr car??

[brisel]

Possibly - which would you rather do, take 10 000 miles off the lifespan of the gearbox or a couple of grand or worse on a fender bender??

Don't forget that the DSG has a launch control feature which isn't exactly kind to the transmission

[LeoSayer]

In your situation it may be worth getting a spare set of wheels with winter tyres, regardless of which wheels are driven.