Things to try when test driving a DSG car?

[fivesixseven8]

I've got a test drive booked in a MkV R32 with DSG on Saturday. I've read all of the threads on here discussing the foibles and character of the box so have been trying to make a list of things to try to see if it's for me or not.

- Pulling away from standstill, jerky or not? How much throttle pressure needed etc.
- Keeping it in gear whilst in Manual, at what points does it slip back into 'Auto' etc.
- Leaving it in 2nd or 3rd for a corner whilst at high revs and seeing how it behaves.
- The kickdown switch, is it annoying whilst in Manual

Anything else that I should explicitly try out?

[Cupramax]

Launch control, I'm sure the dealer will appreciate a full bore launch

Gearbox into manual or S, ESP off, left foot on the brake, right foot flat on the throttle. The car will rev to about 3200 rpm and hold. Let your foot off the brake and about half a second later it'll launch.

[fivesixseven8]

Cupramax said:

Launch control, I'm sure the dealer will appreciate a full bore launch

Gearbox into manual or S, ESP off, left foot on the brake, right foot flat on the throttle. The car will rev to about 3200 rpm and hold. Let your foot off the brake and about half a second later it'll launch.

Nice. That's one for exiting the dealership then!

[Dr G]

Cupramax said:

Launch control, I'm sure the dealer will appreciate a full bore launch

Gearbox into manual or S, ESP off, left foot on the brake, right foot flat on the throttle. The car will rev to about 3200 rpm and hold. Let your foot off the brake and about half a second later it'll launch.

That's also a really good way to get the dealer to ask you to leave

First thing to look for (if relevant) is the box oil change at 40k.

The Haldex/DSG combo is slightly lurchy, particularly when manouvering. This is nothing to worry about but obviously it shouldn't be excessive.

The only time I've seen one of these go wrong it went wrong spectacularly and threw the car into a 'limp' mode with a flashing gear display on the dash board.

[fivesixseven8]

Dr G said:

Cupramax said:

Launch control, I'm sure the dealer will appreciate a full bore launch

Gearbox into manual or S, ESP off, left foot on the brake, right foot flat on the throttle. The car will rev to about 3200 rpm and hold. Let your foot off the brake and about half a second later it'll launch.

That's also a really good way to get the dealer to ask you to leave

First thing to look for (if relevant) is the box oil change at 40k.

The Haldex/DSG combo is slightly lurchy, particularly when manouvering. This is nothing to worry about but obviously it shouldn't be excessive.

The only time I've seen one of these go wrong it went wrong spectacularly and threw the car into a 'limp' mode with a flashing gear display on the dash board.

It's an 09 car with only 10k on it so won't have had any of that work yet.

Not entirely sure what options it has on it as VW are so terrible at writing up the specs for the used car listings.

[Dr G]

Got the reg? Customer care on 0800 083 3914 can tell you what options are fitted.

All of the VAG group used car sites are extremely poor and dated.

[fivesixseven8]

Dr G said:

Got the reg? Customer care on 0800 083 3914 can tell you what options are fitted.

All of the VAG group used car sites are extremely poor and dated.

Thanks, won't bother for now as I'm seeing it on the weekend anyway. Will be handy for checking others in future though.

Any thoughts on "must have" options? I wanted the Koenig seats but there are very few cars with them specced it seems.

[Dr G]

Koenig seats were MK4 only, the buckets (a la RS4 B7) were a very expensive option on a MK5 and they're actually made by Recaro. I've never seen one with them fitted.

[fivesixseven8]

Ah, I mean the Recaros then. I'm after a 5 door too which seems to make then even harder to find!

[cuprabob]

I've got Recaros oin mine and they are worth it.

DSG with the smoothness of the V6 is sublime.

Only comment I'll make with regards to DSG is that you need to change your driving style to get the best out of it. They're are quirks especially when apptoaching roundabouts and you suddenly accelerate, it seems to take ages to be in the right gear but you get used to it. R32 throttle is very sensitive, takes a bit of practice to pull away smoothly and to reverse :-)

Enjoy the V6 growl

[fivesixseven8]

cuprabob said:

I've got Recaros oin mine and they are worth it.

DSG with the smoothness of the V6 is sublime.

Only comment I'll make with regards to DSG is that you need to change your driving style to get the best out of it. They're are quirks especially when apptoaching roundabouts and you suddenly accelerate, it seems to take ages to be in the right gear but you get used to it. R32 throttle is very sensitive, takes a bit of practice to pull away smoothly and to reverse :-)

Enjoy the V6 growl

The Wife would use the car mainly so drive-ability is important. I'll suss it out and then get her to test one too.

[Dr G]

Not a dig at all but this is *possibly* the most annoying thing a test-driver says when they get out. "Actually it's for my wife but she's not here and can't come down for another week".

[fivesixseven8]

Dr G said:

Not a dig at all but this is *possibly* the most annoying thing a test-driver says when they get out. "Actually it's for my wife but she's not here and can't come down for another week".

I can imagine it is!

I think it's fair though. I'm buying it, if I don't like it then there is no point her even looking. But if I do like it, she needs to try it too as she will drive it during the week. If anything I am saving his time by not having us both drive it in the first visit! If we end up going back for a second time then he has a high chance of a sale.
I've been upfront with the guy from the start, I don't want to waste anyone's time as much as I don't want to waste my own. He knows no deal will be done on the day and has still been very accommodating (which is unusual for a VAG dealer in my experience!)

[EC2]

How long do the clutches on DSG last and what do they cost to replace?

[Lefty Two Drams]

fivesixseven8 said:

- Pulling away from standstill, jerky or not? How much throttle pressure needed etc.

Very little, it's not an issue IMHO unless you're reversing uphill when, surprisingly, it can need a fair bit of gas to get going then you have to back off a bit.

fivesixseven8 said:

- Keeping it in gear whilst in Manual, at what points does it slip back into 'Auto' etc.

Doesn't happen if you're in "Manual" mode. You can use the paddles to change gear whilst in Drive and it will change back to auto after a little while (maybe 30 seconds?) But, if you want paddles only, push the stick over to the left from the D position and it will only change when you're about to stall.

fivesixseven8 said:

- The kickdown switch, is it annoying whilst in Manual

At first, yes. But you will get used to it pretty quickly and you can judge the point where you can mash your foot down and not make it kickdown. Stupid fking feature IMHO, the switch should be inactive when you're in manual mode.



As an aside, I didn't know about launch control! Must try it tonight on my way home!

[fivesixseven8]

Lefty Two Drams said:

fivesixseven8 said:

- Pulling away from standstill, jerky or not? How much throttle pressure needed etc.

Very little, it's not an issue IMHO unless you're reversing uphill when, surprisingly, it can need a fair bit of gas to get going then you have to back off a bit.

Shouldn't be too much of an issue then. The stupid drive-by-wire throttle in her MINI has so much delay you could have a cup of tea between pressing it and moving off!

Lefty Two Drams said:

fivesixseven8 said:

- Keeping it in gear whilst in Manual, at what points does it slip back into 'Auto' etc.

Doesn't happen if you're in "Manual" mode. You can use the paddles to change gear whilst in Drive and it will change back to auto after a little while (maybe 30 seconds?) But, if you want paddles only, push the stick over to the left from the D position and it will only change when you're about to stall.

Good to hear.

Lefty Two Drams said:

fivesixseven8 said:

- The kickdown switch, is it annoying whilst in Manual

At first, yes. But you will get used to it pretty quickly and you can judge the point where you can mash your foot down and not make it kickdown. Stupid fking feature IMHO, the switch should be inactive when you're in manual mode.



As an aside, I didn't know about launch control! Must try it tonight on my way home!

Will see what it feels like. Have fun tonight!

[Lefty Two Drams]

Oh, one other thing actually.

My mate has a mk v diesel golf which has rather nice blue instrument illumination. My mk v R32 doesn't though. The needles are blue but the rest of the illumination is white and not as nice.

OK, it's small complaint but does anybody have an R32 with blue instruments? Or know why VAG(inas) chose to delete the cool blue dials.

[VAG1]

Lefty Two Drams said:

Oh, one other thing actually.

My mate has a mk v diesel golf which has rather nice blue instrument illumination. My mk v R32 doesn't though. The needles are blue but the rest of the illumination is white and not as nice.

OK, it's small complaint but does anybody have an R32 with blue instruments? Or know why VAG(inas) chose to delete the cool blue dials.

I think they did it to keep the R32 unique. IMO looks much better, every VW of past had blue dials.

[Lefty Two Drams]

Launch Control works!!!

[fivesixseven8]

Lefty Two Drams said:

Launch Control works!!!

Glad to hear it!

As another question, I've not managed to find much commentary on the handling of the R32. With the weight on the engine I expect it to be a little nose heavy and susceptible to understeer?