Has anyone ever used a DSG / ZF and not liked it?

[Scottie - NW]

Time to replace the daily, and the only experience I've had of auto's is hire/work cars in the States. I've always had manual before.

The short list for replacement (2014 model) with either be a Golf/Seat GTi/R/Cupra which seems best with DSG or a M135i or 328i Touring again am told best with the 8 speed ZF box.

Everyone I have spoken to who has gone DSG or ZF for a daily car really rates them. Obviously I'll go for test drives but the question is has anyone gone for these boxes and really wished they'd stuck with manual instead?

[Scottie - NW]

Thanks and your reply prompted a comment I forgot to make, my daily commute is about 12 miles each way, about half DC and half B road, quite busy though although the B road is a very good one for corners

[Scottie - NW]

Just want to say thanks so much, there are some really good posts and comments here, I have learned a lot.

I will probably be trying the dsg/zf option on whichever of the cars I choose in the first post, I am looking to try and hire one for 24 hours as it seems this is a subject very much depending on the individual.

Am going from a manual diesel as the daily, decided i spend over 95% of seat time in this daily car i want it to be petrol and fun to drive. Will also do the basic upgrades of air filter/kit, remap, FMIC, downpipe/exhaust or similar for each car.

If i don't like dsg/zf for any reason will swap for another one before doing the above, and i have two manual fun cars to choose between for the weekend. Although i have to sell one due a soon to be 17 year old son who i need to get insured on one.

Thanks again for such great responses.

[Scottie - NW]

How do they cope with tuning?

Is the DSG in the Golf Gti/R/Cupra good for 400bhp and 400 lb/ft?

Is the M135i ZF8 good for 450bhp and 500 lb/ft?

These seem realistic targets with bolt on mods.

[Scottie - NW]

CraigyMc said:

Scottie - NW said:

How do they cope with tuning?

Is the DSG in the Golf Gti/R/Cupra good for 400bhp and 400 lb/ft?

Is the M135i ZF8 good for 450bhp and 500 lb/ft?

These seem realistic targets with bolt on mods.

Ignore the power numbers.

Transmissions are rated by torque and anyone who intimates otherwise is leading you astray.

That's why I put the torque figures

[Scottie - NW]

I have just been trying to sort out a hire car for 24 hours to see what I think of each gearbox.

For £85 for 24 hours I can get an M2, will this have the same ZF8 as the M135i?

Am having trouble finding somewhere to hire a Golf GTi with DSG, am trying Liverpool and Manchester as the two closest large cities.