On the DSG point, to compare apples with oranges for a moment, the DSG Gti will probably be faster most of the time than the BMW manual, despite there being more power on tap. People are usually not very good at getting the best acceleration out of a manual, even if they say they are. Having said all of that, it probably really doesn't matter how fast you actually are as long as you think you're fast
The DSG experience is very different from manual, and it's probably worth giving it a go if you are possibly going to live with it. I won't start another gearbox argument on here! (But I have about 70k of DSG driving under my belt and am now hopelessly locked into expensive drivetrains until I die)
