My R's gearchange (the feel through the gearstick while changing) has always felt a little rough, reminiscent of a Ford Transit 2.5 Diesel - almost feels "ridgy". Probably twice a month, either going into 1st from neutral after a stop-start stop in traffic, or being in 6th and dropping to 3rd for a blast, the gearstick feels like it's not going to go in and to do so you'd have to force it, so I put it in another gear (without bringing the clutch back up) and the back into the intended 1st or 3rd.
I always felt the 2 things were related, and although the non-change was too infrequent to replicate, the ridgy feeling of the gear change was always there.
Have brought it up on multiple visits and always been fobbed off - "it's running in, will get smoother" or "the gearbox is a bit agricultural to handle the extra power".
Had 9 VAGs from new and every single one had a smoother box/change. Wonder whether something has been put together very slightly out of alignment on the drivetrain (clutch/gearbox/flywheel) from the factory, and related to this clutch slip?
I don't ride the clutch nor use it as a footrest.
Seems I have a few options, most costing big money:-
1. Take it to VW. Won't touch it unless they can replucate the slip. If they do replicate the slip they open it up, decide it's "normal" wear and charge me almost £600 to put it back together.
2. As per 1, but they find a manufacturing related fault and replace.
3. Bite the bullet and get a Sachs Organic clutch at my cost for £900 fitted if the flywheel isn't goosed too.
4. P/x or sell way earlier than intended and suffer more depreciation.
After dieselgate money saving, bet VW won't approve option 2 unless fault is conclusively VW's fault.
