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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: Rog on 21 December 2005, 13:52

Title: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Rog on 21 December 2005, 13:52
What's the general verdict, DSG or 6 speed manual? If they were both an option at no extra cost what would you opt for? I've got the Gti at the moment with 6 speed manual which is a lovely gear box.  I've just ordered a R32 with DSG as I like the idea of playing racing driver ( at no more than 70 mph of course! ) with the paddle shifts. What  have you all got on your VW's? and those with DSG in hindsight would you have gone for manual instead? Thanks. :smiley:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: The Doc on 21 December 2005, 18:16
DSG all the way!

I had a DSG GTi and now have the 6 speed manual it stinks in comparisson!

I have ordered an R32 with DSG also!

Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: hifipatrik on 21 December 2005, 23:58
No discussion, DSG is worth every penny !!!  It changes gear faster than the manual, it does it smoother than most automatics, you can change gear from your fingertips, it accelerates steadily without any lag when changing gear, you can rest your left leg (or use it for braking).

Simply put, it does everything better than the manual......THEN as a bonus you can drive it automatic whenever you like...

I will find it extremely difficult to ever go back to a manual gearbox  / Patrik
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Neaty on 22 December 2005, 11:42
i would be tempted to go for thr DSG myself, i have never driven a car with it, i need to really to see what its like!
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: steviem on 22 December 2005, 18:20
I've driven a C2 VTR with Sensodrive, and the paddleshift seems as responsive as a digital camera, as in you press the paddle, then wait two/three seconds and then it changes gear.
Is DSG instant changing?
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Rog on 22 December 2005, 20:20
Thanks guys, looks like I've made the right choice!  Happy Xmas everyone....... :smiley:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: hifipatrik on 22 December 2005, 21:47
Yes, the DSG box is instant shifting  :smug:

It is not really like any other gearbox out there. As far as I know it is the only one that have 2 clutches, one for gear 1,3,5 and one for gear 2,4,6 .
The electronics senses wheter you are accelerating or decelerating, it then puts the next gear in place, and when you want to change it simply shifts from on clutch to the other, giving you faster gearshifts than you can do with the manual.
Thats why the acceleration is faster than the manual and also constant the whole way up to top speed !
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Neaty on 23 December 2005, 09:11
Quote from: steviem on 22 December 2005, 18:20
I've driven a C2 VTR with Sensodrive, and the paddleshift seems as responsive as a digital camera, as in you press the paddle, then wait two/three seconds and then it changes gear.
Is DSG instant changing?

Direct Shift Gearbox i think it stands for!

yea i have heard the C2 flappy paddles are rubbish my mate test drove one when they first came out!!
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: rega3 on 23 December 2005, 21:04
DSG all the way, no contest. Brilliant piece of design.
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Snoopy on 25 December 2005, 15:20
I had both for a couple of days i went for the manual. Its a personal choice really.
I seemed to have to learn to drive the DSG rather than just jump in and drive it like the manual.
Also the idea of winter (as it snows here quite abit unlike down south) with the DSG i was not sure how it would cope.
As an EE engineer the idea of all the electronics & sensors etc etc on the DSG scared me abit for long term ownership i would pick mecanical things over electronic anyday.
Also the idea of a clutch change.
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: lowdown on 03 January 2006, 00:41
Well....autobox doesn't like to be held on the brake, even in sport mode,
according to this link.
http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=2470517&fSectionId=844&fSetId=38

Happy reading peeps. :cool:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Eric Shun on 03 January 2006, 13:29
My A4 Multitronic did the same thing, as does my GTi DSG.
It's a feature of VAG vehicles.  You're more likely to notice the power cut-off if you left foot brake as opposed to "drag racing".
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: lowdown on 03 January 2006, 17:11
More test reports this time it's Evo magazine.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/driven/53636/vw_golf_gti_dsg.html
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: lowdown on 19 January 2006, 19:09
Went for test drive today in a DSG(55 plate 5dr,500miles,demo),(having driven manual version some months ago). 

You can drive the car in 5 different ways:


Where can we deploy these options?
D-obviously great for city/slow environments/anywhere.
S-Not sure
Stick-Manual gearbox substitute
Paddle-Race track
Combination of last two-changing gear when not steering straight ahead ie can't reach paddle.



The right choice for me now is a manual, because I don't drive in cities (well not very often), don't race other vehicles, and enjoy that involving left hand/left foot experience at regular intervals whilst at the wheel.  (No auto will ever be able to compete with my creamy changes!!)

Without doubt the DSG makes the GTi faster, and it's THE best automatic gearbox anywhere.  It's not better or worse than a manual, just different, and you should choose according to your driving environment and habits.

Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: VWmaindealer on 15 February 2006, 22:34
Just been interestingly readin gthat artive from lowdown.  VW kindly sent us to Donington Park pre-launch of the GTI in 2004.  Here, they proudly displayed the DSG gearbox as the best thing since a gearstick.  I happen to agree with them.

I'm going to have to try this again tomorrow at work but from what I remember when the pro drivers were giving us a run down on the cars before we played was that the DSG GTI is fitted with launch control. From memory.............ESP off (most important as it turns off the brake assist), selecter into S, left foot on brake and floor it. The car will rev to approx 3000rpm then hold this revs until you let go of the brake. As I said, i'm going to have to try it myself again but I've seen it done and it worked. Car revved highly then when he let go of the brake, it immediately accelarated with zero lag and would definately ot accelerate a manual from the line because teh turbo hasn't got to play catch up. It looks like the cars in that article had the ESp still switched on!

My thoughts, even for the money, DSG rocks!

VWmd
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: The Doc on 12 March 2006, 17:27
Agreed roll on June.............................................................. :cry:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: illyun on 13 March 2006, 10:51
I'm afraid only manual will do for me - driving DSG is like having a shower with a raincoat on  :laugh:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: Matt555 on 13 March 2006, 13:14
I ised to have the same thoughts as you about DSG fella, the thing is!!!  The more you use it and the better you get with it, the better it is..  I now really rate the DSG box, you just need to leave it in sport and use launch control  :grin: :grin:

Launch control on the Audi can be used as many times as you like unlike the Beemers flappy shift  :wink:

1 - select sport
2 - turn off dsc/esp
3 - left foot on brake
4 - dial up 3000 rpm
5 - release brake
6 - hold on
7 - OMG that's mental from the misses is the norm  :evil:

Would love to try it with the R32.....
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: illyun on 13 March 2006, 15:46
Well I think I will have a test drive just to see what al the fuss is about - in an R32 and a GTI  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: AlexRWD on 28 March 2006, 09:20
Tested both, and agree it's the best of these systems - must be, as the Bugatti Veyron uses same type of system! - and faster than the manual, and easier to get a fast launch, but for me it took away the involvement.  I like the manual shift on the cars i tried, thought it was a good gearshift.

Also don't like the "buttons" being on the wheel, rather than paddles fixed to the column so that you always know where they are and which way round.

Also like to heel and toe on downshifts.

Maybe it would get better with more experience as an ownership proposition, but at present, no way would pay extra for it.

If it was free, might have been tempted, but still not certain.
Title: Re: 6 speed manual or DSG?
Post by: virage1 on 28 March 2006, 11:23
I have a manual now which I am (for now at least) very happy with...it is great to have a manual having had various autos and semi-autos for the last 18 months or so. The last manual I had was a TVR which is a different sort of manual to a Golf - just a tad heavier and requires a little more concentration (especially when wet).

It is all down to personal opinion. Undoubtedly the DSG is quicker than a manual but the decision rests upon how you enjoy your sensation of speed. This is more of a problem with some full autos which are so smooth and competent with no manual interaction, that regardless of the speed you still feel detached from the road. I have had an M5 with SMG (great - very quick shifts in S6 mode but pedestrian in lower modes - full auto mode was fairly rubbish at low speed taking too long to change) and a Maserati with the Ferrari sourced cambiocorsa box...erm room for improvement, especially for slow speed driving. Logic does dictate this is the way forward, but part of my driving enjoyment does come from having to do more things myself.