Golf 7.5 manual transmission clutch smell

[Splashalot]

Anyone else notice the clutch in their 7.5 (or 7) manual transmission Golf stinks during normal take offs?

My <4,000kms old 110STi (150bhp) manual Golf has since brand new emitted a burnt clutch stench on even flat road gentle take offs. I'm wondering if the auto-hold is in some way implicated (holding too long?) Will experiment by turning it off.

Just to confirm: Yes I do know how to drive a manual transmission. And no I don't slip or ride the clutch or in any way abuse it. My driving nowadays is sadly sedentary. I've never had a clutch issue in ~40 years of manual driving.

I will take the car back to the dealer but thought I would first plug the forum's combined brain trust.

[mcmaddy]

The auto hold brake had an update recently so might be worth asking if yours requires a software update.

[Daz Auto]

Just to confirm: Yes I do know how to drive a manual transmission. And no I don't slip or ride the clutch or in any way abuse it. My driving nowadays is sadly sedentary. I've never had a clutch issue in ~40 years of manual driving.

(joking) I'm sorry sir, but it is definitely your fault.

I had 3 clutches fitted to my Mk5 Golf before it fixed the juddering. That's part of the reason I opted for DSG on my Mk6. I didn't want to take a chance on another VW manual clutch.

Having said that - our A3 has had it's Stronic gearbox replaced. Then it had to go in again to get the clutch pack replaced on the replacement gearbox. I told my wife it was her driving.

It was really hard to replicate the fault on the A3 clutch. They garage kept telling us the car was ok. We had to swap cars for a week, so I could work out how to replicate the fault. Then we got a Q2 to drive as a loan car for a week while it was being repaired. I was supposed to collect the A3 sooner, but I was told it had a clutch pedal error. Automatics don't have clutch pedals!