can the dsg be driven as a full automatic?

[celica]

never driven or been in a car with dsg, but was wondering can it be driven as a full automatic?

[RedRobin]

never driven or been in a car with dsg, but was wondering can it be driven as a full automatic?

....Yes, but you'd be wasting it's potential and not getting the optimum performance out of your car.

The beauty of DSG is that you can drive it like a Manual and then conveniently slip into D-mode ('Auto') for villages and traffic jams etc.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

never driven or been in a car with dsg, but was wondering can it be driven as a full automatic?

....Yes, but you'd be wasting it's potential and not getting the optimum performance out of your car.

Huh!  I'd hardly describe driving a DSG in full auto as wasting any potential! 

And the OP didn't really ask about getting max performance from the car - but even if they had, then you can still get max performance, even in D-mode - by using the kickdown.  And let's not forget Sport mode - which is also a 'full auto mode' !

The beauty of DSG is that you can drive it like a Manual and then conveniently slip into D-mode ('Auto') for villages and traffic jams etc.

Agreed.

[Rollini]

never driven or been in a car with dsg, but was wondering can it be driven as a full automatic?

yes

[ifti]

Ok, so sport mode just takes every gear to the highest revs before it changes up, right?
If you are just in 'D', and you plant your foot (ie kickdown), isnt it just the same as being in sport mode anyway?? with the only difference being when you let off the gas pedal the car will increase gears back up etc to drive in D mode again, without having to change modes using the Gear Lever?

[RedRobin]

never driven or been in a car with dsg, but was wondering can it be driven as a full automatic?

....Yes, but you'd be wasting it's potential and not getting the optimum performance out of your car.

Huh!  I'd hardly describe driving a DSG in full auto as wasting any potential! 

....YOU might not describe it like that, but I just did!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Ok, so sport mode just takes every gear to the highest revs before it changes up, right?

Basically, yes.  But in sport mode, it also makes down changes much higher up the rev range too.  This maximises engine braking, and also ensures that you are in the lowest possible gear for maximum acceleration.  Dependent on actuall throttle opening, this may change up anywhere between 4,500 rpm and the red line - with sport mode generally changing up at around 5,000 rpm.

If you are just in 'D', and you plant your foot (ie kickdown), isnt it just the same as being in sport mode anyway??
with the only difference being when you let off the gas pedal the car will increase gears back up etc to drive in D mode again, without having to change modes using the Gear Lever?

Not really.  To activate kickdown (and kickdown works in all three modes  ), you must be at "Wide Open Throttle" (WOT) - ie have the accelerator pedal hard to the floor.  Once you lift the throttle pedal just a few millimeters (therefore disengaging the kickdown switch) - the gearbox will revert to the usual sedate manner of gear shifts.  But if you are in sport mode, then the shift points will be much higher up the rev range, even at light throttle openings.

[KentBladeboy]

Yep, just drive it as a full auto, gives all the benefits of an autobox, including creep at idle in D, without the penalties of a torque convertor,  ie, fuel economy gains over autobox, faster response, less power loss etc etc.  If you are not used to manuals, or not bothered about cog swapping, I think its a great car to drive in auto mode.

To quote my wife 'used the paddles, buts whats the point, when I've got someone else inside the gearbox to do it for me'

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Yep, just drive it as a full auto, gives all the benefits of an autobox, including creep at idle in D, without the penalties of a torque convertor,  ie, fuel economy gains over autobox, faster response, less power loss etc etc.  If you are not used to manuals, or not bothered about cog swapping, I think its a great car to drive in auto mode.

Yup - spot on.

Oh, one teeny weeny point which the DSG does not have compared to normal autoboxes - the DSG does not have 'roll back' prevention. 

To quote my wife 'used the paddles, buts whats the point, when I've got someone else inside the gearbox to do it for me'

LOL - my SWMBO is exactly the same - must be a 'woman-thing'!   

In all seriousnous though, even if the gear stick never moves from D, if you drive down a hill, you really should 'paddle-down' to use the engine braking.  The amount of times I see peeps going down a hill, brake lights ablaze - just to maintain their existing speed.    Brakes should ONLY be used for "slowing down or stopping" - which basically means using a lower gear and engine braking to prevent the speed from gaining when going down a hill. 

[illyun]

I've read that kickdown is quite stressful for the DSG box..