Author Topic: Is DSG really any good ?  (Read 10512 times)

Offline gjroe78

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Is DSG really any good ?
« on: 04 June 2009, 23:00 »
I'm lookin at getting rid of my Navara and am goin looking at a 5 door GTI with DSG
I like driving hard and pretty fast, my question is will i be able to do this as well in a DSG as with a Manual ???
Is it good or is it just like the semi auto box that is on the Q7 ?
Cheers for any help
<br /><br />+ a 1.8T Bora Sport(R-Tech\'ed to 213bhp)

Offline Hurdy

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #1 on: 04 June 2009, 23:11 »
Is DSG really any good ?

YES!

is it just like the semi auto box that is on the Q7 ?

NO!

I like driving hard and pretty fast, my question is will i be able to do this as well in a DSG as with a Manual

Better and faster in a DSG!

 :cool:

Seat Leon Cupra Black 290 DSG

WhiteGTI

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #2 on: 04 June 2009, 23:13 »
What he said ^^

But you're never going to be able to get that 'fully in control' feeling that you get from a manual with a DSG. But no doubt that the DSG is stupendously impressive...each time I go in a GTI with DSG I want one, but then as soon as I get back in my manual I love the total feeling of control!

Offline ILoveTuna

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #3 on: 04 June 2009, 23:14 »
DSG is mint!!! Nothing like any other auto.

Use it on manual with the paddles and its just like a manual anyways.  :grin:

Offline gjroe78

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #4 on: 04 June 2009, 23:21 »
Hmm think i'll have a serious look at it then as i've found on near me at a really good price.
Cheers guys  :wink:
« Last Edit: 04 June 2009, 23:28 by gjroe78 »
<br /><br />+ a 1.8T Bora Sport(R-Tech\'ed to 213bhp)

Jkctr

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #5 on: 04 June 2009, 23:54 »
I love it and have only just started using manual mode properly  :laugh:

I forgot you can use the gearstick (i didnt like not using paddles while turning, the gearstick notching does it though!)

Its very quick this way and completely seemless

Offline R32UK

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #6 on: 05 June 2009, 07:54 »
Erm after living with it now for over a week, i have to say it has its merits. But better than manual..... not even close. I currently have a DSG hire car with a few more extras than mine and have to say it just doesnt give me the anywhere near the same enjoyment mine does.

I dont want to put people off as everyone has different requirements for their car, but I dont spend much time in traffic and use mainly A roads with quite a few round abouts.

PM me for more details if you like, dont want to be slagging it off for those who like it... but what i would say is give it a good try before you do take the plunge. :wink:

Offline Ed30DSG

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #7 on: 05 June 2009, 09:29 »
Well, I'm a die hard manual person, and it has taken me over 2 months to get used to DSG - unless you've driven lots of automatics, it's unlikely that you will have learnt enough about it in a few days to get the best out of it.

There is still room for improvement though IMHO, like when I'm in manual, I don't want it to kick-down EVER! I'm also concerned that in icy / slippery conditions there doesn't seem to be a way to force it into a higher gear to prevent wheelspin (it wants to drop back down into 1st).

Aside from this, I find it very engaging when in manual mode, maybe a bit clinical in the way it changes gear so quickly, but very, very effective! Also, the noise from power shifts going up the box is great and I actually like the way it automatically drops down for you in manual mode.

I occasionaly get the odd clunk when selecting reverse (even when stationary) and 1st to 2nd at slow speeds is a little violent on a few occasions - maybe I should bring the DSG gearbox oil service forward (currently at 35k miles).

I've been considering a DSG remap, but will probably wait until the knowledge of tuners has improved.

HTH.

Offline Hurdy

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #8 on: 05 June 2009, 09:52 »
Some of the criticisms of DSG are quite valid.

Auto kickdown in manual mode was one of my major gripes, along with the fact that the K04 in the ED30 makes power up to around 7k revs and the DSG hits a soft limiter at around 6200revs, negating the top end power access. Changedowns at low speed can be a little clunky (but no more so than any manually controlled ones).

Now the good news. I recently had the DSG box remapped and it cured all of the above and even made the upchanges faster. I now get 7k upchanges, so the top end power is there and the manual mode is now what it should have always been. :cool:

A side benefit is that the Torque limiters in 1st and second are uprated and the torque handling capacity is moved from the OEM 350nm to 500nm. :nerd:
Seat Leon Cupra Black 290 DSG

Offline bobotheclown

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Re: Is DSG really any good ?
« Reply #9 on: 05 June 2009, 10:45 »
I think it is fantastic. I live in London so giving my left knee a rest is welcome after 13 years of driving manual cars. When out on the open road you have manual mode and paddles on the steering wheel to give you manual control of gear selection. Plus you get much much smoother gear changes in a DSG than in a manual car. Plus DSG is faster than manual gear changes. Isn't that what the GTI is about?