Emperor's new clothes?

[James Gould]

Is DSG like 'the Emperor's New Clothes'? No disrespect intended but a lot of you guys are saying you love driving but have chosen DSG - you say it's great and that you love it but I can't understand how it can be as involving as driving a manual with a clutch - I do agree that the technology is clever and I do feel 'techno stubborn' thinking like I do but if something is being removed then, by definition, it can't be as good - have any of you who love driving chosen the DSG and regretted it? Does it make sense that I can get my head around the technology in Astons, Porsches and Ferraris but not in a 'hot hatch' - isn't the point of 'hot hatch' to have fun and involvement? Maybe if I'd done the manual hot hatch thing before, I'd not feel this way but....the way I feel, does anyone think I could/would be happy if I were to choose the DSG?

[Egbutt Wash]

Get a manual.
Read it and buy the DSG.
It's a no brainer

[gjf]

I have always had a manual inc 2 type R's which have amongst the best manual box on any car, This time i went for the DSG as i fancied a change. Last weekend i went for a drive for the sake of it and spent about 90 mins driving through the Brecon Beacons - this is the first time  i have really hammered the car and all i can say is in manual mode when you are attacking the twisties the DSG is truely amazing. I firmly believe now that it is just as much fun as a manual and even more versatile, i know the purists will never get it and fair eneough but all i can say to anyone who is undecided is grab a Demo with DSG, head to the twisties and give it some beans! Let me know what you think!!!!

[James Gould]

Clever...

[keelaw]

if you want ultimate fun and driving involvement, i think you should get a manual

if you want the fastest gear change, relaxation, 90% of the fun, something for the wife who prefers manual, a cool gadget, no worries about missing gear changes or getting lost with 6 gears, then go for DSG

for the driving experience of a hot hatch, you should be driving a manual.  for something closer to a fast exec sports hatch, then DSG is great.


if I am 100% honest I do have a slight regret about having DSG when around town as it does have the odd "moment" (well documented elsewhere).  but i am happy that the benefits it brings just about outweighs the compromises

[Gazdebaz]

In the UK the majority of people drive a manual car, with only 18% being automatic. So the majority of people when specing their cars have never really driven an automatic/DSG car over a sustained period of time. So when test driving a car, although you may like the DSG you still have this niggling thought in the back of your mind of should I or shouldn’t I? (Taking into account the extra money as well of course.)

Having driven a lot of automatics over the years (All my fathers cars were autos) and regular use of all sorts of hire cars. I did not have any doubts on picking the DSG box, as for me it is the best of both worlds and suits our personal circumstances.If you like a manual, fine stick with it.

I made the decision on the DSG and so far love it.

[James Gould]

Thanks for taking the time to post that - maybe I should test drive the cars more - only had 15 minutes in each and only on normal town roads and dual carriageway - I don't drive on country roads etc but maybe if I do get the DSG I'll go for drives just for the heck of it

[Gazdebaz]

James,

Test drive, test drive, test drive. Try and get the car for a longer period of time and vary it over town, motorway and country roads. Most importantly pick what suits and fells the best for you.

[keelaw]

I don't drive on country roads etc but maybe if I do get the DSG I'll go for drives just for the heck of it

if you had a manual, you should also go for drives for the heck of it!  

[p3eps]

If you get a DSG test drive, make sure you get it for a few hours.
I always hammer the car on my test drive - because thats generally what you want to test on a performance car!
I later went back and got it for 3 hours, so I could sit in traffic, drive through town, and general normal driving to see how it was.
My previous 7 cars have been manual - so this time I'm trying DSG!