D.S.G...........Why ?

[Ed30DSG]

In the interests of protecting the engine...yes...DSG will change up for you when you hit the red line...even when in manual mode.

Its all very well. Ive only driven a manual mk5 gti. I like auto for traffic jams and going slow up hills in traffic. I like the idea of it being able to change gear fast. But i dont like the idea that it changes up for you when i might want to stretch out the gears to the limit in a bit of fun driving.

Can that be cured in a remap?

In the interests of protecting the engine...yes...DSG will change up for you when you hit the red line...even when in manual mode.

Its all very well. Ive only driven a manual mk5 gti. I like auto for traffic jams and going slow up hills in traffic. I like the idea of it being able to change gear fast. But i dont like the idea that it changes up for you when i might want to stretch out the gears to the limit in a bit of fun driving.

Can that be cured in a remap?

Yes, that aspect can be cured with a gearbox remap, along with preventing kickdown when in manual mode.

[zerolight]

My experience with DSG has so far been negative. I'm hoping it's a fault - it's in for a potential repair at the moment and the mechatronics are suspected but it's getting a full check over of all the other options before VW will authorise the dealer to replace the mechatronic unit.

So far I feel kinda disconnected from the driving experience.

It moves off a little hesitantly like I have poor clutch control.

Reversing when parallel parking is scary with the car doing nothing then a second later jumping backwards.

Sometimes it stretches the gears so long that I get freaked out - it's like S can be too aggressive and D can be to relaxed and yet schitzo where it suddenly drops a gear or dips the clutch unnecessarily.

Another issue I hate - the accel pedal is disabled when you press the break, and doesn't seem to become active until about 1 second after lifting off the brake, the car wants to roll backwards on even very shallow inclines, so you need to use the handbrake more than with a manual.

Shifting via the paddle shifters seems like an unnecessary effort that doesn't add to the experience. Perhaps on a track you could live out your Forza/GT dreams, but on the road, even a B road, S or D see to cope well enough.

I get some odd behaviour at times - sitting in "economic" D on the motorway, spot a gap in the traffic when changing lanes, press the throttle a fraction (from near off to just a little bit) and the car drops from 6th to 5th, doesn't seem to fully engage the clutch, causing the revs to soar to around 5000 rpm with a huge fanfare, then the gear seems to engage and the car moves forward with all the force you have expect for such a light throttle press - ie not a lot, but you sound like a tool.

I dunno, the whole thing just doesn't feel as responsive, natural, or reliable as a manual, and it doesn't have the grace and ease of use of an automatic.

Between that and the realisation that I really don't need a 3.2 litre V6 engine and 4WD to take the family to Tesco, I'm regretting trading the GTI in on the R32. Maybe things will change if it comes back from the dealer with a new mechatronic unit, but right now - full of regrets. And even if it needs a new mechatronic unit, unless I'm lucky and there's one in VW UK stock, I could be waiting weeks to find out if it's the gearbox that's the problem, or if DSG just isn't for me.

[Saint Steve]

My experience with DSG has so far been negative. I'm hoping it's a fault - it's in for a potential repair at the moment and the mechatronics are suspected but it's getting a full check over of all the other options before VW will authorise the dealer to replace the mechatronic unit.

So far I feel kinda disconnected from the driving experience.

It moves off a little hesitantly like I have poor clutch control.

Reversing when parallel parking is scary with the car doing nothing then a second later jumping backwards.

Sometimes it stretches the gears so long that I get freaked out - it's like S can be too aggressive and D can be to relaxed and yet schitzo where it suddenly drops a gear or dips the clutch unnecessarily.

Another issue I hate - the accel pedal is disabled when you press the break, and doesn't seem to become active until about 1 second after lifting off the brake, the car wants to roll backwards on even very shallow inclines, so you need to use the handbrake more than with a manual.

Shifting via the paddle shifters seems like an unnecessary effort that doesn't add to the experience. Perhaps on a track you could live out your Forza/GT dreams, but on the road, even a B road, S or D see to cope well enough.

I get some odd behaviour at times - sitting in "economic" D on the motorway, spot a gap in the traffic when changing lanes, press the throttle a fraction (from near off to just a little bit) and the car drops from 6th to 5th, doesn't seem to fully engage the clutch, causing the revs to soar to around 5000 rpm with a huge fanfare, then the gear seems to engage and the car moves forward with all the force you have expect for such a light throttle press - ie not a lot, but you sound like a tool.

I dunno, the whole thing just doesn't feel as responsive, natural, or reliable as a manual, and it doesn't have the grace and ease of use of an automatic.

Between that and the realisation that I really don't need a 3.2 litre V6 engine and 4WD to take the family to Tesco, I'm regretting trading the GTI in on the R32. Maybe things will change if it comes back from the dealer with a new mechatronic unit, but right now - full of regrets. And even if it needs a new mechatronic unit, unless I'm lucky and there's one in VW UK stock, I could be waiting weeks to find out if it's the gearbox that's the problem, or if DSG just isn't for me.

Untill you have the Mech's changed. Its then fair comment on whether its well worth having.

You have a malfuntioning ECU changing gears at present, isnt going to work properly is it??

Give it a chance once its repaired then see whow you go. I wouldnt go back to manual, for all the tea in china.

[iwilkins]

Me either.  Yours certainly doesn't sound like it's working properly. Mine doesn't lurch as you mention.  It does feel like it hangs onto the clutch a little longer than I would in a manual but only if driving slowly

For reference if driving steady mine changes around 2500-3000. Tip for the motorway is to always have in manual that way it won't blip down as you mention

I'm sure when they fix yours you'll love it.  Works way better than an auto !

[zerolight]

New mecha on order. They hope to have it next week.

[Emeye]

I'm on my second manual mk5 GTI now, and having driven a number of DSG VAG cars, including test driving a couple of DSG GTIs and also driving my friend's DSG R32, I have to say I don't like DSG.

Driving a DSG equipped car just spoilt the experience for me - it was like a layer of interaction was missing and it sometimes wanted to do its own thing and not what I wanted. The worst thing was the slight delay I experienced every now and again when it seemed to be hesitating and not too sure what to do.

Granted it's probably nice when you are sitting in crappy traffic, but you can not beat the feeling of control and satisfaction you get from using a nice manual gearbox like the GTI has. Changing gear is part of the driving experience.

Thing is I didn't like it in the diesel Altea or Toledo courtesy cars I used it in, and I would have thought it was suited to those applications.

I do have an automatic 1995 BMW 525 Touring that I use as a tip car, and automatic seems to suit that better. I would have bought a manual if I could have found one though....

So it'll always be a no for me - well until I get older maybe,  but I can see why some people may like it.

Oh, and I can't believe VW have launched the Polo GTi and SEAT the latest fast Ibizas without a manual option. IMO it adds unnecessary cost and is only being done to get low emission ratings. So no chance I would buy one.

[AlanD]

^ Snap on that view. Couldnt sum it up better. Everyone to their own, Im sure some people love it. Its a real poor show that VW dont offer the Polo GTI in manual. Crazy if you ask me.

[Phil1980]

Yeah what a daft move only offering it in automatic, going to miss out on a few sales due to that.  I would like to try the DSG but am happy with the manual at the moment.

[Jimp]

I have a feeling they didn't offer a manual for emissions and economy reasons 

[Saint Steve]

Theres going to be alot more people opting for Public transport when Manuals are being scrapped slowly but surely:laugh:

A manual will eventually be a collectors item