Automatic diesels - anyone got any experience?

[MrBounce]

It may come to pass that Mrs Bounce will want to learn to drive but she is adament that she will only learn to drive an Auto. This will mean that the good old Bora will have to go and will need to be replaced with an Auto of some sort.

I like the TDi engine and the high spec of the car I've got so would hopefully like something with similar spec and size. Might get the same but with the Tip box, but might also go for a Laurin & Klement Octavia.

Are the boxes troublesome or actually good? I have no problems driving an auto as the daily is not a "fun" car - the Midas in the garage is that.

Is there anything specific I should look out for? I know about the extra tax costs and slight drop in MPG.

Your help is much appreciated. And yes, I am getting old.

[danny_p]

flappy paddels on the old mans a3 TDI worked well   

the traditional type of autobox on a diesel has been pritty nasty to drive on all the ones i'v edriven but thats not meany

[DubFan]

flappy paddels on the old mans a3 TDI worked well   

the traditional type of autobox on a diesel has been pritty nasty to drive on all the ones i'v edriven but thats not meany

Was that the tiptronic? What age of A3 ?

[Diamond Hell]

Tried a DSG Superb a while back.  Very effective.

[Organisys]

DSG type boxes only!!!

a regular tourque sapper box is horrid on a diseasel imho.

[danny_p]

yup was a DSG    58 plate

only thing that pisses me off with the dsg boxes is reverseing, have a lit of falling out with them over that  ( mainly as i often have the misfortune of haveing to reverse lots and like to do it quicker than audi think you should.  so try and accselorate to hard in reverse and teh car dose nothing  )