GTI in 3 Door & DSG Combination

[Gryzor]

You don't have to have full throttle to keep it from changing up, just pressed a bit will keep it hanging onto gears for longer. I know that when I test drove a diesel DSG and was driving quickly, it didn't do the change up thing. The DSG is designed, however, to be in top gear as soon as is possible and will do so by 30 or 40 mph and will be on a trailing throttle. The GTI is an enthusiast's car and unless you are regularly stuck in very heavy traffic, I reckon manual is the one to go for. I am also trying to persuade everyone that they will tire of DSG fairly quickly as in everyday life it just becomes a bit boring. 

Must admit, regardless of how I feel about DSG anyway, all this reading around it "doing its thing" would put me off!  I've driven a DSG, and while it's great in traffic, it's boring as hell when you are just driving normally or having a bit of fun.  I like to stick it in whatever gear I want, when I want, and do whatever revs I want before changing - certainly in a car that's designed to be driven.  For the long motorway cruises it has ACC, which is the perfect blend IMO.

[Bill_the_Bear]

Isn't the DSG an adaptive system and as such it will learn your driving style a bit like the ECU?
I'm sure previous DSG equipped cars could be reset to learn your style again.

Can you reset the ECU then?  Say, if you bought a 2nd hand car.

Have to say I'm surprised at the degree of DSG negativity.  If you combine all the comments so far you'd think it was a boring, intrusive, expensive gearbox that doesn't belong on a performance car and you should think really hard and be very careful about specing it.  Yet objectively I can't see any problem with it other than some of us just prefer a manual.  Actually (IMO) I'd go further and say that a manual gearbox is somewhat strange on a car like the GTI.  Every other part of the car has been upgraded with adaptive and computer controlled technology.  The engine, the steering, the chassis, the brakes, the LSD, even the headlights, they have all been enhanced.  I can completely understand people picking the manual, but I don't think the DSG can be criticised for being what it is when that is completely in sync with the engineering on the rest of the vehicle.

So anyway, here are some positives to redress the balance :

• I commute on the A14... 'nuff said.
• Fastest way to hit 60 there is
• Gives me choice, if I want to relax it does the work, if I want to take control I have several manual options
• More options if I want to play (I like to play)

Whoever said it was like a colour preference I think they are right.  There isn't a right or wrong choice here, and there is nothing wrong with a DSG. -ducks-

[DougL]

Whoever said it was like a colour preference I think they are right.  There isn't a right or wrong choice here, and there is nothing wrong with a DSG. -ducks-

Absolutely agree. I just wanted to point out that the DSG also has a boring side to its nature that people often forget and that the manual box is a cracking one. I'd also pay honest john's website a visit just to be aware of reliability and cost issues.

The ECU on the DSG doesn't adapt in the way that has been hinted at here.

[Aidey]

Ive got the 3 door white in DSG on order, im almost 40. maybe im boring? Ive had my fill of car's over my 20 odd years now, from a utterly useless astra to a staggering boring St..This will be my first DSG though..

[Bill_the_Bear]

The ECU on the DSG doesn't adapt in the way that has been hinted at here.

Sorry, I meant the engine ECU.

[Movi]

You will always have the diehard manual gearbox fans that will not be turned no matter what.
and you'll always have those that favour the DSG and won't go back, myself included.
When I was in my 20's I was of the opinion that autos where for Granddads!

This topic has been discussed many times with every incarnation from MK5 onwards. just read some of the old Manual v DSG threads. Everyone has there own opinions.

At the end of the day we are all different and want different things.

A car for me is a means of getting from A to B as comfortably as possible. don't get me wrong it still needs a bit of get up and go and needs to be a quality product.

The way our roads are these days with endless stop start traffic the auto is the option I would choose for my daily transport.

If I want some excitement I have a very fast Speed Triple 1050, and yes its a manual.
however I don't need to stop for all that traffic.

 

[JonnyG]

Have to say I'm surprised at the degree of DSG negativity.

Don't worry Bill, DSG is actually very popular amongst GTi owners (see poll below)

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=220707.msg2034892#msg2034892

Not everyone likes it but they are becoming the outspoken minority these days     

[Lagerlout]

Well, my Wife has DSG in her 991 Carrera, and whilst I really like it, you do seem to drive more sedately with that box than with a manual. It is less tempting to rev it as the box changes down itself. Sure, you can put it into Sport+ and manual mode and it will slam in the changes quicker than Schumacher can. But, it does certainly take some of the fun out of the car, equally it makes the car a much more relaxed day to day proposition. I have owned DSG/Flappy Paddles since my CSL back in 2003 and have owned 5-6 cars set up like this since then. Basically there is no wrong answer and the DSG is a superb box - just horses for courses!

I understood the manual was actually faster than the DSG in the Golf with better fuel economy too, that's normally the opposite in other cars. Bit strange. 

[AndyG]

Lagerlout,don't take this the wrong way but that 2003 csl and 991 are auto boxes not DSG.DSG is not simply an automatic.

[matchboy]

Lagerlout - massive difference between a GTI and a 911 though in terms of speed.