Just ordered a GTD in DSG, now worried

[JBirchy]

I had a DSG in my last car which was a Passat CC GT 140bhp diesel. It was the perfect gearbox for the car and I don't think the car would have the same character if it was a manual. For me, it depends what kind of driving you do.

If you're sat in traffic and do quite a bit of stop/start driving like I do with work, then the DSG (or any auto) is the perfect tool. It's effortless and I found the DSG worked well with the torque of the engine. I rarely needed to take it over 3000 rpm to make swift progress.

I have therefore ordered my GTI with a DSG because 90% of the time I will be on the mundane drive to and from work/customer appointments. If I lived in the Isle of Man, I would have a manual.

Personally I find the DSG works better with a diesel as it smooths out the power band which can sometimes feel a bit weak and thin in a diesel (I haven't driven the newer GTD engine with a manual box so I can't give an honest first hand opinion but I'm just speaking from past experiences)

[Chief1337]

I'm a GTi owner and absolutely love the DSG box. It came highly recommended on here from various owners and I'm very pleased I spec'ed it.

If you can, get yourself out in a DSG demo and a manual demo !! Then make you choice, each to their own etc.

[Gingernick]

I just like to change gear  

each to their own

[dubber36]

I just like to change gear  

each to their own

I've heard that so many times before from people who have not spent much, if any, time driving an auto. My wife was adamant that she would never drive one. She liked to be "in control" blah blah... It didn't stop me buying my Passat DSG tho'. After an initial strop and a couple of drives out on her own, she much prefers driving the Passat as opposed to the Golf with its unnecessary third pedal now.

[Mark V GTD]

DSG puts you in complete control if you so wish it. D is just one of the available set-ups and does not suit everyone all of the time. I usually drive mine defaulting to D but selecting Sport mode for engine braking and dropping a gear with the left paddle for over-taking as required. You can go the whole way and select manual mode and this then operates like a clutch pedaless semi-auto meaning you select the gear you want to be in with the stick (flick it backwards and forwards) and/or the paddles. There are so many different ways of using DSG that to just label it 'automatic' is a gross over-simplifcation.

[rocknob]

I have had a DSG Scirocco for 4 years now and I don't think I will ever go back. I was always one of those people who said I wanted a manual so I was in control but after the DSG I completely changed my tune.

Generally the DSG changes up perfectly for me and I cant say I have ever though it was not in the right gear. On the down changes however I do find it changes down too late so generally when I am braking I change down with the paddles, for me this is definitely not a deal breaker, in fact I quite like the little blip it makes on the down changes.

As for the control thing, if I am giving it a bit of stick I just put it in paddleshift mode and change up and down to my hearts content.

Also remember that you cannot compare a DSG box to a regular automatic, a DSG is a automatically actuated manual.

It will be interesting to see how my new GTi DSG compares to the Scirocco.

[cheets7]

DSG all the way!

[Gtddave]

Thanks for replies guys, it's made me fell loads better, when  ordered the car the dealer had no gtd's to test drive either manual or DSG, I'm going to call them and arrange a thorough test drive of of maybe a GT diesel DSG just to make 100% sure, thanks again. Great forum

[Robbo]

As mine is a company car, I didn't have the choice of the DSG on the GTD, although I have a colleague who has a GT with DSG.  His only slightly negative, in Sport mode it tends to hold the gear longer than you might always want, but other than that - he really likes it.  I've driven a Passat CC with DSG for a few days a year or so ago and was really impressed with the gear box, floor it and it just seems like endless power with unbelievably smooth delivery and as always, much nicer in traffic than a manual 

Given the choice (if it was my car and not company) I would seriously look at the DSG.  As has been said before, make sure you have the car for a good amount of time to get used to it as well.

[corgi]

I've driven a few DSG cars and for the most part I like it.

The only thing I didn't like, even in manual mode, is that if it thought it knew better it would select another gear e.g. at say 40 in 4th you want to accelerate using the torque of the engine and not change down to third, if the software thought that third was a better gear it would select it... in spite of my obviously knowing better  I guess that might have changed now as it was a couple or three years ago...

My GTD is a company car  and it only made sense for me if I (a) keep the lease cost below my allowance - with Dynaudio, Advanced telephone prep (which as it turns out was a mistake because I lose the MDI port) and metallic DSG was going over (b) the extra emissions on the DSG car mean more BIK and more lease cost because my company applies a greater levy to cars with greater emissions... otherwise I might have spec'd it

The only reason I'm having the Golf is so that my 911 doesn't get used for the boring work driving...