Edition 30 100 mile 'duel' with Megane F1.

[Hurdy]

err,

faster.
quicker gearchanges.
No missed gearchanges.
Let's you concentrate on the road as you're not constantly thinking about the gearchanges for the road ahead and so flows better.
Two hands on the wheel at all times and so it is safer.
Inspires confidence.
No fear of trashing the clutch/gearbox/engine by selecting the wrong gear.
You can always have one foot for braking and one for accelleration and so can react faster for both and don't have to mess about with heel/toeing which is a pain (but great when you get it right )
Launch control feature.
Lets you use it as both a manual or an auto for the best of both worlds

and for the boring bits:-

Better fuel consumption (although minimal)...apart from my 9.5mpg thread :embarassed:
Better round town in the awful traffic jams we get over here in the UK
Reversing up a steep incline doesn't fcuk your clutch up (I live on a city with hills everywhere!)

And the benefit of manual over DSG is?

Hmmm let me think.

1. It just feels normal
2. Something to keep your left leg from being skinnier than your right one.
3. Perfect starts everytime, if you know how.
4. Skip gears when and if its required.
5. Better economy (yes this is true simply because i say so!! and the fact that you can read the road ahead better than the car can)
6. Dont have to waste time explaining to people that its manual.. when you really know it isnt
7. no jerkiness below 10mph
8. no problems parking.
9. No need to switch between modes
10. No future problems.. or paddel problems

i got more if you want

You forgot torque limitation when remapping 

Your not supposed to mention that one

[Hurdy]

R32UK reply.

Hmmm let me think.

1. It just feels normal - so does a dsg!
2. Something to keep your left leg from being skinnier than your right one. - that's why I left foot brake!
3. Perfect starts everytime, if you know how.- ONLY if you know how!
4. Skip gears when and if its required. Why would you want to skip gears when accellerating? The DSG can skip gears going down - never heard of kickdown
5. Better economy (yes this is true simply because i say so!! and the fact that you can read the road ahead better than the car can) - If you say so it must be right!
6. Dont have to waste time explaining to people that its manual.. when you really know it isnt - No I boast that it is a DSG - twin clutch manual - without an archaic clutch pedal and just happens to have auto modes
7. no jerkiness below 10mph - Neither has mine. Ive seen plenty of kangarooing manuals, usually when some numpty doesn't give it enough gas or gets the clutch wrong
8. no problems parking. - Same here
9. No need to switch between modes - only EVERY gear!
10. No future problems.. or paddel problems - only worn clutches, shagged gearboxes, Over revved engines from numpties selecting 2nd gear on motorways etc

i got more if you want - For every one you have....I have more

Speedynz reply

It's faster (despite VW's claims) - ONLY if you power shift and long term that is just going to knacker the car. A DSG can be used fully more of the time and the power is easier to access
It's one of the best manual changes in any hot hatch and a delight to use - I can't dispute that
It's always up to the the driver what gear you are in, not the intuition of a computer, Can't dispute that either, although the DSG as you know does have a manual mode and when you combine that with the faster change times is very satifying too
The manual never misses a gear - sometimes DSG doesn't respond at all, sometimes it chooses the wrong gear, - I have heard of this, but I haven't had it yet in over 5000 miles. The manual may never miss a gear, but I bet you have
You always, always know which gear you are in, - I don't need to know what gear I am in, I know by the rev counter, the engine pull and the sound of the engine if I am in the right gear - don't you?
It doesn't break, - bit of a broad comment this one. Maybe the DSG has some issues as it is a modern, complicated, state of the art piece of engineering - unlike the antiquated engineering of a manual gearbox
It's cheaper (much), - yes, but you have to pay for perfection
It doesn't pause then lurch on initial take off, - neither does mine! I suppose manual gearboxes or more precisely their users, never fluff takeoffs or stall on take off?
Launch control is always engaged - I know where you are coming from with this one and I guess you are right as long as you select the traction control off too
You have a choice to heel and toe (and the pedals are absolutely perfect for this) - ok, got me on this one :embarassed:
It's tactile, far more engaging and a wonderfully integral part of the car/driver interface, - agreed, so is the DSG if you use it as a manual (which I do regularly)
It's a real gearbox and not two tiny, tappy switches hidden somewhere between the steering wheel and control stalks, - the DSG is TWO gearboxes spliced together in perfect harmony
If you've got fingers bigger than a childs you don't have to engage main beam and the rear wiper to fit the gear lever, OKAY, so I have hit the main beam once before instead of the down shift paddle :embarassed: but I'm used to it now
Was that two taps? or three? Oh noooooooooooo! - was that third or first...oh my poor manual gearbox!

I suppose we could bat on like this ad infinitum. I guess the only thing we can agree on is that we differ in our choice of preferred gearbox, which I respect and wouldn't have it any other way as it makes for great threads like this

[Peskarik]

60% of Audi R8 are sold with manual gearbox...

but this is meaningless discussion anyway

I chose manual because I am used to them, and I did not want another computer doing things for me.

[08micsta]

In my opinion. Manual sells the least in South Africa. The Dsg box is sooooo smooth and perfect. Our only reason for not getting it is cos its my moms car and she hates automatic.

[Hurdy]

DSG is a manual with an auto function

[illyun]

You can get uprated parts for the DSG box though... and then skys the limit as far as remapping and torque is concerned... but its such a new area that at the moment only one company I know of sells the parts and is brave enough to mess about with the DSG software.  But it costs a lot because its so new. 

[R32UK]

DSG is a manual with an auto function

Ha ha!! Good post!! I must say when i first heard about the dsg i was convinced it was the future and that i would have to get it. Its only when I got to the showroom and found out it was a £1000 or so extra that i became a little hesitant. Anyway.. on the test drive it seemed to change gears too soon for me, and I found in to be a little eager to do things also. Which I guess is quite good if your driving style is always the same, but i often find my driving reflects my mood, which can change quite a few times within a journey. Anyway back to my DSG test.. the actual change in gear is flawless and you just cant knock a change that swift, with no jerk. It was almost as if your just in one gear... but i just found it a little problematic when it came to putting your foot down. Which do i used the paddels?? or the stick?? Why have the paddels gone when i go round a corner and decide to change gear?? What are all the different modes for?? i must say the sales guy didnt actually fill me with any confidence.. he just said its for people who like auto's. Which I am not a great fan of. Anyway his tact of explaining how it works wasnt great but i just wasnt convinced and thought maybe i should wait until im in my 30's/40's before I start to cut the old left leg some slack.

just my opinion

[Hurdy]

Wait till your 30's/40's?

Err I'm 43, so I must be ancient

[illyun]

and thought maybe i should wait until im in my 30's/40's before I start to cut the old left leg some slack.

Thats one reason I bought it too  :embarassed:  Still only 32 at the moment, but this car is going to stay with me for a long time hopefully. 

[illyun]

Wait till your 30's/40's?

Err I'm 43, so I must be ancient

Yeah you are ancient.. you old codger    You make Red Robin look young and he's in his 60's