Should I try a DSG first ?

[RedRobin]

....Yes, a 7-speed dry clutch DSG.

"Novelty" of the paddleshifters? - I don't understand that at all. Neither do I feel "disconnected from the engine" but that's partly why I have Millteks. I hate all cars in which you feel cacooned and silent and therefore detached.

[Soundlab]

Well, spoke to my mate just now at the local VW dealer and he arranged for a DSG car to be brought over while I was on the phone.  So I should be testing one in the next week or so   

I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

[Top Cat]

no one has mentioned the best feature. 

   

[Soundlab]

Out of interest, how does the 'box handle changing up or down 2 or 3 gears in one step in each of the modes.

For example, if gently cruising at 30mph in 6th you want to change down to 3rd to overtake, how does the 'box react in each of the modes (D, S and manual) ?

I'm guessing it's a little slower than when just moving through the gears normally.

[RedRobin]

Out of interest, how does the 'box handle changing up or down 2 or 3 gears in one step in each of the modes.

For example, if gently cruising at 30mph in 6th you want to change down to 3rd to overtake, how does the 'box react in each of the modes (D, S and manual) ?

I'm guessing it's a little slower than when just moving through the gears normally.

....It's one of the things I first tested when starting to use the paddles. Any number of shifts is handled immediately: click > click > click > click, but watch you don't shift her into 1st gear!! Same on the way up the box but it's not a good way to drive as you're not using suitable revs. Great in an emergency though.

In view of Top Cat's post below I best add that I was referring to what happens when staying in M-mode and only using the paddles.

My driver training means that I always shift gears to keep the optimum revs - I very rarely rely on all the torque to take it up and I drive in M-mode 95% of the time. It's probably the reason why I never exceed 30 mpg!

[Top Cat]

Out of interest, how does the 'box handle changing up or down 2 or 3 gears in one step in each of the modes.

For example, if gently cruising at 30mph in 6th you want to change down to 3rd to overtake, how does the 'box react in each of the modes (D, S and manual) ?

I'm guessing it's a little slower than when just moving through the gears normally.

IN d mode at 30 it would probably be in 5th if you then change down manually 2 or three gear's there is not much difference than changing down one, the car kind of pause's for a fraction then your away.
Same in manual i never really change down in manual below 3rd if i pull up at a junction and have to stop it will select first for me trying to go from 2nd to 1st manually is not really viable it often jerk's a bit so never bother.
If i go from 6th to 3rd in manual there is very little difference between this and dropping down 1 gear 90% of the time, i say 90 because for whatever reason sometimes it can have a little think about it first.  

[Soundlab]

Interesting...thanks for the feedback.  When I get to try one I'll have a bit of a play.  I'm certainly very open to the idea of going for a DSG car, really quite looking forward to testing one.

[Top Cat]

Interesting...thanks for the feedback.  When I get to try one I'll have a bit of a play.  I'm certainly very open to the idea of going for a DSG car, really quite looking forward to testing one.

when you go for a test drive place in D mode and get up to about 40mph then floor it and push the pedal past were it stop's you will feel it click a little bit further this is called kick down mode. do this and watch your face in the mirror you wont be able to see the end's of your mouth. 

[Phil mcavity]

Interesting...thanks for the feedback.  When I get to try one I'll have a bit of a play.  I'm certainly very open to the idea of going for a DSG car, really quite looking forward to testing one.

when you go for a test drive place in D mode and get up to about 40mph then floor it and push the pedal past were it stop's you will feel it click a little bit further this is called kick down mode. do this and watch your face in the mirror you wont be able to see the end's of your mouth. 

the click normally is your ankle dis-locating if you pressing that hard!

[RedRobin]

....I've never used 'kick-down' - I don't see the point as optimum gearing can be achieved much more reliably otherwise.

Very funny this evening coming home after a meet in Bournemouth with some Mk2 GTI lads and gal with fine Lupo GTI - At a traffic lights, a dude with his gf in a nice black A3 decided to floor it hard on the green light. He fluffed his gear change amidst the sound of loud crunching! I just let him get on with it and wasn't going to race. But a bit further on we came to be absolutely alongside each other approaching a roundabout. We weren't racing but he was so obviously leaving his braking as late as possible, but he wasn't to know about the late braking capabilities of my AP's and so I left him for dead. It did make me laugh out loud in the car. The point is that gearshifts are faultless on a DSG.