Manual vs. DSG with all options

[BBCoach34]

Hi, Kids!

I drive a B5 S4 (custom tuned stage 3) and was thinking about getting a Passat TDI not necessarily as a replacement for the S4, but as a new daily driver. My biggest problem happens to be whether to get the SE TDI with 6 speed manual (and not many options) vs. a fully optioned SEL Premium with DSG. I like having all the bells and whistles in my cars, but I prefer a manual transmission. Was anyone else in a similar situation trying to decide between a less optioned manual transmission Passat vs. a fully optioned DSG Passat? What did you decide and why? I drove the DSG and it's the best non-manual transmission, but it's still not a manual. I think I can do it, but it's not my preference.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

[percydobbin]

In Canada we have the "highline" trim, which I have and comes with all the goodies except paddle shifters. I have the Sport Pkg which has carbon fiber trim. I love it.

[Myfirstvdubb]

Get the VR6 SEL. I have SE V6 and it's a beast. I love it. Wouldn't think twice about getting tdi or i5. IMO. I'm sure you'll love it. DSG is real smooth and kicks nice. Pulls your head back a bit.

[BBCoach34]

My only issue with that is I'd probably prefer just getting a low mileage '09 or '10 A6 with the 3.0T if I'm going to go that route. The whole reason I'm looking at the Passat is for the turbo diesel option. :-)

[coffeemade]

I have a 2012 Passat TDI SEL Prem DSG and I love it I had a 6sp manual GTI and yes it is not even close by the DSG is really nice and the mpg is really sweet, I will never go back to a gasser, just not even close.

[Rico1]

This is currently a major drawback to our considering buying a new Passat. Why it's so complex to offer a manual transmission throughout the trim lines is beyond me, but it's true of makes other than VW, too. The assumption appears to be that when a certain arbitrary number of optional extras is reached, any desire on the part of a buyer to operate a clutch disappears.

If it comes down to the Passat, it'll be the SEL / DSG version, I'm sure......

[Andy@Ross-Tech.com]

I really like manual transmissions ... and really like moonroofs. Since the combo is unobtainium in the US (dang Canucks get that combo), I was debating between a TDI SE 6MT and a TDI SEL DSG. My wife asked me "which do you use every day?" to which of course I replied "the manual transmission".

The 6MT less expensive to buy, less expensive to maintain, gets better MPG and IMHO, makes the car much more fun to drive. The downsides are: you have to shift gears for yourself, and it looks like the DSG has a little faster acceleration (tighter spacing of the ratios plus the mechatronic shifts faster than humanly possible).

BTW, many cars are like that these days, you can only get a manual (if at all) with the very basest of trims. At least VW pairs the 6MT TDI with the mid-level SE trim.

[Turbonium20V]

I really like manual transmissions ... and really like moonroofs. Since the combo is unobtainium in the US (dang Canucks get that combo), I was debating between a TDI SE 6MT and a TDI SEL DSG. My wife asked me "which do you use every day?" to which of course I replied "the manual transmission".

The 6MT less expensive to buy, less expensive to maintain, gets better MPG and IMHO, makes the car much more fun to drive. The downsides are: you have to shift gears for yourself, and it looks like the DSG has a little faster acceleration (tighter spacing of the ratios plus the mechatronic shifts faster than humanly possible).

BTW, many cars are like that these days, you can only get a manual (if at all) with the very basest of trims. At least VW pairs the 6MT TDI with the mid-level SE trim.

Exactly the situation I was on and exactly what I think of my manual TDI. The manual TDI is very fun to drive, it's a hell of a buy for $25,995 and gets ridicuolously high MPGs.

[Kid Hobo]

Exactly the situation I was on and exactly what I think of my manual TDI. The manual TDI is very fun to drive, it's a hell of a buy for $25,995 and gets ridicuolously high MPGs.

From today's mixed drive to work, TDI SEL. I've been driving manuals for 5 generations of VW cars, and currently still have a 6spd TSI. The auto in the Passat is what it is (that's not a bad thing)... and allows me to be efficiently lazy on my drive to work.

[BBCoach34]

Thanks for the replies! It's at least good to see I'm not the only one who had to go through this. :-) Has anyone gone one way or the other and is having second thoughts?

[clarkent5477]

I think the 6MT is next to impossible to get. I waited for months. Bought a ticket to fly to San Francisco to buy one and they sold the car out from under me. Settled on a DSG. It could be worse, I guess.

[shredX]

There was a black on black 6MT TDI with spoiler on the lot when I bought mine. Skipped it due to lack of options.

Hate how VDUB does their options.

[Turbonium20V]

I think the 6MT is next to impossible to get. I waited for months. Bought a ticket to fly to San Francisco to buy one and they sold the car out from under me. Settled on a DSG. It could be worse, I guess.

Agreed on this, but if he really wants the manual he can always order one in the color combo of his predilection. I was lucky enough to find mine in 1 week but that was back in October.

[JFT]

Agreed on this, but if he really wants the manual he can always order one in the color combo of his predilection. I was lucky enough to find mine in 1 week but that was back in October.

Hi,

ordering might not be that straightforward either.

I'm in Canada and just bought a Comfortline 2.5 MT (basically an SE with Moonroof from what I understand) and it was hard to find. I got the black with beige interior, which is gorgeous but was my second choice. They had to bring it from another dealer and it was the only Comfortline with beige interior they could get their hand on. I inquired about ordering a blue with beige interior with manual transmission and was told to expect a delivery around September Not sure how long the wait is in the US for a special order?

They told me they could get any color combo as long as it was coupled to an automatic or DSG.

Apparently VW has underestimated the demands for manual transmission ...

JFT

[JBRecording]

I drove automatics for years, then at the end of '08 got a 2009 5-speed Subaru Impreza (currently driving it) and swore I'd never go back to an auto...but, like you I'm in that same dilemma because I really want something a lot nicer for my next car. I feel like my Impreza is too plain, and I had an '06 B6 Passat 4Motion 3.6 before the Subie which I absolutely LOVED, and drove it in Manual mode more often than Drive. I found it very nice to be able to switch back and forth between automatic and quasi-manual...that car didn't have the DSG but it still offered the Tiptronic which shifted somewhat quickly, but I'm told the DSG is far better... so I'm looking forward to test driving a DSG car just not sure which engine I want to go with, but that's a whole other story.

Everyone I've talked to says the DSG will win your heart over once you drive it and you'll never want to go back to a manual... I can't say I agree (yet) but I'm sure I may once I experience it for myself.

[1998redwagon]

when they first came out and the dealers had 2 vehicles each for test drives i test drove a tdi sel premium with the dsg (the only way it comes in sel form). i noticed a definite lag in throttle response from a complete stop. in fact noticed it quite a few times. at that point i realized that for me i would want a 6MT and nothing else.

since then i have driven other vw's with that 2.0L tdi motor (golf, jsw) - all with the 6MT and they work flawlessly for me. i have not taken another test drive in the same passat tdi/dsg configuration.

3 possibilities. 1) what i noticed was peculiar to me only. 2) the problem is real and consistent on all tdi passats with dsg. 3) there was a problem but vw has tweaked the software on tdi/dsg models to fix it.

i would suggest you test drive the tdi/dsg configuration to see if it works for you before you plunk down money.

just sayin'

[JBRecording]

when they first came out and the dealers had 2 vehicles each for test drives i test drove a tdi sel premium with the dsg (the only way it comes in sel form). i noticed a definite lag in throttle response from a complete stop. in fact noticed it quite a few times. at that point i realized that for me i would want a 6MT and nothing else.

since then i have driven other vw's with that 2.0L tdi motor (golf, jsw) - all with the 6MT and they work flawlessly for me. i have not taken another test drive in the same passat tdi/dsg configuration.

3 possibilities. 1) what i noticed was peculiar to me only. 2) the problem is real and consistent on all tdi passats with dsg. 3) there was a problem but vw has tweaked the software on tdi/dsg models to fix it.

i would suggest you test drive the tdi/dsg configuration to see if it works for you before you plunk down money.

just sayin'

Most definitely. I intend to go in there and drive all three engines... The 2.5 seems like a nice middle ground but people have posted it is not as peppy as the diesel or the V6... I'll post after my driving experiences.

[1FastB5]

i'm in the same boat here. i'm really looking hard at the new passat to be my next and my first brand-new car here over the next 12 months or so....

i drove the TDI SEL with the DSG when it first came out. i didn't mind it, the DSG does a fine job no doubt. but almost EVERYTHING that i own/have owned has been a manual transmission. really the only vehicle i've owned that i really enjoyed being an automatic was my range rover.

my local dealer got a manual 2.5 SE in stock and i had to give it a go. loved it. it just checked all the right boxes for me and really reminded me a lot of my current B5. the manual really made the passat a comfortable but also a fun car to drive...which is why i love VW. i am OK with the SE trim, but my biggest gripe that i really want is a sunroof.

the other little things i can live with...such as the seats -- but i really wish i could get the nicer seats with the suede inserts with a manual trans. i do like the MFA display in the new B7, as well as the new touch screen radio unit and climate control, i think it all comes together really well. but by comparison my B5 is loaded -- leather, sunroof, HIDs and its still a stick. i wish VW still offered all that regardless of the transmission.

it'd be hard to go base model from my current passat:

[BBCoach34]

Well I got to test drive a manual TDI Passat last night (Tungsten Silver on black). And I liked it. At first, it felt like the pedals were a little cramped. The clutch pedal is awfully close to the dead pedal area. So the outside part of my left foot was brushing against it which was annoying at first. After 30 seconds, I got used to it. I drive all manual cars basically (own 3 of them) and it does still seem to be a little cramped in the Passat almost as if the manual tranny was an afterthought. Anyone else feel the same way? Anyone actually bypass the manual because of this?

So here's the way I look at it. I prefer the aluminum trim with the black interior instead of the wood trim. So that's a plus for the SE manual. The seats I think I can deal with although the real leather would be nice. I'm not a huge sunroof guy so I think I can deal with that. The nav/better sound system is something that I'm not sure I can live without. But then again, I could go aftermarket and put something better than the factory 510 anyway (seems like a lot of complaints about it anyway). And obviously I think the manual tranny gives the SE a nod. Missing out on fog lights isn't a huge deal and they can be retrofit without too much trouble from what I see. I prefer 17" wheels since I'll be using them only in the winter. I'll be buying something nicer/larger for the summer.

Have I just sold myself on the manual? What else would I be missing out on?