At first I thought I would be ok with the DSG coming from a manual because it was the new cool, awesome technological break through in transmissions for production cars. And to tell you the truth it was pretty awesome for the first month and then I missed how fun driving used to be . Driving now is just getting to point A to point B, there is absolutely no involvement from myself. I don't get to rev match my gear, let alone shift them. Also, although not safe, I really miss downshifting to get through that yellow light a little bit faster...it's an insignificant event in driving, but I realized the smallest things are missed. I want my 3rd pedal back...oh well

However I still love my A3 and think is an awesome car overall, just not as fun as it could have been. Everything people say about the DSG is true. Its shifts are instantaneous and smooth. I feel that as an automatic, it cannot get any better in performance and everyday usability. So if anyone is on edge about the DSG vs Manual debate, I say go test drive one and think about it before jumping the gun.

Modified by golf2k87 at 12:32 AM 6-11-2007

I just got over the 1.5 year mark with my 2.0T MKV. I have to agree with you. Probably because I too had a manual before. Even as an "automatic" I find its just to jerky. I'll get a few unwarranted downshifts every now and then, and the occasional "brutal" shift when my car is cold.

The times I hate DSG the most are when a situation arises that I want to downshift more than 1 gear. Then DSG can be really slow (there I said it). Unless I'm in manual mode keeping the revs up, I always get caught with my "pants down"... and I dont want to leave it in "D" mode because then DSG will downshift one too many gears, tires squeal, engine revs to 5k rpm...I find there is very little middle ground in D mode. If I'm cruising I'll put it in D...anything else its manual mode.

For people coming from a manual, I really would think about it twice.

Modified by GTI_CH at 7:44 AM 6-11-2007

Downshifting isn't possible on your DSG? Works just fine on mine.

yeah its really cool,
but I'll return to a manual
when I decide to sell the A3

there is just no other car that visually does for me what the A3 does, so Im keepin with the DSG for now, and waiting for Audi to give us the 2.0T w/ Quattro and manual!

x2

The MKV R32 (like most VW's) is indeed a steaming pile.

Um... I believe his gripe was with the fact that a mkV R32 won't come with a manual

Oh a VW without a manual? Another words steaming pile

I find the technology very impressive. The shifts are quick, silky smooth, and the gearbox is actually willing to hold a gear. Even in "D", you can still pull off a quick downshift with the paddles, which I think is great.

All that said, it just felt too easy to me. I'm the type of driver who likes to work a bit for what he wants out of the car. And working through the gear box, rev matching, heel and toe-ing adds a fair bit to that experience. That's why I drive what I do. Hondas are well known for this. They may not be the fastest, the most luxurious, or the best handling, but the driving experience is absolutely involving and entertaining. With the DSG, it's just a matter of mashing your foot into the go-pedal, and letting the car do the rest of the work for you. Sure, you can pull off a few upshifts on your own, if you want to, but it isn't necessary. You always know in the back of your mind that every shift you make, can be timed, and executed just as well (or better) by the computer. For every day driving, I just can't see the fun in that. If I wanted a track car, I might be all over DSG, so I can really focus on keeping my line etc... but on the street, it just isn't as fun for me.

And all of that said, I do like the DSG. It's a great "middle of the road" alternative for those who enjoy a manual, but are either forced to deal with an automatic (for health reasons, or for other members of the family), or just can't take messing with a clutch pedal all the time. I can also see it being ideal for actual racing (perhaps not auto-x, though).

Great technology, just not for me

Modified by eibbor at 9:16 AM 6-11-2007

Did a VW take you from behind and kill your mother when you were 8, or something?

No need to hijack the thread so you can vent (more).

I test drove a GTI and an A3 with it, and it just feels like a dolled-up automatic to me. I could see enjoying it if I were forced to give up a manual from back or knee problems, as it is more responsive than your typical auto. But abstracting myself from driving that much... that's why I got into manuals, was to be more a part of the driving experience. Automatics remove you from that equation.

D
2008 SAAB 9-3 2.0T / 1988 BMW 325i topless

Chances are if you had a manual GTI you would shift much less than you do in the SI, the Honda's powerband requires you to stir the shifter more to keep it motivated. I'm not knocking your Honda in any way, it is a great car.

I test drove the DSG several times before I bought my manual GTI. I loved the way it shifted but I did feel I would become bored with it after the novelty wore off. My mind was made up on my last test drive when I tossed a DSG GTI into a hard right hand low speed corner and tried to down shift to first gear, the transmission hesitated and didn't select first until the engine RPM had dropped some. I knew then I couldn't be happy with a DSG. The ~$1100 that the DSG option adds to the price of the car and the fact that I don't drive in traffic of any sort led me to my manual GTI.

I really think it is great technology... but boring 99% of the time.

It would make a great compromise for the wife for her car!

Ding, Ding!! Ding!

-----

When we first started dating: I tought her to drive a manual, and found her a MK3 golf ... five years later, she has generally enjoyed driving a manual (car still running strong) - yet has never taken driving it to the 'next level' (yet still impressive...)

For someone who is not interested in understanding rev-matching, skip-shifting, or the benifit of using 2 pedals at once ... a DSG equipped car would be ideal.
-Yet she would likely never shift herself anymore.. and would likely be an even more distracted driver on the road.

But from my pov: I would not mind having a second car with DSG (if she was to sway to the "dark side" on her next purchase -- and buy an auto ).

For an automatic.

But for a purist *ahem* there is no replacement for a manual transmission.

Speed:Sport:Life

Bullplop.

"Think, you humans who are split into two worlds, unless you want the gulf between humans to expand into oblivion, you must think!"

I found it to be impressive, and smooth, and easy to operate, and sporting when sporting was desired.

However, if I were to DD a vehicle with DSG, I would leave it in auto mode all the time. The temptation would just be too great. In a real cogs 'n' dogs manual, you don't have that temptation at all. Driving with DSG reminds me of playing video games, as it is a foolproof and feedback-less experience.

Thats probably the thing I hate the most about DSG...sport mode is really useless. Why would'nt you put it in manual mode if you wanted to drive "sporty" and have control?

Rather than sport mode, I would much rather have a sportier manual mode that lets you select neutral, does'nt upshift at the red line and does away with any concerns for smooth shifting.

You can add your grammar to that steaming pile.

In my case, DSG is a wonderful alternative.

Yup.

My commute is better than yours, but where we live, it's unpredictable - and there have been a couple times when my 30-minute commute got extended to 90 minutes and I came home limping.

My biggest gripe with automatics is the rubber-band effect they have on power delivery, and their often lazier ratios. The DSG suffers neither. Giving my left foot something to do is less of a concern.

People, I implore you; please do not feed the (actionvr6) troll!

When I was buying my 2007 GLI I was just kind of 'afraid' that if I bought a brand new car with a manual, and lacking some real seat time, I'd over-rev the transmission, mis-shift, or burn out the clutch unintentionally one day. Plus, with the DSG being this new technology, and me being a F1 fan, the paddles and the instantaneous shifts drew me in. Plus, it is faster.

I've had the car for 3 months now, and I never test drove a 2.0T with a manual. I wish I had. I'm not sure I would have bought a manual, but now that I really think about it I could have spent that $1100 towards a NAV instead. Now I'm looking for a cheap beater car to quench my thirst for a true manual. That way I can have the best of both worlds.

That's how I feel at times. Even though my commute is maybe 30 mins tops, 20 mins of it is stuck in stop and no go traffic, (yes that's the term I use because of the touch holes that don't hit the throttle when the light is green), and DSG would be ideal for this situation. At times I think about trading in my car to get on that is DSG equipped.

Modified by Iceman18T at 1:26 PM 6-11-2007

After a year my impressions are the same as most others. Sometimes I do miss rowing through the gears and rev-matching my downshifts, not because it made me faster but because I enjoyed it. But, the fun of driving the car isn't at all diminished, I love the sounds the car makes and I use the paddles 95% of the time. Sport mode is pretty pointless, and automatic mode is useless to me unless I'm sitting in traffic.

And, my wife is happy that she isn't ALWAYS stuck driving her Honda CR-V mommy-mobile. She used to drive a MkIV Jetta 1.8T and missed the driving experience she got from that car. Those of you who are married know the importance of a happy wife.

I don't regret my purchase, and would consider a DSG equiped car alongside a stick shift any day.

My (minor) gripes with the DSG includes:

1) I don't know which gear the car is in when I want to regain control of shifting, and that ruins my anticipation of what I want to do. Typically, I want to regain control of shifting because I am either looking for some engine braking, or I am looking to do something (speed through a turn, power out of a situation, etc.) With stick shift, I seem to be able to coordinate things better because there is no variability with the gear selection -- I know precisely what the car's drivetrain will do and how much power it'll lay down because I know which gear it is in. With the DSG, I don't know this -- at least, I don't know it for sure. I've resorted to automatically downshifting by 1 gear whenever I am about to do something, but a lot of times a single downshift may not be enough.

2) I find it somewhat annoying that I do not know which gear the car is in when I'm in D-mode. I am even more annoyed to find out that a Tiptronic-equipped Jetta 2.5 will always display the current gear selection in the vehicle info module, while the supposedly higher end GTI doesn't.

-Rick

What God has united, let men not divide.

I would suggest driving a GTI, R32 or TT 3.2DSG. The Eos DSG is not tuned as aggressively as those cars.

I fully agree that DSG is the future for automatic transmissions, however, it's not a replacement for manuals.