simon1304

Ah, yes, the "Management Cars"...(off topic alert)... I've sometimes wondered about these too. Given the numbers of them, and that VAG don't manufacture in the UK, I've often thought that Milton Keynes must be positively overwhelmed by VAG managers and their cars; thing is, I often drive through MK and don't see any more VAG cars there than anywhere else. I've always assumed that "Management Cars" means 'cars controlled by management' and may include press demos, fleet demos and God knows what else (I think that dealers have to buy their demos though?).

Thanks all. I think that I might hire something with a DSG for a day or two to see how I get on with it. Short test drives aren't much use really. Better a few £s on a hire car than an expensive mistake buying a car that I don't like or missing out on a car that I would have liked.

Thanks. Points taken. I agree that, on forums generally, someone is more likely to comment on a problem than if everything is fine and dandy (I'm no different). I will have that test drive on a 1.0 tsi DSG (when available). There just may be something else going on here, though, that I hadn't been expecting. In the last couple of weeks I've now had test drives in 4 autos (1xDSG, 2xTC and 1xCVT). No problem with the fact that the gears were being changed for me - but not always happy with which gear was being selected - and when. Maybe losing this element of control after many years of owning manuals isn't as easy as I thought it would be (but I would get used to it?). Or maybe I just have latent control freak tendencies.

I'm grateful for everyone's input on this thread but I think that I'll be staying with a manual. I do get that some folks are very happy with their DSGs and respect those opinions; but for me, quite apart from the historical outright failures, there are too many reports around about DSGs needing various fettling or software updates in order to get them working properly. In over 40 years I can't recall having a problem with a manual 'box or clutch (albeit some are definitely better than others). Maybe I just can't remember . My clutch foot was calibrated when I learned to drive and has never needed adjusting or updating...

I do intend to go for another test drive but there is no urgency so I shall wait until the Fabia 1.0 tsi DSG is available at dealers. In the meantime I'm going to have a good look at whatever else is available (like the Baleno tomorrow). I take the point that the 7 speed dry-clutch DSG has been around for a while now and there is a fair chance that, by now, they may have sorted it out; but I still read of issues (as above) and the way the box worked with the engine in the Rapid I drove last week was not encouraging. It sometimes occurs to me that I have retired from my main career and should think about retiring from the second one (as unpaid product tester for VAG).

I'm sure that you are spot on there. Whether having the engine delivering best fuel efficiency is the same as operating in a way that is good for longevity of itself and its ancillaries (e.g. minimising vibration), and comfort for occupants, may or may not be the same though. In my current manual tsi I don't tend to let the revs drop much below 1500, especially if there is anything more than minimal load on the engine, even though the shift indicator would appear to be happy for me to do so. Maybe I am sacrificing a tiny bit of fuel consumption for perceived smoothness and having at least a little throttle response available. The Rapid DSG that I drove last week - in 5th at 30mph - was running barely above tick-over revs and grumbling accordingly, especially up hill. Maybe this is 'normal' and it is me expecting the car to behave in a similar way to how I drive my manual tsi? If it is me simply being out of step, so to speak, then I don't think that me and a DSG are going to get on... Confession time. Having decided that it is 'time' for an auto (not for any medical reason but because I simply can't be bothered to stir the pudding anymore - thinking that the Cousins were right all along...), my first instinct was to find a suitable TC. Mainly because TC autos have been around for years and have generally had any problems sorted. VW Group DSGs... well, you understand... But TC autos in superminis are thin on the ground (and I no longer need/want a bigger car). Drove a Mazda 2 with TC auto a couple of weeks ago. Generally pleasant car, if ride a bit hard, but 1.5 n/a engine has minimal torque at low revs (and not much at any revs). So calling for even modest acceleration from low speed meant waiting for the thing to shift down a couple of gears. The imperial thumb was turned down I'm afraid. Have a test drive in a Suzuki Baleno (TC) auto booked for tomorrow. On paper it looks interesting. One reservation is that it isn't really a Suzuki at all, it's a Maruti Suzuki. Anyone who has spent any time in India will understand... we shall see. I haven't given up on the Fabia and will find a test drive when a 1.0 tsi DSG is available. Have driven Skodas and a Seat for a few years and generally been happy with them.

Thanks to all for advice/comments. I do understand that the DSG is an automated dual-clutch manual, not a TC, and that is going to have its own quirks. My main, if not only, concern was that it seemed to be selecting, and holding, gears that were keeping the revs too low for the engine to be running efficiently and smoothly for the prevailing road speed and conditions. As a by-the-by, I also know that - in theory - the tsi engines develop max torque from very low revs (1400rpm for my tsi 110, not sure about the engine in the Rapid I was test driving). I say "in theory" because dyno graphs I've seen tend to show that max torque actually arrives just above 2000rpm; and that is how it feels when driving it. I've only ever driven one other 'automated manual' for any time/distance. That was a Grand Picasso (sharing driving duties on a holiday in France). I don't remember there being any issues with that at all. Anyway, grateful for the feedback that this wasn't typical tsi DSG behaviour. Not in a tearing hurry so will wait until the new 1.0 tsi Fabias start to appear at dealers and try again.

Many thanks for the offer but Preston is a bit far from sunny Cambs. Actually, if I was going that far I'd be more interested in a ride in your A40! Old girlfriend of mine once had one (her mum's, really). Happy days. Ahem.

Agree, more than likely. No Fabias in showroom at all. Can't really blame a dealership for not wanting to order run-out cars into stock.

Thanks - I was hoping that someone would say that it was this particular car and not typical of the breed... This was Progress Skoda (Bedford). To be fair to the dealership, the salesman who said that they do not see/sell DSG Fabias told me that he had only been there a few weeks (nine IIRC). So maybe it was just him who hadn't seen or sold any!

I'm thinking of buying a Fabia with the DSG box (currently have a SEAT 1.2 tsi but manual). Have driven various autos over the years but have never owned one. I've spent a good while reading through some of the DSG threads here but not found mention of issue - which is... Local dealer says that they never see/sell/have any DSG Fabias (?) so offered me a test drive in a Rapid Spaceback (90PS 1.2 tsi - I think). Being confident that the DSG box would be fine in 'open road' conditions, I insisted that we drove mainly around the outskirts of town - lots of roundabouts and junctions, etc., and mainly 30/40 limits. Well, I wanted to be impressed, but wasn't. In fact, put off completely. The DSG box was smooth enough, no problems with starting/stopping, but I found that (in D) it was changing up so early that the engine was vibrating/"grumbling" and didn't sound happy at all. It would be quickly into 5th at 30mph and held this gear even going up hill - despite the protests from the engine and enough vibration for me to feel it under my right foot. Switching into S caused a change down to 4th so I left it in S; but having stopped at a junction and moved off again, it would then hold 3rd at 30mph when 4th would have been OK. Of course, I could (and did) use manual mode but that that defeats the point for normal driving (for me, anyway). I tried to have the "am I doing something wrong/is there something wrong with this car/is this normal" conversation with the salesman but he had only been at the dealership for a few weeks and knew no more than me. His only comment was "well, it's good for mpg". Surely, but probably very bad for the engine and all the bits bolted to it. So, freely accept that I'm not familiar with DSG boxes. Was I doing something wrong or this normal? All advice appreciated/accepted. Thanks in advance!

Just looking at the spec for a FL Octavia (on the configurator on the Skoda UK website - specifically, a 1.0 SE DSG). It includes " Direct tire (sic) pressure monitoring system ". So looks like the FL model now has wheel sensors and no longer uses the ABS/ESP (indirect) type of TPMS?

Had exactly the same thing when I picked up my (now former) Rapid. Had to drive home in light rain, felt as if I was driving on ice. In summary: complained (politely but firmly, email to dealer principal, copied to Skoda UK) re road safety, dangerous condition (tyre pressures actually exceeded max pressure stated on tyre sidewalls), etc.; explanation was that car had been in showroom and this was "showroom pressure" (understand that this is common practice) and that pressures had not been re-set prior to hand-over; fulsome apologies made and offered/accepted free 3 year servicing contract as compensation. Honours even...

As you say, never heard of them, but you seem to quite like them... Quick bit of googling, they seem to sell tyres here but mainly for commercial/agricultural applications, not in regular car tyre sizes.

And the Dunlop Sport Maxx being a perfect example

Thanks - food for thought, I hadn't considered changing tyre size. Would you mind me asking which make of 205/50 16 you went for?

Tried that - (hopefully calibrated) pay machine at nearest filling station (so tyres still cold). Deflated them a bit, then used machine to pump up to recommended pressures. Mainly to get an accuracy check on my pencil and dial gauges - which seem to be accurate. Also tried inflating tyres up to the 'eco' setting on the sticker (F2.3, R2.4) and various in between as well. Predictably, higher pressure = harder ride (although I also thought that it was worth a try). I've tried everything I can think of bar replacing the tyres; but don't want to spend £350-400 on new tyres without at least having some reason to think that the replacements will be worth it. Failing that, it's hand the car back at the end of the PCP, or maybe even VT it earlier if I can't stand it any longer... One of the reasons that I suspect the tyres so much is that the ride doesn't seem quite so bad now that the weather is getting slightly warmer. In fact, I didn't notice it last year until Nov-Dec. I suspect that the Dunlops are steel-reinforced, possibly with RSJs

I used to own a Rapid 1.6 TDi which ran on 185/60r15 wheels/tyres. I never noticed the ride as being particularly harsh, although that could be because there were too many other things to 'notice'. In short, the thing was a lemon, and I took the hit of trading it in after only two years... for a MY2016 Toledo TSi 110 (because the deal/spec on the Toledo was better than the Rapid at the time). The Toledo has been faultless (so far) and generally suits me very well. Having been a long-time diesel driver I have been pleasantly surprised by the driveability/performance/economy. However, I find the ride - on anything other than smooth tarmac - really harsh. There is less weight up front, of course, but I suspect that it is more to do with wheels/tyres - which are 215/45r16 Dunlop Sport Maxx. The 45 profile doesn't leave a lot of sidewall to flex but wondering if is more to do with the make rather than the size? Apart from the E rating for wet grip, which doesn't inspire confidence, I'm just wondering if these tyres are at the hard/inflexible end of the scale (the wet grip rating being a clue for starters)? They don't seem to wear very much (at 10k the service report said 7mm rear, 6mm front so they may outlast the car...). So, I'm wondering if anyone has had these as OEM fitment, changed to something else and whether that has improved the ride quality? There isn't a lot of choice in this tyre size (I don't really want to go changing the wheels), thinking maybe Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance. Ideally I'd wait for the Dunlops to wear out but, if changing tyres would make a significant difference, I'd probably change sooner than later. To answer the obvious question in advance, I'm running the Dunlops at the min. pressure specified in the table inside the fuel flap (2.0F, 2.1R bar) and am fairly sure that the pressures are correct (gauge on foot-pump is rubbish but I have a 'pencil' gauge and a Draper dial gauge that both read the same). Car is generally lightly laden. Any thoughts welcome! A new set of tyres is a lot less expensive than a new car...

Short answer - I don't know. Hopefully, the ACC could distinguish between a vehicle travelling in the same direction (and maintain a safe gap) and one that was on-coming - but really no idea. I would guess that, during an overtaking manoeuvre, the driver would have effectively overridden the ACC anyway, even if it had previously been engaged. However, I recently had my own 'moment of doubt' about ACC. My own car doesn't have it but I had the use of a Golf hire car that did have it (courtesy of Skoda Assist whilst my now ex-Rapid was being fixed under warranty). I was trundling along in the nearside lane of the M3 and allowing the ACC to maintain the gap between me and the car in front. Bloke in middle lane pulled sharply in front of me to exit onto a slip road. Leaving aside that it wasn't a clever bit of driving, it was obvious what he was doing (he did have the courtesy to indicate left as he cut me up!) and, left to my own devices, I wouldn't have hit the brakes. The ACC, which obviously didn't know what he was doing, applied the brakes quite firmly. Woke me up, I can tell you... Up until that point I'd thought that it was a great bit of kit and was wishing that my own car had it. Now not so sure.

I have a new 2016MY Toledo Style (not the 'Advanced' version) but it has the same media-nav system. I can select or de-select the autolocking function using the Car, then Settings, menu. In mine it is in a sub-menu (if IIRC) along with one or two other options, e.g. to select whether one press on the key fob unlocks all the doors or just the driver's door. Slightly different, I guess, as the Style doesn't have the KESSY system - you have to use the key/fob (shock horror!) - but can't think of any reason why the autolock function shouldn't be in there somewhere (if there is a reason, I guess that someone will be along to explain shortly...).