Joel SHOEMARK

I can partly agree. There have been some awesome windy bits of road around that have now been bypassed and the old road no longer accessable. But there are still plenty of good windy bits of road around, right up the east coast of Australia. Happy Days.

I think it's a perception thing. I hate the feel of CVT boxes. One of the reasons I chose the Yeti over the Tiguan is the Yeti has 6 speed DSG and the Tiguan has the 7. I didn't like the electric feel of the 7 speed. I'm just too used to feeling the car rev up and then change. CVT also feel disconnected. People who drive hybrids are more worried about how much fuel the car uses than how it feels when you are chucking it around a corner or how it feels compared to the old manual they used to drive. Happy Days.

I thought this was funny not rude. Get a sense of humour. It may have not been constructive but it would be a boring world without giant inflatable spanners popping out of dash boards. Happy Days.

Cool. I orderd:- Bi-Xenons Off Road Tech (button) Park assist Upgraded sound system I had read many time the standard lights aren't great and since I drive a reasonable amount in country NSW I thought it a good idea with roos and stuff to get the Bi-Xenons. I was mucked around a lot with dealers offering me different vehicles with leather and thing I didn't need and didn't want to pay for. I wasn't willing to bay $3000 for satnav just to get Bi-Xenons. As the whole reason for the SUV is so I can get a bit further off road for picnics and what ever else, I decided I wanted "Off Road Tech". I was told there was none in Australia with the option but later found all 2011 models came with the option in Australia but those vehicles never had it added to their option list when it was made an option in 2012. The result is all 2011 stock has the option but Skoda Australia dont have it listed to the dealers. Park assist is a bit of a gimik but its only a couple of hundred over front and rear sensors so I thought why not. Many dealers fit the sensors themselves and make it a cheaper ootion but if you want factory stuff, park assist is not that much more. I grew up with loud music. Whilst I dont have it so loud now, I recon I'll be deaf soon and need it loud. LOL. Cant wait until it arrives next year. Happy Days.

Did you go the DSG? What options did you get. I have to wait until Jan/Feb next year for mine to be delivered with the options I want. Happy Days

Thanks Mate.

Bump

I think that's our answer right there. Autos require a different driving style. It has to be something you do subconsously. It's similar to driving a laggy Turbo. The WRX is by no means laggy but you get in a habbit without even knowing it. You look a little further ahead and know when you want the power to come on and you've pushed the acceleraor that split seond earlier to compensate. You know how the car feels and what to expect. You couldn't get that in a half hour test drive. I probably do as many KM in Automatic work cars as I do my own so I knew a little of what to expect a my test drive. Maybe "Kiwibacon" you need someone who knows what they're doing to take you for a drive. Happy Days. Happy Days.

Thanks for the link. You seem pretty confident in how bad they are. I thought you might have more experience than a test drive. I think it's just a matter of adjusting your driving to suit DSG. I'm far from being agianst a manual box but I do hate torque converter autos. The biggest reason I have to hate torque converter autos and the same goes for CVT is the disconnection you have between the motor and drive. I just dont feel like I can balance the vehicle on the limit without that connection. Auto boxes always have faster 0-100 times due to their faster shifting. I cant recall any vehicle with both auto and manual that show a faster acceleration time with a manual and the autos are usually heavier. I see the DSG as being the best of both, faster shifting and a direction connection between the motor and drive. DSG boxes have been around for a while now, whilst I understand the early one had some issues they have surpassed manuals in being my preferance. i know I'll have to adjust my driving but I was very impressed with my test drive. It's a bit like the early days when manufactures started adding things like ABS. I remember the first vehicle I drove with ABS was single channel. When one wheel lost traction as it passed over a small patch of gravel for example, brake pressure was taken from all 4 wheels at the same level. These days each wheel has it's own sensors and pressure, not only do all the other wheels continue to brake at the maximum ability but after the wheel has passed over the low traction spot, brake pressure is then regained. Happy Days.

I haven't seen any ratios quoted for VW DSG boxes. I know that ratios with 6 speed manual boxes both 5th and 6th gear are over drive and 4th is 1:1 ratio. In the higher ratio boxes like the 8 speed ZF box. Because they will change so fast and easily the multipule ratios are used to keep the motor at either the most economical or power range. If a driver had a 8 speed manual you'd spend too much time changing gears. Happy days.

Do you own a DSG? Happy Days

It certainly does when you force it to change gears manually. Otherwise you would learch foward in your seat from the engine braking. It may also be deemed unsafe. You got that right. As I'm cruising along I'm in 5th (5 speed manual WRX). As I appraoch a slower vehicle, I change to 4th and start to slow. I either acclerate and pass or continue to slow and maybe change to 3rd. Always ready to get out of there. So yes I do mimick a DSG in that respect. Yes I aggree the DSG is an interime. Happy Days

Ok. Lets drop the Manual V DSG debate and make this Kiwi V Aussies. LOL Aussies and DSG are bound to win. Happy Days.

I agree about the pre selection but the time differance is so little it doesn't matter. The reason they take longer to change down than up is the blipping of the throttle to match the engine with the road speed, something a good driver will do in a manual but unlike the computer a human cant match the engine speed perfectly. I think it's just a matter of changing your driving style (if you choose). DSG and CVT gear boxes are the way of the future and getting us closer to the feel of electric cars. If you dont know what gear your in without touching the gear lever or looking at the dash. I suspect you dont really know your car. I'm not trying to offend you and I hope that comment doesnt but a good drive just drives by feel. You have said a couple of times you dont like how long it takes to change down multipule gears at once. I have had a fair amount of driver training with one course running for 6 weeks straight. I dont recall ever being tought to miss a gear. You should always be in the right gear to match your road speed. As habbit when I pass another vehicle I have changed down and followed the shift pattern well before I reach the vehicle being passed. It's all about forwrad planing. I dont own a DSG yet but I'm not worried at all about getting one. Happy Days.

I am absolutely sure this is wrong. I haven't owned an auto for over 16 years and currently drive a Manual 2005 WRX. I was a bit sceptical about the DSG but came away from the test drive of the Yeit with a smile. It will change down multiple gears without engaging the intermediate gears. I tried it on my test drive. To go from 6th to 3rd will require the Odd gear shaft to change from 5th to 3rd and then the clutches to swap shafts. There is no change to 5th or 4th. Unless you have DOG engagement on your manual you'll be very hard pressed to change as fast. If you are going to do a maneuver where you think you'll trick up the AI of the auto, use manual mode. I don't know how the VW adaptive auto works but I drive a Holden allot at work and often at high speed. The holden adaptive auto works on a point system. the higher the points the faster and more abrupt the changes, the longer it holds gears and the faster it changes down when slowing. Points are added for cornering speed v radius, braking pressure and rate the accelerator is pushed. Points get deducted over time. If you come into a round about hot, brake hard, drive through aggressively and stomp the accelerator, the next round about it will change down as soon you touch the brake and hold the lower gear until red line. Where this system fails is like you say when you have been driving quit sedately and then you want to pass a vehicle quickly. That's easily fixed by selecting manual mode on that odd occasion. Happy Days.

A quick question. As my Yeti DSG doesnt arrive until Jan/Feb next year. What speed is red line 3rd? As the speed limit in Australia is 100km/h. If I'm cruising behind a slow car, it's likely to be 90km/h or so. If that's the case, when I want the extra power to over take the DSG might be more likely to go from 6th to 3rd which will be a quicker change than 6th to 4th. Happy Days.

Here SKODA says 0.03 seconds. http://www.skoda.com.au/innovation/technology-speed.aspx

1: If you’re in 6th on a 6sp DSG, 5th is pre selected. 2: It would disengage the clutch on the even numbered gear shaft, change to 4th gear and re-engage the clutch. How often do you need power that quickly? If you were in a manual, how long will it take you make the decision that you need the power of the lower gear, take your hand off the wheel, make the change and go. With the DSG the moment you make the decision, you tromp the accelerator and within about a second or a fraction more, you’re on your way. 3: I have read this somewhere. I'm still looking but from memory. An upshift can be as quick as 0.08sec, nomally 0.60sec and any change can be as long as 1.1 seconds.

They look like they would spear the whole car sideways if you aqua planned. Like this:

I agree. They would have to manufacture 2 different tyres, one for each side. Happy Days.

I tend to like these http://kumho.com.au/products/ecsta-spt-ku31/ Tread patterns like these move water away from the middle of the tyre and reduce the risk of Aqua Planning. If they were fitter backward the risk would be increase as water pressure would be increased toward the center. If you look at some if these Asymetrical patterns, 1/3rd of the tread on one side is sweeping away, therefore the opposite side is sweeping in. It just doesnt seem right to me? Happy Days.

Yep. I haven't seen a asymmetric tyre that's not like that but I haven't been looking. I prefer directional over assymetric for that reason. If you aqua plan I'd imagine a greater drag on one side than the other causing a spin. Brigdestone adrenalines are the same. http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/treads/RE002.aspx And these http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/treads/pz-x.aspx There are plenty so maybe it doesn't make too much differance. Considering a set of tyres can cost near $1000 and your stuck with them for 30,000km odd, I'm not prepared to take the risk and it would always be in the back of my mind. I supose I'll find out when my yeti arrives because they have some asymetrical Dunlops as standard. Happy Days.

Nothing to be scared of mate. It's a pretty interesting hobby. Playing with different alloys, mixing different percentages of Tin and Antinomy with lead to change hardness of the bullets. Then you start mixing bees wax, caster oil, carnauba wax, paraffin wax, making different lubes so the lead doesn't strip of the bullet as it goes down the barrel. There is just so many variables to get each bullet to go the same direction and speed as the last. Oh and when you cast, the lead has to stay the same temperature along with the mould because if the lead or the mould changes, the mould will expand or the lead will shrink and the bullets will be different diameters. There may be some wheels out of balance in Daisy Land if I run out of lead. Happy Days.

Thanks mate, I only found this about 2 hours ago myself. I'm thinking the White Line 24mm adjustable will be the way to go with it adjusted on soft. Happy Days.

Fitting is not going to be any good to you guys OS but I thought I'd post it any way. It's just like an adheasive car bra. I'm just think that since my vehicle is a lease vehicle it might add a bit to the resale not having any stone chips. http://www.ozishield.com.au/products.asp?cat=1333 Happy Days