I have the 170 TDi with DSG in my Passat, and I wouldn't be without it. Not had any stutters off the line, and for normal commuting/queues/jams etc, it is just so stress free. If the Octy has the option, make sure you also get Auto Hold, best bit of kit ever!

We just bought 2 of the Superb II's, one manual and one DSG, and I have to say I *hate* the DSG setup. Granted, I am right foot heavy, but the hesitation, followed by whoomph really does annoy me. I find the manual is much easy to deal with (and if you overcook it, the only side effect is the juddering from the traction control throwing a fit.). I've done about 500 miles in the DSG, and 1,500 in the manual, and I much prefer the manual setup.

That said, I did find the DSG once in sport mode was a much better drive, and all credit to VW for designing a very clever bit of kit (the auto downchange when you go downhill is excellent), but when all's said and done, I still don't like it

all these folks hitting the limiter. "calm down, calm down" (i know the limit is lower in a diesel but i woudl have thought the low down taorque was enought to shove you along without too many revs ?

after 18 years of driving manual cars we bought our first auto earlier this year. I know this was a tiptronic which is different to a DSG but we just adapted our driving style. the tip had an anoying lurch when it changed from 1st to second and was a bit jerky. i simply set off in second by flipping the up paddle immediately when setting off. solved the jerkyness.

I need to give my company the answer tomorrow and I really am 50/50!

I fancy the DSG because I think it "suits" the Elegance 170tdi BUT I do like manual cars.

If I am this undecided, it is probably not worth £200pa on my tax bill as! If I really wanted one I would have one regardless of tax.

Still - I might change my mind again before tomorrow!!!

I don't know if this helps, but......

1) Do you do a lot of town driving ? Yes = DSG (Auto's will always be easier to drive around town)

2) Are you heavy right footed ? Yes = Manual (as my comment above)

3) Do you like to be involved in the driving ? Yes = Manual (in 30 years time, I'll want someone else to do the thinking about changing gear, right now, I'd rather do it)

4) Would you rather simply drive, and not think about it ? Yes = DSG (as above)

I am 2 & 3, my boss (who got the DSG) is 1 & 4. That was how we decided.

Thats useful:

1) Do you do a lot of town driving ? No

2) Are you heavy right footed ? Yes

3) Do you like to be involved in the driving ? Yes =

4) Would you rather simply drive, and not think about it ? Yes

So - it looks 3 to 1 in favour of the manual!!

Another perspective for you:

1) Do you do a lot of town driving? No

OK, but you do drive in towns, that's unavoidable. DSG will always score better in traffic.

2) Are you heavy right footed? Yes

If you can't cure yourself of that, then at least be in the right gear all the time = DSG.

3) Do you like to be involved in the driving? Yes

Using the DSG in manual mode is being involved in the driving, more so - IMO - than using paddles.

4) Would you rather simply drive, and not think about it? Yes

DSG, then.

For me, that's 4 out of 4 - why I chose one four years ago and will continue to use one in the new car. With a heavy right foot, you won't notice any difference in the MPG either.

Ray.

Yeah - good point.

My foot isn't that heavy so not really a consideration. I use the car for business mostly (30k pa normally) so it would make it more relaxing a cruiser if I had a DSG on it.

As I said - I keep changing my mind!!

I want somebody to tell me what is the best option!! Not going to happen though as it is so subjective.

Ignore the 'paddle shift' manual change; just think of the situation as "do I want auto or not?".

During the summer we bought a Roomster 1.6 Tip for my wife as 'auto' was required. I thought to myself, ah great I can use the Tiptronic manual changes and play around. I did initially but after only a short while forgot about it (I was always forgetting which gear I was in and to change down when needed); so now I stay in Auto and switch between D and S (sport) as required - so much easier.

For myself; I am otherwise a committed 'Manual gearbox' driver even driving into London daily, and having had 7 years of Autos gearbox cars; but the idea of a DSG really gets me thinking for my next car.

Only answer; get an extended Test Drive.

pdd0773; your decision; perhaps it will come down to the toss of a coin! OR is delivery date of any relevance, would you get one of the cars sooner?

I did initially but after only a short while forgot about it (I was always forgetting which gear I was in and to change down when needed);

doesnt the dash display tell you what gear you are in ?

I test drove a 170CR DSG for 24 hours and would have preferred a manual for the additional control this provides. If I did lots of urban stop/start motoring the DSG would be preferable.

doesn't the dash display tell you what gear you are in ?

It does; but I prefer looking at the road; feeble excuse I know.

Perhaps it is the psychology of having an automatic car that tends to put your brain into 'automatic'.

It does; but I prefer looking at the road; feeble excuse I know.

fair point !!

It does; but I prefer looking at the road; feeble excuse I know..

So, multi tasking isn't your thing then!

I test drove a 170CR DSG for 24 hours and would have preferred a manual for the additional control this provides.

What "additional control" do you claim is provided by the manual gearbox?

Ray.

With a heavy right foot, you won't notice any difference in the MPG either.

Ray.

My Leon 2.0 DSG is a *tiny* bit worse on MPG than my manual Fabia vRS, but it is heavier and slightly more powerful. DSG is not at all bad for fuel.

So, multi tasking isn't your thing then!

Nope! 'Coz I'm a Bloke. Mind you; most of the time I'm out in Roomster I have SWMBO as a passenger, so can't really 'play tunes' on the g'box with manual shifting anyway.

What "additional control" do you claim is provided by the manual gearbox?

Ray.

Being in the gear I want to be in; not some elctro-mechanical program deciding.

A thought on the 'take off' problems being experienced; is it possible to manually select and hold 1st or 2nd gears to move off, to be sure of a brisk getaway, and then revert to auto?

A thought on the 'take off' problems being experienced; is it possible to manually select and hold 1st or 2nd gears to move off, to be sure of a brisk getaway, and then revert to auto?

If you put it into Sport mode, it will rev higher before changing gear, which is one way of doing it. Alternatively, select the semi automatic setting (move the gear lever to the left), and it will stay in the gear you select until just before it hits the rev limiter, then change for you then.

We don't have the "flappy paddles", so I can't comment on whether that offers you any additional control, but I'd guess it's very similar to the semi manual setup.

I have to say that for general driving, I'd take the DSG every time. Although I don't do that much 'in traffic' driving any more, I simply find the DSG a more relaxing drive.

For me, it was a choice of manual Elegance with all the toys, or DSG with none. I went for the manual, which also has the benefit of less company car tax.

I too, find that the DSG can sometimes bog down off the line, and this is the one thing that I found really frustrating. When you do want to pull away quickly, you can't always be sure you're going to make it.

There is a way to solve this, but I'm not sure how good it is for the transmission.

Basically, you do the following:

1) Foot on brake pedal, and put car into sport or manual mode.

2) Turn off ESP.

3) Whilst still pressing the brake pedal, bring the revs up to about 2000rpm.

4) Release the brake pedal.

This will give you a great start every time, but it does put a fair bit of load on the transmission. It's not something I'd recommend doing all the time.

Bagpuss.

If you put it into Sport mode, it will rev higher before changing gear, which is one way of doing it. Alternatively, select the semi automatic setting (move the gear lever to the left), and it will stay in the gear you select until just before it hits the rev limiter, then change for you then.

We don't have the "flappy paddles", so I can't comment on whether that offers you any additional control, but I'd guess it's very similar to the semi manual setup.

If you are in the semi-auto mode; will this allow you to change gear up/down by moving the gear leaver forward/back +/- (in the same manner as the tiptronic 'box in Roomster)? i.e. the 'box allows you to manually select the gear you want with + or - movement of the gearlever.

alternatively stop driving like a boy racer and chill out !!! LOL

alternatively stop driving like a boy racer

That's excellent advice, Jonathan, but when it comes to examples of poor driving, it's on a par with "stop looking at those page three girls."

Ray

If you are in the semi-auto mode; will this allow you to change gear up/down by moving the gear leaver forward/back +/- (in the same manner as the tiptronic 'box in Roomster)? i.e. the 'box allows you to manually select the gear you want with + or - movement of the gearlever.

yes. you can use the stick to do +/- or the paddles (if you have them fitted)

I have to say that for general driving, I'd take the DSG every time. Although I don't do that much 'in traffic' driving any more, I simply find the DSG a more relaxing drive.

For me, it was a choice of manual Elegance with all the toys, or DSG with none. I went for the manual, which also has the benefit of less company car tax.

I too, find that the DSG can sometimes bog down off the line, and this is the one thing that I found really frustrating. When you do want to pull away quickly, you can't always be sure you're going to make it.

There is a way to solve this, but I'm not sure how good it is for the transmission.

Basically, you do the following:

1) Foot on brake pedal, and put car into sport or manual mode.

2) Turn off ESP.

3) Whilst still pressing the brake pedal, bring the revs up to about 2000rpm.

4) Release the brake pedal.

This will give you a great start every time, but it does put a fair bit of load on the transmission. It's not something I'd recommend doing all the time.

Bagpuss.

Bad, very bad, stress loading the box will break it.

I've heard of it before- launch control. Some people suggest each time you do that it takes 1k miles off the life of the clutch. I won't be doing it.