Hello

I'd like some advice from Octavia DSG owners - even better if 2.0 TDI

A few questions - have you owned auto's before ? would you buy again, the car I am looking at has done 30,000 miles - anything to look out for ?

What are the pro's and cons ?

Finally daft I know but I'm 37 and still think I'm too young for an auto box !

all advice gratefully rec'd !

cheers

Buy it, you will never go back to a manual again - thats my advice.

Make sure you take it for a decent test drive not basic once round the block.

Make sure it changes up and down smoothly, you should hardly notice it.

Drive it in Sport mode and check for the same though changes will be a little more noticable.

Put it in Manual and flick it up and down the box to make sure the switches work OK, pull back for change down push forward to change up.

The Box will still change up and down automatically even when in Manual if yuo let the revs rise to high or drop to low without changing up/down so you can not bu**er the box.

Enjoy.

Hi, I have a 2.0tdi DSG. I cant recommend the engine/gearbox combination enough. I have covered 262,000kms so far and apart from DMF issues which are common through nearly all modern turbo diesel cars these days and a couple of Turbo problems(which I think is acceptable given the savage mileage), the car hasn't missed a beat. It gets driven very hard and is re-mapped from new but the DSG has taken everything that has been thrown at it !! I wouldn't get hung up on the "Auto box" thing as it is not technically an Auto. It is a very sporty gearbox if you want and a lasy slushmatic if you want. If I was you I woud spend a few quid getting the car checked over ( AA or RAC), paying particular attention to the DMF and the Turbo and if there are any issues with either of these, negotiate their replacement into the price of the car. If its a garage sale, negotiate the best warranty that you can. I think the mileage that I have put onto a 2006 car should be testiment to its strenght and build quality. Best of luck.

22 and got a DSG :P

thanks for the replies

missed out on the one I was looking at - its sold :(

go and find another one, they are great i have that combo, one thing they are adaptive so they will adjust slightly to the way you drive bear this in mind when you think of the last person to drive it and the way you drive.

I'm 42, I've got arthritis in my left leg, so it should help that, although I'm nervous as hell about making the change from manual.

Hi, I have a 2.0tdi DSG. I cant recommend the engine/gearbox combination enough. I have covered 262,000kms so far and apart from DMF issues which are common through nearly all modern turbo diesel cars these days and a couple of Turbo problems(which I think is acceptable given the savage mileage), the car hasn't missed a beat. It gets driven very hard and is re-mapped from new but the DSG has taken everything that has been thrown at it !! I wouldn't get hung up on the "Auto box" thing as it is not technically an Auto. It is a very sporty gearbox if you want and a lasy slushmatic if you want. If I was you I woud spend a few quid getting the car checked over ( AA or RAC), paying particular attention to the DMF and the Turbo and if there are any issues with either of these, negotiate their replacement into the price of the car. If its a garage sale, negotiate the best warranty that you can. I think the mileage that I have put onto a 2006 car should be testiment to its strenght and build quality. Best of luck.

Reckon Skoda should use your example as a testament to DSG durability - it should also silence those somewhat timid potential DSG purchasers who appear afraid to bite the bullet in case 'something' untoward happens.

If yours does not inspire confidence in a DSG, goodness knows what would.

I'm 42, I've got arthritis in my left leg, so it should help that, although I'm nervous as hell about making the change from manual.

Make the jump..........you won't regret it. No one has ever driven my car and said they didn't like the gearbox !!

I have made the jump!

Well I will do at the end of November when I pick it up....

I too have be pondering this and after todays test drive is the 2.0TDi vRS DSG its sold me. Much quicker than the manual vRS or atleast feel like it. Really gave me a shock the first time I booted it as I did not expect it to be so smooth and well fast.

Sport mode keeps it in a lower gear and allows a quick get away but in manual mode keep ya foot on the gas and knock down the gears and my god does it shift.

Just confirming my deal at the moment and the car is already on the system awaiting my deposit.

I have made the jump!

Well I will do at the end of November when I pick it up....

Sorry.......I misread your post, best of look with the impending new car, you won't be disappointed.

Got my new TDI PD 2.0 DSG Estate last week.

I’ve driven automatics for the last 15 years or so. Like another on this thread I have autos due to a dodgy left hip.

If you have never driven a “proper” auto then I don’t think there is really much point in debating the pros/cons and characteristics of the 2 two types of system. And the DSG is, technically, not an auto anyway but instead is an automated manual.

I test drove both a 1.9 and 2.0 TDI both with DSG before buying. I personally did not warm to the 1.9 – it kept hunting up and down the gearbox at about 30-35 mph. Others have reported this. There are also some other quirks with DSG boxes on all engine types/sizes – search this forum for other threads which discuss this in more detail.

On the other hand the 2.0 felt more powerful and smooth, and for some reason it did not exhibit the same uncertainty about which gear to select when moving at a lowish constant speed.

My own 2.0 performs exactly as the demo car. So far I have been a happy chappie with it, very smooth and slick gearchanges. The only downside is the engine sounds a little agricultural to me at tickover but I can live with that.

In my opinion the bigger engine suits the DSG, but others on this forum who have 1.9’s seem to be quite content. So maybe its just me!

In summary I really don’t think you will be disappointed with your choice.

And welcome to the club!!

We have two 2.0 TDi DSG equipped cars, my '05 Octy II (bought at 11,000 miles) which is now at 54,000 miles and my wife has an '04 VW Golf GT TDi also bought at 11,000 miles and is just about to go over 80,000 miles...

Neither car has had any problems with the DSG and we both enjoy driving them - I've had manuals and autos before and for general driving/commuting they are undoubtedly the best solution.

For sporty B road action they may not be ideal - I've had a Westfield before and I'm just about to get a Lotus Elise and neither would not be much fun with an auto - but you can still hustle one along in Sport mode once you're used to it.

I don't have an particular problems in my legs (apart from just old age) so normally use my left foot for ALL braking (I can do an emergency stop with either foot) - only problem now is that when I get back in a 'normal' manual car I forget the clutch

I'm 42, I've got arthritis in my left leg, so it should help that, although I'm nervous as hell about making the change from manual.

I'm 47, haven't got arthritis in my leg, and love it to bits.

Town traffic is an ansolute doddle, without all the potentially jerky 1st/2nd/1st switching in manual.

On some twisty backroads I've now taken to flicking it across to manual to add some more control and avoid catching out the box, which likes to kick down coming out of slow corners. Kick down is still a pretty good way of getting about, so I've found that the Sport mode isn't necessary a lot of the time.

IMHO there's nothing to be nervous about

I'm nervous that I'll tail-end someone in the first hundred yards or do something wrong at the petrol station & it'll shoot off on its own...

I guess I'll soon get used to it.

I'm nervous that I'll tail-end someone in the first hundred yards or do something wrong at the petrol station & it'll shoot off on its own...

I guess I'll soon get used to it.

There's no need to worry - on tickover it will still creep slowly, then just apply gentle pressure. It's not that different to driving a dodgem car really, only with a brake pedal.

It really is that easy.

I'm not sure if you can get hill-hold as an option on the Octavia - that would put your mind at rest for pulling off on steeper slopes, but once you get used to appropriate use of the footbrake, handbrake and throttle pedal it comes as second nature.

I think it comes with hill hold, at least that what I was told anyway.

Unless I'm mistaken I think that hill hold is only available on the L&K. Its certainly not fitted to my new Elegance.

Do it! you know you want to.......I love mine

Is hill hold something that's built into the gearbox itself or is it a software thing that can be activated via VAG-COM?

Me too

Hill hold is part of the ESP/braking system; holds the brakes on for up to 2 seconds, so you can move your foot from brake to accelerator with no roll back (std on DSG, I believe to stop damage to box)

Is hill hold something that's built into the gearbox itself or is it a software thing that can be activated via VAG-COM?

Looks like it's only standard on the Scout and L & K - not even in the options list for anything else.

AFAIK it has to be fitted - it's not something which can be activated by Vagcom

Have had auto's for 35 years and manuel camper ,the dsg is great apart from one thing which gets tricky when reversing facing up a hill and its tight getting in between couple of vehicles,. At first i was using the footbrake but now i use the handbrake and find its more controlable. However my wife hates the box, she just cannot get to grips with it and she has had auto's over 30 odd years.