Hello,

Perhaps a question asked loads of times, but I've done a search and can't see much discussion!

I'm on the verge of ordering a vRS Estate after pressure from a growing family to ditch the Focus ST despite the biggest roof box known to mankind.

My driving combines commuting in slow traffic into London (so DSG), lugging the family around (so an Estate), and track days and trips to the Nurburgring (so manual gearbox).

I've driven the Golf GTi DSG and was disappointed with the manual mode, whilst the actual gearchange was instant, there was an unexpected delay between pulling the lever and something happening. Do you just get used to that and pull the lever a fraction before you want the change? Is the DSG simply not suited to spirited driving?

Anyone know any dealers in or around Surrey with a vRS DSG demonstrator?

I'm a company car driver so if I don't get the DSG I can probably get some heated seats and other toys instead.

Only you can decide if you like it, there is a dealer in Walton on Thames with a silver derv DSG, try them. I've ordered a DSG estate, I do mostly town/short journeys so it was no brainer. Get a test drive and try it!

Thanks m0bov. I'm trying to get a test drive but no-one has a petrol vRS DSG. I live in Walton so I already know the chaps at that dealer. Like you say they have a diesel DSG and a petrol manual.

The other problem is that you don't have time on a test drive to really drive the car and get used to it. Need it for a week really to assess but that's not realistic.

Has anyone here done trackdays with a petrol vRS DSG?

Thanks m0bov. I'm trying to get a test drive but no-one has a petrol vRS DSG. I live in Walton so I already know the chaps at that dealer. Like you say they have a diesel DSG and a petrol manual.

The other problem is that you don't have time on a test drive to really drive the car and get used to it. Need it for a week really to assess but that's not realistic.

Has anyone here done trackdays with a petrol vRS DSG?

Surely the way the DSG operates will be similar whether the engine is petrol or diesel, so you'll get a good idea of it's changing capabilities by test driving either.

Personally, I don't regret getting my DSG - it's the first non-manual car I've ever had, but is still fun to drive, albeit possibly not as involved as driving a manual. The ability to stick it in 'auto' for town driving takes away the strain of constant stop/start gearchanges.

As has already been said, ultimately only you can decide having had the opportunity to compare both versions. Whichever way you go you won't be disappointed.

I've not really liked autos, had one before and driven a few and generally they are ok around town for easy relaxed driving but forget it if you wanna have some fun.

The DSG I drove however was fun to drive it a sprinted fashion, infact I liked it I went ahead and ordered it over the manual.

I would test drive one though just to make sure you like it but I'm happy with the test drive (40miles) I had of it.

Like you I have a Focus ST and its has done a few laps around the 'Ring

But as I get older :( I found I use the performance less (270hp)

Although I do not have a town commute, I like the idea of not having to change gear

For economy reasons I've gone for the diesel (ST 30mpg, vRS 50mpg)

Tested a manual vRS and a Superb CR170 DSG and found it easy to use in manual mode.

Don'nt forget the vRS with DSG has the flappy paddles and multi function steering wheel (MFSW)

Also I will not be using my new vRS for trackdays or the 'Ring

I chose a Manual because its my hard earned wonga thats gonna have to pay any out of warranty bills on the box when it hits 80+K.

Would love a DSG but scared to hell it will cost me £2K to repair in four years.........

>sits back and waits for the **** to hit the fan<

The Petrol is more suited to the DSG in my opinon, for an all round car id deffinatly say DSG, the only time id say manual is if you had the car purely for a weekend blast, the rare occasions I wish id got my manual back are far outweighed by the pro's of the DSG,

I've got paddles and 9/10 times if im going for a spirited drive S mode is more than good enough for road use

I had the same issue trying to find a petrol, gave up however I think there is a dealer in north east london who has one.

Try the derv, it will still give you a taster. The DSG is the reason why I ordered a Skoda.

You could always try a Golf or a Seat - it's the same box and engine in both the FR and GTi. I've driven all three and can't really tell the difference. Ok, the Golf is faster but it's marginal. As others have said, try it for yourself. Don't dismiss the derv either - the torque from the CR 170 is excellent and put through the DSG, it's quite easy to break those limits. Don't forget though, points make prizes !

You could always try a Golf or a Seat - it's the same box and engine in both the FR and GTi. I've driven all three and can't really tell the difference. Ok, the Golf is faster but it's marginal. As others have said, try it for yourself. Don't dismiss the derv either - the torque from the CR 170 is excellent and put through the DSG, it's quite easy to break those limits. Don't forget though, points make prizes !

The special prizes for more than 9 points which are on offer today are:

A 6 month season ticket for the bus

A 6 month season ticket for the train

A bicycle

Unlimited free trips by "Shank's Pony Express"

Numerous expensive trips in a Taxi!

The special prizes for more than 9 points which are on offer today are:

A 6 month season ticket for the bus

A 6 month season ticket for the train

A bicycle

Unlimited free trips by "Shank's Pony Express"

Numerous expensive trips in a Taxi!

12 actually

The choice has to be down to you. Track days and the ring are few and far between so best to view from an everyday point of view.

I test drove a CR manual and DSG 6 - preferred the manual by a mile but then I do prefer the feeling of being fully in control. Also i didn't like the choices the DSG made gear wise. Either way too low too early or too high. No middle ground, meaning you either had no torque (it had me at 1200rpm as much as it could) or if you used sport mode it hung on to high revs which is daft in a diesel.

Leave it out of sport mode and drive 'normally' and it had me in 5th gear at 40mph and as such the revs were way too low. Press the throttle a little more and it struggled to pick up speed - press a bit more and it still struggled, floor it and kick down drops it 2 cogs and you're off screaming down the road.

Otherwise though it's gearchanges were utterly utterly seamless - you could hardly tell it was doing it other than the rev counter moving around and the number detailed on the display telling me what gear it was in. Very smooth. Shame about the bizarre choices of gears it kept making.

The manual was as you'd expect but with a nice meaty throw and a clutch withgood feel. Much more the drivers choice IMO.

IMO, the DSG is ideal if you spend more time in stop/ start traffic and if you wanted to drive in a really sedate manner most of the time, but I suggest the manual if your driving is a little more 'spirited' most of the time or you prefer the control it gives you.

I've heard the DSG 7 is a lot better though in it's choices of gears. Can't comment on those as I've not driven one.

the DSG will adapt to your driving style aswell though, give it 100 miles or so of mixed driving

IMO, the DSG is ideal if you spend more time in stop/ start traffic and if you wanted to drive in a really sedate manner most of the time, but I suggest the manual if your driving is a little more 'spirited' most of the time or you prefer the control it gives you.

Your test drive must have been limited to come to this conclusion IMO.

Mine's now done almost 9k miles, and I agree, there are occasions which can catch the gearbox out, but nowhere near as much of the time as you are stating.

I drove back from the National Meet at Gaydon with Ben (shark_90) in his petrol vRS, and I certainly wouldn't class it as a really sedate drive (though he might beg to differ ). The DSG performed impeccably, and certainly picked up as and when it needed to.

Yes, many people do prefer the full control of a manual, but to dismiss the DSG as you have done is over-egging the pudding, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Well, it's over two weeks since I have had my CR tdi VRS re mapped by P-torque. I can tell you that the box shifts even better, smoother and quicker. Driven around town, it's a pussy cat. Take it on the B roads and push it and it's an absolute blast. It just nails you to your seat when you floor it. Easily quicker than my old petrol vrs. ( Not sure about top end though )

I for one would never go back to a manual. What a ball ache rowing through gears in town traffic.

Oddly, I find it really hard to drive in manual mode though, I wonder why?? I don't really use the Sport mode either, It's bloody quick enough without it. It does make me wonder about the sense in putting anything more than about 220 BHP through the wheels of a front wheel drive car. 206 and 315 torques is enough for me.

My test drive was about 15 miles over a mixture of motorway, A road and B road and I hated the choices of gears it made all the way through. Also I'm not the only one to say this as per another thread on here about this very same subject. Was a chap in New Zealand IIRC.

As I say, it either had me at 1200rpm or at 3,500rpm - nothing in the middle. As a result I hated it as on a diesel it made no sense.

Wonder if I drove a dud?

EDIT - This thread : http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/dsg-manual/153882/4/

If you want a more involving driving experience, manual everytime. You cant beat the sensation of a 5th-3rd or 4th-2nd sustained gear change. You simply cant get that in a DSG.

Well, it's over two weeks since I have had my CR tdi VRS re mapped by P-torque. I can tell you that the box shifts even better, smoother and quicker. Driven around town, it's a pussy cat. Take it on the B roads and push it and it's an absolute blast. It just nails you to your seat when you floor it. Easily quicker than my old petrol vrs. ( Not sure about top end though )

I for one would never go back to a manual. What a ball ache rowing through gears in town traffic.

Oddly, I find it really hard to drive in manual mode though, I wonder why?? I don't really use the Sport mode either, It's bloody quick enough without it. It does make me wonder about the sense in putting anything more than about 220 BHP through the wheels of a front wheel drive car. 206 and 315 torques is enough for me.

Remap makes the DSG so much more useable, I didnt like it reving my car to the redline in Sport, it was pointless, but now it pulls like a train