This is the first auto and DSG I have driven, took a little bit of getting used to. I kept trying to wiggle the knob to check it was in neutral when stationary !

Drive mode: likes to keep revs low with lazy changing up and down

There is a moderate accelleration delay with kick down and a bit of a jerk

Sport mode: red lines the revs before changing up, seems a little harsh, don't like it

Take off from stationary is OK, I havent experienced any significant delay

Reversing up drive is OK

Need to be quite gentle and finessed with your right foot to get the best feeling out of the DSG

Gear changes almost imperceptable, very impressed

I find I am pressing the -paddle one or two clicks just before I want to overtake, much smoother and faster than kick down.

Not tried launch control (not even sure it's fitted on the vRS), don't want Plod to have a word in my ear.

I may get the chance to try it at an airfield this weekend.

Engine is very quiet for a diesel (compared to my Pug anyway) with a satisfying growl when encouraged.

Will be looking into extended warranty coz if this unit goes bang it will cost a LOT.

So far a very interesting experience, and is giving my gammy left leg some respite, especially in town traffic. That was my main reason for choosing DSG over manual.

Edited 1 April, 201016 yr by Spudhoolio

you do get more used to it as you use it more. Will agree that the kickdown can be a sudden jerk, I've found using the paddles to knock down myself works much better.

I have to say I'm loving it..................sure not as much "fun" as the Fabia but much more pleasant all round.

Glad you are liking the DSG. I like it too.

Keeping it in Drive and letting it do its own thing most of the time I find is the most relaxed approach. I agree about SPORT mode and personally never use it. However I do drop it into Manual sometimes such as when going down steep hills, or if I want it to hold/drop a gear when overtaking.

This is the first DSG I have had, but I've owned lots of automatics over the years, and I found the majority of them gave a jolt and the associated scalded cat syndrome when engaging kickdown. Its just not a DSG thing. In the USA third parties sell a device to disable to kickdown although I would not recommend it!

I agree 100% with you about the warranty though.

Initially I had reservations, now I love it, the only thing I'd like is a "Winter or Snow" Mode which would allow far greater control of it in poor weather conditions.

I've just found out about it changing down on steep hills (Countisbury & Porlock to name but two) too, I found it going too far down the box for comfort & made the engine rev hard, so switched to manual for better control.

If I'm in slow moving traffic I just let it creep along on its own, stop for anymore than 30-45s then put it in N just to make sure it doesn't get too hot.

Will I have another? If finances permit more than likely yes, but the next time it'll be with flappy paddles.

I now have done 10k miles in 4 months and have found the dsg almost perfect.

The only problem is that it sometimes has a delay in finding a gear, I think I confuse it usually at roundabouts.

Like all autos kickdown can be harsh although it does seem more abrupt than my previous auto, maybe it changes so fast??

Overall well worth the investment (as you can see from the milage I spend my life on the M6) strike a good balance between the best bits of a manual & auto.

Im pleased, just wouldnt like to replace it out of warranty!!!!

I love it!!

Tip: Sport mode works better when already moving along briskly. Just drop it in and it likes it better than at lower speeds

I love it!!

Tip: Sport mode works better when already moving along briskly. Just drop it in and it likes it better than at lower speeds

+1

Wasn't keen on the sport mode when I first got the car, but I prefer the way it holds onto each gear longer rather than changing up the second you use less throttle followed by a change down to the gear you were in when you start accelerating again the way D does... Much better for a cross country run...

For relaxed driving, leave it in D, for brisk driving, put it into S, for maximum control, stick it in manual and control the gears yourself...

I have over 300,000kms in my remapped PD140 and I find Sport mode useless. In normal Drive mode you can dictate the gearchanges with throttle control and in the higher powered diesel models you rarely need to rev it above 3000rpm, if you really want to shift it away from the mundane motorways, just use the manual mode.

I have over 300,000kms in my remapped PD140 and I find Sport mode useless. In normal Drive mode you can dictate the gearchanges with throttle control and in the higher powered diesel models you rarely need to rev it above 3000rpm, if you really want to shift it away from the mundane motorways, just use the manual mode.

I disagree with that. For example, when approaching a country lane bend in D the car sees you've stopped accelerating and changes up, when exiting the corner, the car realises you're accelerating again and then changes back down to the gear it was in a couple of seconds previously with it's wonderful half second delay whilst it works out how many revs to apply to change back down...

S keeps it in the same gear for longer so when I accelerate out of the bend I'm still in the gear I was in approaching the bend...

However, for town and motorway driving the car basically lives in D as it's much more relaxed and more economical

In 4 years of constant daily driving (sales rep) I could probably count on my two hands the amount of times the box has left me stranded in too high a gear exiting a bend. Horses for coarses. I never use "S" its either left in "D" or its ragged in manual.

In 4 years of constant daily driving (sales rep) I could probably count on my two hands the amount of times the box has left me stranded in too high a gear exiting a bend. Horses for coarses. I never use "S" its either left in "D" or its ragged in manual.

We must have different driving styles...

I've only had the car for 6500 miles (2 and a bit months) and after initially thinking the S mode was next to useless have decided that on a brisk country lane drive it's better than D as I wasn't impressed with the "hunting" that D would do when coming off and getting back on the accelerator within a few seconds...

We must have different driving styles...

I've only had the car for 6500 miles (2 and a bit months) and after initially thinking the S mode was next to useless have decided that on a brisk country lane drive it's better than D as I wasn't impressed with the "hunting" that D would do when coming off and getting back on the accelerator within a few seconds...

I'll give the Sport mode another go on Tuesday and see how I get on with it. When you are in D mode and coming slowly around a bend say a roundabout and you want to drive out of it hard, if you time a throttle blip correctly the box will change down a gear and you can push on. This becomes very smooth and efficient with practice.

I'll give the Sport mode another go on Tuesday and see how I get on with it. When you are in D mode and coming slowly around a bend say a roundabout and you want to drive out of it hard, if you time a throttle blip correctly the box will change down a gear and you can push on. This becomes very smooth and efficient with practice.

I might start trying that method too, would be useful at some motorway junction roundabouts in rush hour

Try a steep hill in a queue of traffic - the only place where mine's let me down and nearly rolled back into the car behind. I've driven autos all the time but this has rarely happened to me. So, now on a steep hill, I'm prepared. As for sport, never use it; the 'box has learned how I drive and I'm happy with it.

Try a steep hill in a queue of traffic - the only place where mine's let me down and nearly rolled back into the car behind. I've driven autos all the time but this has rarely happened to me. So, now on a steep hill, I'm prepared. As for sport, never use it; the 'box has learned how I drive and I'm happy with it.

I nearly always use sport mode for overtaking..hefty kick down, and away you go..great fun