Looking to buy an octavia vrs and test drove both the manual and dsg this week.

Currently drive an A4 cabriolet 2.0tfsi with multitronic box with 350 miles of very twisty B road driving to work every week has proved to be great. Needs have now changed with an ever expanding family and the price of petrol when running a combined cycle of 27.8mpg over the last 10k miles is proving expensive.

Drove the manual first, was ok yet all the time I was thinking of my auto and how the dsg would perform. In short it was fine, did what it said on the tin.

Second was the manual, again the test proved ok for the first part of dual carriageway which led to a country road section. The car gathered pace well in sport mode, road noise was noticeable but I am used to my Audi. Leading into the bends in a spirited manner I found the box to be in too high a gear (my cvt does doesn't do this) so on my daily stretch to work I would be having to drop the gear manually. At the time I did mention that in the wet this could prove dangerous.

This refers to a subject in another post regards china demanding vw recall on dsg cars http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/768448.shtml#.UURubHwgGSN

I have read at length the arguments 'Manual V DSG' and the comment that always crops up (by dsg owners) is 'DSG's are crap on roundabouts'......... Hang on, that simply translates to DSG's are crap in the bends!

Another test of the manual is required. First time round I wasn't in a comfortable seating position and now need a second go to actually sit back and enjoy.

Currently undergoing a similar debate with myself. Had a 6 sp octavia DSG a few years a go and loved it. Looking at either octy or Audi A3 in 1.6tdi and would like to go back to DSG. keep us posted

Are you miles mainly motorway or country?

very little motorway work. Daily commute is 18 miles rural A roads, passing through a couple of small towns. Do a quite a few longer journeys for work mostly rural roads

I test drove a Fabia VRS mark 2 recently and it was fine on roundabouts. They have got rid of the hesitation. I never found it in too high a gear on corners either as box should sense and shift down. I like the DSG and it is far smoother and quicker than a manual. Spend £400 or so on the mutli function steering wheel with paddles and you will be fine: good fun too: can bang the thing down a few gears in an instant. It will be different to a CVT box which I can't stand. The engine screaming away while the car catches up like a slipping clutch.

Only thing with DSG is potential long term reliability and the 40K service: oil and filters.

Edited 16 March, 201313 yr by Matt Bodycombe

I'm with Matt, the MFSW with paddles is an absolute must, that way you get the benefits of an auto that quickly turns into a manual and will then turn itself back into an auto or you can force it to do so.

A3 has paddles as standard but not the Octavia. Seems strange when the Skoda is better speced in other areas

Hi Vanbling. Did you test petrol or diesel? If you tested the diesel I'd be very interested in your views as I bought a manual vRS on the advice of my dealer and always wondered what the DSG had to offer in a diesel vRS. His view was that DSG was worth considering in the petrol vRS but not the diesel, but I never asked why. I can see it would be an advantage on an overtake if I need to change gear part way through and if you do a lot of stop start commuting, but not convinced the DSG offers the same level of control when going through the twisty bits. Cheers Ade

It was the diesel, found the dsg unsettling in tight bendsbut please do consider I am used to a 2.0tfsi with CVT box which is much better behaved than my test drive this week.

How you getting on with the manual, interested to know. Would also be interested to know if you got a good deal with the release of the mk3 today. Feel free to PM me if you do not want to broadcast such info.

Hi Vanbling. Did you test petrol or diesel? If you tested the diesel I'd be very interested in your views as I bought a manual vRS on the advice of my dealer and always wondered what the DSG had to offer in a diesel vRS. His view was that DSG was worth considering in the petrol vRS but not the diesel, but I never asked why. I can see it would be an advantage on an overtake if I need to change gear part way through and if you do a lot of stop start commuting, but not convinced the DSG offers the same level of control when going through the twisty bits. Cheers Ade

But the real advantage of dsg is that you can knock it into manual mode if you want to hustle on the twisty bits

Don't think you are reading / understanding what I mean ie my 2.0tfsi Audi cab with cvt has the flappy paddles MFSW and tiptronic and does not leave me incorrectly geared when mid corner in S sport mode.

I am still baffled: if you are in sport and using manual the box should not change out of gear you are in until you ask it to. The next gear is pre selected and should change within a fraction of a second. Leave it in auto and it will scream until near redline before changing up in S mode and the comp should sense you coming to a bend (sure it has fuzzy logic). S mode is daft anyways as in D box is responsive and will hold on gears under heavy throttle: plus mfsw adds added control.CVT Is a belt drive stepless tranny and a development of what the old Dutch DAF cars had. The manual mode on the paddles must have pre set "virtual" ratios written in. Only you know if you like the DSG or not: some people love and others hate. It is an expensive option and at the Skoda launch i was at tonight the manual shift felt light and smooth on the new Octy. I would stick with it and have a nice holiday myself

Edited 17 March, 201313 yr by Matt Bodycombe

P.S

The roundabout/ junction thing is not a "crap on bends" issue either. There used to be a split second delay when pulling away as clutch engaged on DSGs which felt disconcerting but it seems to have been dealt with on the Fab VrS i drove as i say.

If your objective is to save on fuel costs why do you want to use s mode?

A.

'First rule of DSG club'

Do not listen to or read anything said by other drivers or non drivers of DSG boxes.

(there is so much cr4p written and there are different DSG's to suit different Engines

and drivers that do not own or like them seem to not understand how they work

in different situations and uses.)

B,

'Second Rule of DSG club'.

Drive one yourself in the type of vehicle you are buying and do not always assume the one you drive

will be the same in your own car, they have a sort of memory and they will settle to your style of driving.

C,

i can talk cr4p also, but i doubt many drivers in Manuals better the economy that a DSG could give in the same vehicle.

D.

National Speed limit on the roads been talked about here is likely 60mph, some might be 70mph.

So some spirited driving is hardly likely to be 50% above that.

The cars talked about here will be using half or less of the available performance at the National speed limits and if you can not get economy or a good gear change in those circumstance then its a damn poor vehicle.

Have fun testing them out.

george

Have to admit like so many others had been contemplating a DSG as have been driving Manual motors for 30 years.

Most of my driving is on the motorway and have many a time cursed the repeated clutch bashing when stuck in traffic.

That and the fact the DSG supposidly makes the car a smoother drive and sends your left leg into hibernation are facets many people subscribe to.

Went out for a couple of tests this time as you cant really get a little taste without an hour or so under your belt.

Diesel was the prefered tipple and have to admit was mildly excited by the manual aspect using paddles.

Did find it distracting though and the obvious fight to engage left foot overwhelming.Expect that sensation would subside over time.

Try as I might I just didnt feel a connection with the DSG. Wanted one,could have had one but my next motor is yet again going to be manual and I realise any mention of 'dead left leg' or 'piggin clutch pedal' will fall on deaf ears.

George

have to say that is the most sense I have seen you write!

I have been driving a Twincharger with 7 speed DSG and never use the paddles, but manually change down with the stick. I let 'D' do the up shifts.

Had a Diesel with 6 speed DSG and left it in 'D', even when towing and occasionally dropped manually.

Also had a iQ with CVT and it was brilliant. Has 'D', 'S' & 'B'

Only been able to drive Autos for 35 years and driven most, 3,4,5,6,7,8 gear autos and different CVT's

even Servo Clutch manuals..

Volvo 343 CVT was great back when,

Punto Speadgear was one of my favourites, 7 speed sequential CVT..

Just got a new CVT with paddles and am using them.

Each to their own.

george

Why does it matter what others think

Buy what you like!!

Regards all

Juan

Edited 17 March, 201313 yr by Its me

But the real advantage of dsg is that you can knock it into manual mode if you want to hustle on the twisty bits

Thanks. As I've said I've never tried DSG so was just interested to get some feedback from someone who's test driven one on how they perform vs manual

If your objective is to save on fuel costs why do you want to use s mode?

Simple, sometimes I like to have a spirited drive!

A.

'First rule of DSG club'

Do not listen to or read anything said by other drivers or non drivers of DSG boxes.

(there is so much cr4p written and there are different DSG's to suit different Engines

and drivers that do not own or like them seem to not understand how they work

in different situations and uses.)

B,

'Second Rule of DSG club'.

Drive one yourself in the type of vehicle you are buying and do not always assume the one you drive

will be the same in your own car, they have a sort of memory and they will settle to your style of driving.

C,

i can talk cr4p also, but i doubt many drivers in Manuals better the economy that a DSG could give in the same vehicle.

D.

National Speed limit on the roads been talked about here is likely 60mph, some might be 70mph.

So some spirited driving is hardly likely to be 50% above that.

The cars talked about here will be using half or less of the available performance at the National speed limits and if you can not get economy or a good gear change in those circumstance then its a damn poor vehicle.

Have fun testing them out.

george

A. Or manual drivers to that point. Gather info, test drive again and decide. Also consider the known issues with vag dsg and also clutch weak point on manuals, how bad is the clutch in reality?

B. agreed, current cvt is a learning box. There is a way of resetting my cvt found on audizine pedals ignition mix etc. Thinking I need to drive one until it learns my driving style.

C. Jury's out, won't be much in it though 1or2 maybe.

D. It's not about the 50% more, more like point to point fun on my twisty country route to and from work if I didn't have my 'economy' head on.

Cheers

Edited 17 March, 201313 yr by Vanbling

re C.

Friday in a 1390cc with 178bhp & DSG,

i doubt i could ever do 14 miles, 20 minutes, held up by tractors, from cold on a twisty country road in a manual and get that sort of economy.

& i know how to hypermile.

george

PS

oil not even up to normal temp before stopping.

I had a 1.9 TDi manual Estate followed by 1.9 TDi DSG. DSG was 2 mpg poorer over the lifetime of the cars. This was a 6sp DSG, I am led to believe that the new 7 sp is lighter and more economical.

re DSG in China.

I had wondered where these DSG & Cars were build, China, India or Europe.

A Briskoda Member in Australia came up with these links.

Looks to me like DSG Built in China .

george

I think all the Skodas for Euro market are made in Czech but no surprise if the DSG is made in China as VW will be looking to lessen costs and maximise profit on such a complicated bit of kit