Hi,

Any of you owners out there already have some comparisons between Elegence 1.6 Tdi 105 manual versus DSG version.

Just to help me do my sums to try and justify DSG.

I do about 15k per year and most is stop and start commuting traffic on motorway.

I do about 15k per year and most is stop and start commuting traffic on motorway.

There's your justification for DSG. It is at it's best in start-stop traffic.

Mm, I probably agree with that.

The new 7-speed DSG box may also make better use of the 1.6CR's torque band. Diesels have narrow power bands, so more gears means you can get more performance from the sweat spot. The manual box with less gears will need longer gearing, potentially making the engine feel slower.

Edited 20 October, 201312 yr by Orville

Thanks all for your comments.

I am becoming lazy and not wanting to change gear all the time. I think I was spoilt when I went to the usa this year and the hire car was auto as I loved it but just needed the justification.

I see on the figures there isn't a great deal on the combined for manual or DSG but obviously I normally take about 20% off those to get anything realistic. I just wondered what people were averaging with these two engines and realise each persons scenarios are different.

Not decided on whether hatch or estate yet but edging towards the estate and now edging towards DSG.

Hi Run,

 

Just my two pence worth, I picked up my new Octavia 1.6tdi DSG on Fri and immediately drove it from Holland to the UK and back again on Sun so a nice way to break the car in! The DSG is great and as has been mentioned good in slow stop-start motorway traffic which we experienced in Belgium on the way back. It's very smooth, even more so than my previous Audi and as for economy I managed 61.8 MPG which I'm very happy about. Ok, well that was the car's version but even if it was a little over optimistic I'm still happy as that's a brand new engine so it should improve even further!

 

Overall, I'd recommend it whole heartedly!

 

All the best...  

 

 

   

Having driven a 1.6 CR 105 with a manual gearbox in I hated it.

 

Far too long geared and constanly feels either laboured or too revvy.

 

I think the 1.6 needs more gears/ratios to play with and it definitely felt like it would go well with a DSG as it was quite a revvy engine without that low down burst of torque you get from the old PD engines.

 

If you can afford it then go for the DSG. As you say it's not far behind in terms of economy.

 

Phil

The 1.6TDI/DSG is a perfect match.

Even cross country in a wet stubble field  (ploughing match at the weekend after torrential rain)

Faultless.

Except for the hill start/slow speed manouvering  issue (in some leastwise) and may well be engineered out in the newest model.

Other than that an absolute "no brainer"

60 and 70 mpg still be achievable with the DSG.

Middle 50's in normal mixed motering/short urban runs.

My 2.0 manual is absolutely fantastic and beats the dsg IMHO. Agree that 1.6 manual is awfully long geared

I wouldn't consider a manual 1.6 with just the five gears - after years of 6 speeds it would annoy me too much.

I am now 10,000 miles (3 months) into having my 1.6 DSG.

 

I mainly do motorway driving and am getting on avergae about 53mpg.

 

My previous car was a MKII 2.0 DSG and I swore I would not go back to the manual. When I first got the car I thought I had made a big mistake due to lack of power, but once you get used to driving it, you learn how to get the most out of it.

 

My temprement has changed, and I think I drive slower.

 

The start stop for me is awful, especially compared to my wifes Citigo. If you put your foot on the brake too hard the car stops, even if you are only going to be stationary for a few seconds. I now either put it into neutral as soon as I can and handbrake, or switch off start stop.

 

I dont actually care what the difference in economy is as even at 53mpg I am happy.

 

good luck with whatever you choose.

There's your justification for DSG. It is at it's best in start-stop traffic.

That's the only justfication for a diesel DSG.  In the 2.0 DSG, the gearing is higher than the manual and uses much more fuel as a result.

 

Not tried a 1.6 DSG but have tried 3 cars with the 1.6 TDI engine.  It's kinda like 'hey this is ok' , followed quickly by 'oh, is that all there is'.  It's not bad for a 1.6 is the nicest thing I can say about it.

3 weeks into ownership of my Octy 1.6 Tdi with DSG, and with 775 miles completed, the experience has been 10 times better than I dared hope for.

MPG is showing a fairly consistent 55, and the gearbox / engine combination is faultless, providing  really good "poke" when required yet having none of the slow movement / erratic reversing woes I'd heard about on this site. 

I am absolutely delighted with my choice, and find people are very impressed too when they see it 

JKW

Hi All,

Thanks for all your advice in this area.

I think the main cost decider would be the real MPG figures between manual and DSG which officially they are only about 2mpg. I always knock about 20% off official figures so if I could average 53-55 in a DSG I would be a very happy man compared to that figure in my current Fiesta.

Going from a 1.4 tdci 68 Fiesta to a 1.6tdi 105 Octavia will seem like moving up to a sports car.

Wantaskoda I will have to be careful as driving an auto in the USA the one thing I couldn't get the knack off was the break pedal seemed much more responsive than any of my previous cars and it reacted like I was slamming on when I just wanted to slow a little.

I think I fancy the estate over the hatch and will definitely go for the spare wheel.

I have heated front windscreen in the Fiesta and is the winter option on the Octavia similar to that in that it clears in a few minutes. Although you have to take the £200 option that includes heated seats don't you. Anyone selected this option ? Although maybe a little early for feedback on it yet. Would find it hard giving up my heated front window.

Keep the MPG figures coming between 1.6tdci Manual versus DSG as might help my case.

Wantaskoda I will have to be careful as driving an auto in the USA the one thing I couldn't get the knack off was the break pedal seemed much more responsive than any of my previous cars and it reacted like I was slamming on when I just wanted to slow a little.

Er, you do know in an auto you still brake with your right foot don't you?

American cars do seem to have very light brake pedals (heavy servo assistance) I've found - also Far Eastern cars as well.  I prefer the "more feel" of the European cars personally.

 

Aside from that, although I've only ever driven one DSG diesel (Golf), I'm a big fan of DSG and will do whatever I can to get myself in one for the next steed although tempted to try one of the latest ZF 8-speed autos (so probably a 1 series).

 

Its a winner in stop-start traffic and there's no disadvantage when cruising at motorway speeds, so aside from the added initial cost, it's a win-win in my book.  Having spent 10 days in a manual car again, I've really noticed an ache in my left leg now..

American cars do seem to have very light brake pedals (heavy servo assistance) I've found - also Far Eastern cars as well.  I prefer the "more feel" of the European cars personally.

 

I've driven about 2000 miles over the past 2 years in the states with a variety of hire cars (all auto) and the brake action is identical to any automatic car anywhere else in the world.

 

Having said that the best car by far was a Volvo V60 T5, followed closely by a Passat CC 2.0 TFSI.  Had a Cadillac xts last week (305HP) and the brakes were awful.

Aside from that, although I've only ever driven one DSG diesel (Golf), I'm a big fan of DSG and will do whatever I can to get myself in one for the next steed although tempted to try one of the latest ZF 8-speed autos (so probably a 1 series).

 

I drove a VW Touareg 3.0 TDI V6 a bit a few weeks back.

 

It had the 8 speed ZF gearbox in. Cracking gearbox it was. Seemed to get the gears bang on and with it's ability to lock the torque converter in any gear felt very responsive. A soft start you could feel the 'slip' from the torque converter but a fast start you could feel it 'bite' and lock up and really go.

 

Phil