If buying a car to be mainly used in traffic I won't buy a vRS.  Why not buy an SE with the 150hp diesel and DSG?

 

I have a 2012 vRS TDi DSG and cover around 12K miles each year.  As I am retired I drive mainly when there is little traffic.  I am very pleased with the DSG and wish I had bought one earlier.

 

The Sports mode is useless with the diesel as it holds on to the gears until too high revs.  I use the paddles to change down just before I overtake and then a second or so hold on the RH paddle returns to Auto mode.  However I do use 'S' mode to hold on to a lower gear when descending long hills.

 

I have not experienced the hesitation that others report except when engaging reverse if the car has been un-used for a while.  Over 4 months and almost 5K miles the car has averaged just over a true calculated 43.78mpg although the Maxidot shows nearly 47.  As I came from a 2-litre Civic that averaged just over 33 in 7 years/75K miles the mpg of the vRS/DSG is good enough for me.

On my 2nd DSG and will probably be my last. Nothing much to do with disliking it, does a good impersonation of a proper auto but it has its drawbacks......its expensive, reduces economy, increases emissions, can be hesitent/jerky at low speeds and from time to time changes at speed are not particularly smooth. Id rather pocket the money and change gear myself to be honest.

Also I think DSG is starting to get left behind by some modern torque converter autos (ZF 8 speed used by BMW springs to mind).

If VAG started offering ZF 8 speed boxes that improved performance and reduced emissions id be all over it but they can keep DSG.

I live in a rural area and I bought my 2013 Fabia vRS this year which of course has the DSG. It's not impressed me at all. The only thing it is good for is driving fast. When you're going for it you don't have to take your hands of the wheel. I don't enjoy driving it at normal speeds, the box isn't great when the car has just been started and has rolled back a few times on hills too. Anyway, not particularly impressed by it. It's just not for me I think. Since i've had the DSG i've realised just how much I miss the clutch and stick, and how crucial that is to the pleasure I get from driving.

 

I'm looking forward to my manual Octavia vRS arriving end of next month.

In the case of a 4x4 version of the Octavia: how good is the DSG when trying to move off in very slippery conditions - mud, ice or snow?

I have heard some drivers claim that being able to control the clutch manually can be an advantage.

_ _ _

Another question: why does DSG have an effect on fuel consumption? Traditional hydraulically-operated epicyclic auto gearboxes also have a fluid flywheel / torque converter which absorbs energy, but where does the wasted energy go with a more purely mechanical system like DSG?

The more powerful motors use a wet clutch 6 speed box; stronger and smoother but more loss due to clutch slip by design and additional friction due to wet clutch setup.

Well who's fault is that? Yours for not doing a test drive of a DSG on the model & engine you wanted.

 

A DSG on the 2,0 TDi is excellent AFAIC, lovely. Perhaps it's the way you attempt to drive it that could be the problem, as it seems that you're the only one grumbling about it.

Obviously not based on the last few posts.

Actually no, you've been grumbling about it for ages, if I maybe so bold as to make the suggestion, that you sell the car, take the "hit" and move on to another one.

I've just gone DSG for the first time, as my daily commute now involves some heavy stop start traffic.

 

Now I have got used to it, don't keep trying to lift off at gear change points, and also learnt to control the start/stop system in conjunction with a semi-auto, I wouldn't go back to manual.

 

My previous mapped PD140 manual averaged 48mpg (real life) over 60,000 miles.

 

My first 1000 miles in the CR150 DSG are averaging 54mpg (real life), although I expect that to drop to around 51mpg as I have done a higher proportion of long runs.

 

I haven't found the changes sluggish, and have hardly had to revert to manual mode, I've just let it do its thing. Some of the gears it has selected when in traffic I wouldn't have selected in a manual, but the torque of the CR150 has meant that 32mph in 5th was perfectly OK. On the PD140 that would have been done in 4th.

I had a test drive in a diesel VRS DSG on Saturday. As a confirmed petrolhead, having previously owned Saab turbos, imprezas, Alfas as well as a fair few sheds and sensible cars, and a number of bikes, I was keen to see what it would be like and whether it was a suitable replacement for my current Alfa Giulietta

The salesman was more than happy for me to pick a route, so I chose some of my favourite biking roads as well as a blast/cruise down the motorway. I had a good play with each of the modes, and tried tiptronic/paddle/auto shifts. The roads provided plenty of opportunities to test overtaking, which it proved to be very adept at. Speeds in the NSLs were 'progressive' where conditions allowed, however still somehow managed to average 48mpg on the test overall.

Result of this was...

I placed an order as soon as I got back. The gearbox was very slick, with no hesitation at all. Even in normal mode, pick up was very quick, with a nice little chirp from the tyres when pulling away sharply. No torque steering, no turbo lag, no drama, just loads of grunt.

For me, the benefits of the DSG outway the marginal increase in fuel. Roll on 1st March when mine should arrive.

Have a test drive and let us know what you think...

I've just got the VRS TDI DSG and would highly recommend it! I too am a fellow M25 cruiser/Parker and so far it's been great!

Certainly takes a little bit of getting used to! Sometimes when you first engage a gear it takes that split second for it to do anything, however you soon get used to it.

On a positive note the paddle shift it fantastic, the gear change is so quick and you can drive it pretty enthusiastically, but can also cruise along nice and smooth!

If your in the Northamptonshire area you're welcome to take mine out for a drive.

Cheers,

Mozz

DSG is an extremely clever 'box. I love mine - it's my second, having had a Golf 5 GTI DSG previously.

My other car is manual. I do enjoy that too. But, was stuck in traffic in the Panda for an hour on the M4 after the storm on Monday, and I so wished I was in the Octy! Left leg got sore in the end!

Petrol DSG in sport is amazing. Very, very intuitive, changing down whilst I'm braking for corners and so on. Can't comment on diesel DSG, but can appreciate that it might be a negative in the oil burner if the DSG in sport lets the revs get too high.

OP, test drive both before you spend your cash. Good luck!

In the case of a 4x4 version of the Octavia: how good is the DSG when trying to move off in very slippery conditions - mud, ice or snow?

I have heard some drivers claim that being able to control the clutch manually can be an advantage.

_ _ _

Another question: why does DSG have an effect on fuel consumption?  Traditional hydraulically-operated  epicyclic auto gearboxes also have a fluid flywheel / torque converter which absorbs energy, but where does the wasted energy go with a more purely mechanical system like DSG?

 

 

 

The economy difference is due (as well as the internal "windage" of the wet box) to the internal hydraulics needed to operate the box.  Hydraulic pumps take power to run.

 

or does it feel akin to the gearbox in the back of Sebastian's Red Bull?

 

 

 

 

I've never driven Sebastian's Red Bull............anyone else been lucky?

 

Automatic hatch, windows, tinting of the rear view mirror when cars approach, control of indoor climate, convience indicators, brake systems... you name it. Funny as everything in cars now a days are electric, and still some insist on doing the shifting on gears by them self.

 

 

The DSG is a little slow taking off if you are in a hurry, but all the rest is a great pleasure.

Automatic hatch, windows, tinting of the rear view mirror when cars approach, control of indoor climate, convience indicators, brake systems... you name it. Funny as everything in cars now a days are electric, and still some insist on doing the shifting on gears by them self.

 

 

The DSG is a little slow taking off if you are in a hurry, but all the rest is a great pleasure.

 

Not with launch control, or so I hear.

 

I've never driven Sebastian's Red Bull............anyone else been lucky?

 

 

Certainly not Mr Webber.

He might stuggle he drives a bus around Somerset. 

 

 

0-60 in about 50s.

DSG is not related at all to automated F1 gearboxes.  The physical layout and function are completely different.

Gents.

Re some of the twaddle I have read above and elsewhere about the DSG.

(i) with the 1.6 diesel it is very very good.

(ii) Mud, snow or ice do not pose any problems, ever, at all, as long as suitable tyres are fitted.

(iii) Excellent for towing, cannot fault it.

(iv) Always chooses and uses sensibly low diesel engine rpms.

(v) goes like ****-off-a-very-shiney-shovel, from a standing start, well up to 50 or 60 odd leastwise.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE

Tricky/obstructed/slow speed Manouvering on an incline or slope.

A complete ******, there are still some software gremlins in at least some production runs of vehicles.(mk II)

In my direct 50,000 miles of experience with a 2010 dry 7 speed DSG.