DSG are very reliable now and one of the best auto gearboxes available on the market today. I was really set on buying one this time around but finally decided stick with manual for the following observations. Personal choice.

 

DSG compared to Manual, shift.

 

- purchase price, +1550 EUR

- higher emissions CO2, +400 (next band up)

- harder to park (manual is very quick to move around compared to the auto stick)

- more electronics to fail (chatter on motorway, wrong gear is low revs etc.) 

- heavier due to gearbox

- lower petrol consumption

- higher wear of tyres (Skoda garage expert)

- costly revision & maintenance at 80,000 Kms

- takes time to relearn not to drive and risk of slamming break in emergency stop 

- driver modes (Sport, Eco, Individual) less effective than on the manual (Sport revs to high - I'm told)

- driver no longer in control and making decisions, car does it for you, sometimes when you don't want too.

 

Main reasons for me, after a quick DSG test drive, were.

- less interaction with the car, loss of feeling and definitely lacking fun ( man I like to dance on those peddles )

- didn't get the rally driver shift feeling that I expected in Manual mode.

- the change may be quick but just don't like the auto shift sound and feeling. mmmmm, ,,,,,,mmmmmm

Edited 4 February, 201412 yr by Steveh3

 

 

DSG are very reliable now and one of the best auto gearboxes available on the market today. I was really set on buying one this time around but finally decided stick with manual for the following observations. Personal choice.

 

DSG compared to Manual, shift.

 

- purchase price, +1550 EUR

- higher emissions CO2, +400 (next band up) **7

- harder to park (manual is very quick to move around compared to the auto stick)   **1

- more electronics to fail (chatter on motorway, wrong gear is low revs etc.) 

- heavier due to gearbox   -  not enough to make a difference

- lower petrol consumption - I think you mean 'higher'

- higher wear of tyres (Skoda garage expert)  **2 

- costly revision & maintenance at 80,000 Kms

- takes time to relearn not to drive and risk of slamming break in emergency stop  ** 3

- driver modes (Sport, Eco, Individual) less effective than on the manual (Sport revs to high - I'm told)  ** 4

- driver no longer in control and making decisions, car does it for you, sometimes when you don't want too.  **5

Main reasons for me, after a quick DSG test drive, were.  -  **6

- less interaction with the car, loss of feeling and definitely lacking fun ( man I like to dance on those peddles )

- didn't get the rally driver shift feeling that I expected in Manual mode.

- the change may be quick but just don't like the auto shift sound and feeling. mmmmm, ,,,,,,mmmmmm

 

Sounds like you are basing your opinion on a short test drive?

 

My notes added to your post:

1   not my experience, I find the opposite

2   nonsense

3   any decent driver can adapt to DSG in a few hours of driving   ('brake' not 'break' ).

     My wife had never driven an automatic before and has had no difficulty with braking.

     A skilled driver shouldn't need to do emergency stops (usually needed due to poor observation)

4   don't need Sport - use the paddles

5   usually makes the right decisions and you soon learn in what circumstances to use manual or paddles to over-ride

6   all subjective

7   what is the 400?

 

So far I have converted 2 friends to DSG by letting them drive my car for a decent length of time (both on 2½ hour journeys).

 

However, it is a personal choice and I agree that the extra cost is high (purchase, extra fuel & road fund license) if you are unsure whether it is for you. 

Only higher emissions on the diesel not the petrol

 

Regards.

T

Do we really want to criticise a member, from another country over his spelling of brake? I am amazed how well the guys from other countries get on with posting. well done guys. A lot of these observations are subjective, yes, but it is that person's opinion.

I think the 400 figure relates to taxation in France. 

Personally I have enjoyed DSG boxes in the past, but happy to go manual this time, cost, and I just fancied it, were my reasons.

Sounds like you are basing your opinion on a short test drive?

 

My notes added to your post:

1   not my experience, I find the opposite

2   nonsense

3   any decent driver can adapt to DSG in a few hours of driving   ('brake' not 'break' ).

     My wife had never driven an automatic before and has had no difficulty with braking.

     A skilled driver shouldn't need to do emergency stops (usually needed due to poor observation)

4   don't need Sport - use the paddles

5   usually makes the right decisions and you soon learn in what circumstances to use manual or paddles to over-ride

6   all subjective

7   what is the 400?

 

So far I have converted 2 friends to DSG by letting them drive my car for a decent length of time (both on 2½ hour journeys).

 

However, it is a personal choice and I agree that the extra cost is high (purchase, extra fuel & road fund license) if you are unsure whether it is for you. 

 

3. don't agree no accounting for other drivers of pedestrians will do. I drive with the awareness of a motorway cop or JCVD but I would never rule that out. Also why would it be part of a driving test if never used? Anyway a bit off subject   

5. why would you need to "over-ride" if it makes the right decisions for you? all I know is that if I want to select a gear on the motorway it will not change from Paris to Marseille unless I decide to change it - 100% in charge.

7. The 400 is for the extra 400 EUR for the DSG to move into the next band at 149 instead of 141. But maybe that's only in France. DSG is more polluting.

 

Barème du malus 2014

Moins de 130 g/km : 0€

131 à 135 g/km : 150€ (0€*)

136 à 140 g/km : 250€ (100€*)

141 à 145 g/km : 500€ (300€*) <- VRS TSI Manual

146 à 150 g/km : 900€ (400€*) <- VRS TSI DSG

151 à 155 g/km : 1600€ (1000€*)

156 à 175 g/km : 2200€ (1500€*)

176 à 180 g/km : 3000€ (2000€*)

181 à 185 g/km : 3600€ (2600€*)

186 à 190 g/km : 4000€ (3000€*)

191 à 200 g/km : 6500€ (5000€*)

A partir de 201 g/km : 8000€ (6000€*) 

 

Your're right it was based on a short test drive and I really enjoyed driving an auto Mustang in the US so may be next time - when I get old and lazy   

Edited 4 February, 201412 yr by Steveh3

Apart from the driving sensation what it really boiled down to was the extra cost of 2000 EUR (purchase price + emissions tax) - just couldn't manage that.

I bet both are fantastic to drive and thanks to Skoda we are all given the option !!  

Edited 4 February, 201412 yr by Steveh3

I've driven a few DSGs now and think they're quite nice, but I've never lived with one and wouldn't want one if I'm the one who has to pay for the maintenance of it.

You can debate this to the end of time.

 

Fact is, we like different things, buy different things and then can justify our choices based on what we wanted.

Others will always disgree.  Because they want something different.

 

I find the DSG a bit uninvolving.

And I've driven quite a few DSG cars.

 

Manuals will gradually disappear though and all cars will be auto/DSG.

Then people will buy and run older cars for fun.  To remember when you had to "drive" a car rather than get in and tell it where you want to go.

I went manual this time around mainly because:

Cheaper to buy

Cheaper to run

Feel detached from driving sometimes

Dsg makes the car nose heavy

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

I went manual this time around mainly because:

...

Dsg makes the car nose heavy

 

Umm, what? You do know where's the position of a gearbox inside a car right?

Anyone got a similar video of a DSG in action - would like to see that?

 

Me and the wife going out to the local supermarket   like you do. Watch-out for the overtaking of the French police car. like you do.

 

Edited 4 February, 201412 yr by Steveh3

Umm, what? You do know where's the position of a gearbox inside a car right?

 

In a front wheel drive it's typically at the front...

 

I'm sure it could be compensated for by removing the air con and putting the battery in the boot.  If it's that important.

 

3. don't agree no accounting for other drivers of pedestrians will do. I drive with the awareness of a motorway cop or JCVD but I would never rule that out. Also why would it be part of a driving test if never used? Anyway a bit off subject     Part of driving test because new drivers rarely have the situation awareness to avoid them as should a more experienced driver.  Not part of advanced driving tests.

5. why would you need to "over-ride" if it makes the right decisions for you? all I know is that if I want to select a gear on the motorway it will not change from Paris to Marseille unless I decide to change it - 100% in charge.  ALL automatic gearboxes can only react to what is happening now, not what is about to happen.  So, for example, when overtaking or on approaching a sharp bend using the paddles instead of waiting for the DSG to react can give the appropriate gear earlier.  This shortcoming applies to ALL autos. 

7. The 400 is for the extra 400 EUR for the DSG to move into the next band at 149 instead of 141. But maybe that's only in France. DSG is more polluting.  I didn't pick up on your French connection. My only excuse is that I was posting after midnight!

 

Barème du malus 2014

Moins de 130 g/km : 0€

131 à 135 g/km : 150€ (0€*)

136 à 140 g/km : 250€ (100€*)

141 à 145 g/km : 500€ (300€*) <- VRS TSI Manual

146 à 150 g/km : 900€ (400€*) <- VRS TSI DSG

151 à 155 g/km : 1600€ (1000€*)

156 à 175 g/km : 2200€ (1500€*)

176 à 180 g/km : 3000€ (2000€*)

181 à 185 g/km : 3600€ (2600€*)

186 à 190 g/km : 4000€ (3000€*)

191 à 200 g/km : 6500€ (5000€*)

A partir de 201 g/km : 8000€ (6000€*) 

 

Your're right it was based on a short test drive and I really enjoyed driving an auto Mustang in the US so may be next time - when I get old and lazy   

 

Comments above.   I apologise for the joke about your spelling of brake (that particular mis-spelling is also made by English posters who should know better).  Your spelling is excellent for some-one who's first language isn't English.

Traditional torque converter gearboxes are getting so good now that Id question whether DSG has a long term future in low end mass produced cars.

People get up in arms when DSG is knocked as a technology, in many ways it is good but it plain and simple is not and never will be as smooth as the best torque converter autos, particularly those that now offer better performance and efficiency over their manual counterparts along with DSG'esque fast shifts. Anyone who says otherwise has never driven or been in a new car with such a gearbox.

I'm on my 2nd DSG and certainly until such time that the tech actually does serve to produce a quicker car with better efficiency (im talking the 6 speed box only....i.e the only box VAG will currently fit to the 220 TSi and 150/184 TDi engines) it'll be my last. Certainly not paying over £1000 for the privilege.

I like my current DSG for times where im feeling lazy and just want to cruise about but find that it hampers the driving experience more often than not when I want to push on....in such circumstances id rather be shifting my own gears. Having test driven and purchased a manual O3 recently it was eye opening how good the gearshift and clutch action is on these cars; one of the first cars ive driven in a long while where changing gear was actually an enjoyable experience rather than a means to an end.

It is all a matter of opinion though. Id have probably had DSG again if like the 7 speed it came with some side efficiency benefits but its about time VAG dropped the DQ250 box and offered something a little more modern in its place.....they've done so for the Tiguan and various Audi models so dont understand why they dont just do it across the board.

Do we really want to criticise a member, from another country over his spelling of brake? I am amazed how well the guys from other countries get on with posting. well done guys. A lot of these observations are subjective, yes, but it is that person's opinion.

I think the 400 figure relates to taxation in France. 

Personally I have enjoyed DSG boxes in the past, but happy to go manual this time, cost, and I just fancied it, were my reasons.

Yes give us a brake - opps did it again  :p

Edited 4 February, 201412 yr by Steveh3

Couldn't agree more with the comments about the manual gearbox, an absolute joy, smooth as you like.

Mind you ive come from a Captiva manual, a more agricultural gearbox you will not find.

Anyone got a similar video of a DSG in action - would like to see that?

 

 

DSG is not programmed for use on a race track but for the public road.  I have driven an Audi A3 with DSG on a short circuit (my 2-litre Civic only needed 2nd and 3rd gears for the whole circuit with speed varying from 40 to 90mph).  After one lap in Sports mode I selected Manual and used the paddles.  I could then change gear AND keep both hands on the steering wheel - can't do that with a manual gearbox!

 

I think a friend has a video of a couple of laps of Castle Combe in his A3 + DSG using Sports mode.  I'll ask him and post it up here for you if possible.

Horses for courses - going DSG on the 1.4 drops the CO2 figure...

Horses for courses - going DSG on the 1.4 drops the CO2 figure...

I wonder why is only different in the 1.4 - weird.

I wonder why is only different in the 1.4 - weird.

 

Maybe the VRS still gets the older and less efficient 6 speed DSG box.

1.4 uses the dry clutch box and the vRS the wet clutch box?

 

BoosFox beat me to it..

In some ways I regret not going for DSG, and then I remember my three main reasons for choosing manual transmission.

1. My wife hates auto's and has crashed every one she has driven (really). I simply couldn't trust her with another.

2. I save £1200 and get a slightly more efficient car (VRS TSI).

3. There is more interaction and feeling/feedback with a manual. I moved from a 320D auto which always lacked that connection, even if the handling was very very good. It is hard to put into words but Auto's feel like having sex wearing a condom vs manual feeling more bareback.

 

But I do appreciate that DSG allows for faster progress (especially from zero) and is more relaxing to drive.

Have to agree with most of the above. The modern DSG boxes are indeed very good, very relaxing to drive and I've used them quite a bit ..... but I could never imagine wanting one in my personal car.

The cost of the gearbox and differences in efficiency don't really matter much in the end, ultimately it's purely a personal preference - how much do you want to feel in control of the car and how much do you want to leave to the "engineers". I feel just that little bit more like a passenger behind the wheel with an automatic.

 

Got my new 1.4 Octy last week and went on a skiing trip last weekend. While "kicking the tyres" of my new motor, my friends indeed gave me the comment "it's a nice car.... but would've gone for the automatic".

I was tempted to go for a DSG given that a lot of the time I sit in traffic and having an auto would be great.

 

However I was put off by the fact that I would lose (on average) 5MPG and be in a high tax bracket, and have to fork over an extra £1500 approx for the privilege.

 

Plus i like the feeling of being in complete (as much as you can be with modern cars) control of the car.

 It is hard to put into words but Auto's feel like having sex wearing a condom vs manual feeling more bareback.

But from who's perspective? I'll ask the wife as she has an 'auto box'