Read a similar thread on the Golf R forum but what do DSG owners do at traffic lights?

 

1. Leave it in D and hold on the brakes for short stops.
2. Put into neutral and back into D as the lights change for longer stops.
3. 1 all the time.

One argument raised was that the clutch pack could wear prematurely if held on the brakes all the time and, from what I've experienced, you can 'feel' the mechatronics bringing the cluth to biting point unless you depress the brake more and it 'backs them off'.

 

Hmm?

I always put the box into neutral and use the Handbrake. Stops blinding the car behind with brake lights and I notice the revs drop slightly. If you leave it in Drive the revs are a bit higher and I'm thinking the clutch will be engaged so it won't do it much good.

 

If I'm stopped for a while i.e. Railway crossing I usually use " P " and the handbrake.

2. Put the vehicle into neutral and back into gear for all but the shortest stops.

 

I have done this on all manual and automatic gearbox vehicles I have driven since I first learned to drive.

Edited 2 April, 201412 yr by vxh26

Had exactly the same chat with my brother not so long back as we both had DSG/auto's.  He's always put his into N at any stops.  As I'd learnt to drive auto's in the US that were mainly hire cars, I never had to be honest, as my relatives over there don't either.  Now it's my own car again, unless its a short traffic light change, then I do take it out of D to save the wear.

I have the impression that if you depress the brake pedal firmly for a couple of seconds while stationary, it disengages the clutch as if it was in Neutral. You can certainly feel something happening, a mechanical noise when you first depress it (clutch disengage) and another one when you take your foot off it, when (I assume) it re-engages 1st gear, all while maxidot shows D1. So this is what I do at short traffic lights.

 

Longer ones, I just stick it in P if the road is relatively horizontal, or N+handbrake for steeper ones. 

What are thoughts on putting it on P and the car then rolling back or forward until it is stopped by the gear without using the handbrake, is this ok? It seems a little stiffer to bring it back out of P and it makes a little clunk when the car moves and then is stopped on the gear.

I leave it in D. It makes for swifter reaction in emergency. You get the revs dropping after you have paused for a few seconds. Further reading here: http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f149/put-dsg-into-neutral-lights-83005.html

 

I also only use one foot for braking and accelerating, but that's another story.

Edited 2 April, 201412 yr by OzFabia

HHC

  'Hill hold Control'   (when you have it, and the vRS does as standard)

You are stopped in 'D' you press the Brake Pedal and it holds a few seconds after your foot comes off the brake pedal and stops it rolling back as you go to the throttle.

'Allows for safe hill starts', as Skoda tell you in the bumff.

 

Stopped at lights etc,

The UK Highway code tells you not to sit with your foot on the foot brake for extended time,

you are shining 3 brakes lights at those behind.

(high level brake light in the eyes of M/Cycle riders and van drivers maybe)

 

'N' & hand brake works good on the flat or slight inclines. (rear wheels braked)

 

'P' has locked your Gearbox/ Drive Wheels. (Fabia front wheels.)

Then you are coming back through 'R' & 'N' to get to 'D',  

up to the driver, if that is what they want to do.

 

george

 

PS

With the DSG, if you are on the accelerator and the brake pedal at the same time,

2 feet being used, or that sporty action, (Heel/Toeing)

not only do the brakes come on, the power is cut from the engine, so not so sporty.

I'll be honest I just stick it in N and use the foot brake always. I understand this can be irritating to people behind me, but;

 

If you use the handbrake you then have to apply the foot brake to get back into D, right? Or am i being stupid.

& is that lots of effort, ?

Go from 'N' to 'D', foot on to Brake pedal, HHC activated,  hand brake off, drive off.

 

Like i said, the Highway Code tells you about Stopping stationary for longer stops,

apply hand brake, foot off brake pedal.

 

Personally, if you want your foot on Brake and Brake lights shining at me behind you in the rain and the likes.

Same with those with Rear Fogs on sitting with a vehicle right behind them.

I put on full beam and keep them on if no cars are coming towards us.

You can just have my lights shining at your rear view mirror.

 

Childish, but then i am.

 

I did this once to a Police Volvo sitting in front of me at roadworks.

The Big Volvo with the long lines of tail/brake lights down both sides,

He got out and asked what i was doing dazzling him,

and i asked if that was Police Training or Highway Code he was following 

Sitting Foot on the Brake Pedal.

I asked where my lights shining at the back of his vehicle were worse than what he was shining direct

in my eyes while we had been sitting waiting for the Convoy to start moving.

I think he got the point.

They are also called "stop lights", so if I am stopped, then I would like you (person behind me) to know I am stopped. This means also that I have a (slightly) better chance of escaping if you are the kind of driver who cannot see a stop light, let alone a stopped car without noticeable warning.

 

How long is an "extended time" anyway? Most traffic light changes would be less than two minutes, at least here in Oz. We drive lots of automatics here (70-80% of cars on the road), and have lots of dozy drivers who would be likely to Liberace someone without visible stop/brake lights.

Edited 2 April, 201412 yr by OzFabia

Well you're right, it doesn't take much effort, it might just be me but feels like a bit of an a**e about face way of getting the car moving IMO. I'm actually going to make a conscious effort on my next trip out to use the handbrake and see how i get on..

Most common warped brake discs.

 

eg,

Spirited driving, out nipping on and having fun,

You come around a corner and there are road works,temp  traffic lights,  and an extended stop.

 

Sitting waiting, holding on the foot brake with max temp brakes, or pulling on the hand brake.

Is not a smart idea.

 

That is a good time to use 'P' Park', and use the Gear box to lock the drive wheels

and let your brakes/pads cool down.

Saves warping brake discs and cooking pads.

 

In a manual box car, just light on the hand brake enough to hold,

the rear discs are possibly not as hot as the front discs anyway.

. In a manual box car, just light on the hand brake enough to hold,the rear discs are possibly not as hot as the front discs anyway.

So that would be the same for a DSG then. The type of gearbox makes no difference to the brake ratio.

Personally, depends on the circumstances. Last car in the queue, foot brake on till the car behind stops, then into N.

Stopping for a reasonable time with a car already behind, stop then into N straight away.

It only takes a brief moment to select D from there. Is everybody in such a rush that they can't wait that long?

A manual gearbox 'in Neutral' has no 'Park' or locked diffs.

Its got open diffs, and needs brakes on to stop it rolling.

So foot or hand brake.

 

A DSG or an Autobox is P is nothing to do with ratios. Or Brake Bias front, rear heat of brakes.

It has a pawl, it is locked, the drive wheels are locked.

It is the gearbox locked, not Brakes on.

so Your car can sit there and you do not need to use the rear brakes unless you want.

Let them coll down.

 

Why when parked in 'P' on a slope, your advised to

Put on the Hand Brake to move the lever from P to D.

Short stops, then foot brake (clutch is disenagaged)

Long stops, then neurtal and hand brake.

 

Just dont put the hand brake on whilst in D as the clutch is still engaged and it will be trying to creep forward.

I teach people to drive in it, and its quite simple....

 

1) for short stops, i.e. anticipating a change in lights, roundabout ect leave in D and hold on brake.

2) for longer stops, put in N and put handbrake on

3) for parking, use park.

 

simples.

& at the end of a track session.

Is it,

Cooling down lap,  stop, in 'P'  engine left running a few minutes, bonnet open.

 Best not sit with foot on brake pedal or hand brake on.

 

Or stop, in P, engine off, hand brake on.

Let the engine have the pump cool it down ?

first one George! lol... always leave it running, for at least 5 minutes if not longer, in Park, definatley NO handbrake!!!!#

 

and the cooling down lap, mainly for the brakes

first one George! lol... always leave it running, for at least 5 minutes if not longer, in Park, definatley NO handbrake!!!!#

 

and the cooling down lap, mainly for the brakes

 

.......and to let all the Mk1's catch him up

nevr mind....lol (deleted comment)

nevr mind....lol (deleted comment)

 

Haha, we can only guess.

its nice to be able to think AFTER you have spoken, and take it back! lol....

I generally leave it in D unless I know I will be stopped for a reasonable amount of time. I try to use N sometimes, but still use the footbrake as I have been embarrassed a few times by forgetting I have done it, pressing the accelerator and revving the engine whilst going nowhere...! (or backwards!) Then it's back on the brake again, into D, red face and off with a lurch as I then stamp on the pedal to get away!!! (but that's just me being absent-minded).

If stopping for a short time I will stay in D and use the foot brake

I always thought the whole idea of using the handbrake for longer stops is in case someone rear ends you while stationary.The shock would make your feet leave the pedals and so you then roll into the car in front

I use neutral and handbrake for longer stops

Used to use park but wondered if it flashes your reversing lights on the way from D to P (and back again)

Maybe scare people behind you?