If its a diesel, who cares, you didn't buy it for pleasure. Petrol, manual. 

I discovered today the "2 stage accelerator" now I've gone over 1,000 miles. Put foot on floor it takes off and revs to 3,000, push even harder and it goes past a stop and really is on the floor reving to 4,000.

 

It's called the kickdown switch, and it's something all automatic cars have.  

If its a diesel, who cares, you didn't buy it for pleasure. Petrol, manual. 

 

I wonder if you'd still say that after a Mk2 vRS DSG diesel had just mugged you at the traffic lights 

If its a diesel, who cares, you didn't buy it for pleasure. Petrol, manual. 

 

Try a big german car with a big german diesel in it and ask that again. A BMW 535d is a thing of beauty, for instance. Floor it and it goes, without any unncessary drama. 

How many of these manual lovers are in the wrong gear at the wrong time, and would never admit it. With the dsg you just play with you right foot .

How many of these manual lovers are in the wrong gear at the wrong time, and would never admit it. With the dsg you just play with you right foot .

But that's why I love a manual. I've been taught to drive properly and am always in the right gear as I anticipate far ahead. Therefore, for me, a manual is a far more involving and rewarding drive. However, I live in the South West so congestion isn't a problem. If I lived elsewhere I might consider a DSG.

But that's why I love a manual. I've been taught to drive properly and am always in the right gear as I anticipate far ahead. Therefore, for me, a manual is a far more involving and rewarding drive. However, I live in the South West so congestion isn't a problem. If I lived elsewhere I might consider a DSG.

 

If I lived in an area with actual congestion I'd get a proper automatic, not a DSG. At least not a dry-clutch DSG7.

 

But I've driven automatic for so many years already that I shift gears using my right foot, so to speak. I know how to prod the throttle to get the transmission to be in the right gear when I need it to. I have to admit though that it's harder to do with the DSG7 because it has so many gears, and because it does a better job on its own. With my old 4-speed Volvos it was a lot easier, and at first (after coming from manual) I used to lift off the throttle slightly to get it to change up when I wanted to. I don't do that anymore. 

 

Come to think of it, "prod the throttle to get the transmission to be in the right gear" is the wrong word for the Skoda. I just place an order for speed using the pedal on the right, the transmission finds a gear and the engine applies as much throttle as needed.

Try a big german car with a big german diesel in it and ask that again. A BMW 535d is a thing of beauty, for instance. Floor it and it goes, without any unncessary drama. 

 

You still don't buy a 535d for pleasure of driving though.

But that's why I love a manual. I've been taught to drive properly and am always in the right gear as I anticipate far ahead. Therefore, for me, a manual is a far more involving and rewarding drive. However, I live in the South West so congestion isn't a problem. If I lived elsewhere I might consider a DSG.

 

I think that has a lot to do with everyones choice of gearbox.

 

I've always preferred manual cars and in fact really dislike auto's but as my driving style is changing I am finding the dsg option more appealing.

 

Still cant see it performing well in proper winter snowy weather. That's another concern of mine having driven auto's in the snow before.

But that's why I love a manual. I've been taught to drive properly and am always in the right gear as I anticipate far ahead. Therefore, for me, a manual is a far more involving and rewarding drive. However, I live in the South West so congestion isn't a problem. If I lived elsewhere I might consider a DSG.

 

 

You sound like you must be the greatest driver in the world! "always in the right gear" nobody is "always" in the right gear.

Still cant see it performing well in proper winter snowy weather. That's another concern of mine having driven auto's in the snow before.

That was one of my concerns with an auto, i wasnt keen on a standard dumb box, but this car, along with manual mode with paddle shifters, has got a proper offroad mode that does loads of things with the gearbox, throttle, diffs and brakes. I'm looking forward to giving it a good workout on the hills here, with winter tyres on of course.

Ok, my car history is littered with various performance manuals - three 205GTI's (2x1.6's & a. 1.9), VW Golf GTI, Celica GT4 Carlos Sainz, MR2 GT, Ford Puma 1.7, VW Golf GTD & BMW 118D Coupe - and the best car is my first automatic 2010 vRS DSG. Admittedly it's had a Shark Performance stage 1 re-map so comes with a big extra oomph but it's all I need in car. Truly excellent!!! Was looking to sell it some months ago to buy SWMBO 2011 Cooper S which was going back on a PCP so had the option to buy it - I'm so so glad I didn't. She's got the new version Cooper S and it's a significant improvement over her old version.

I cannot praise the vRs diesel/DSG combo enough but............................................

A re-map is THE game-changer.

You sound like you must be the greatest driver in the world! "always in the right gear" nobody is "always" in the right gear.

That's not the way I intended it to sound, but my job dictates that I do intense driving courses. I therefore am in the correct gear the majority of the time. Decent driving is all about planning ahead and looking forward way further than I used to prior to my training.