Don't you think it tells you to change up a gear far too soon ?

What driving mode are you in?  That will make a difference...

 

And don't forget, these things are there to aid you in efficient driving, not quick driving.

Don't use ,just my ears for listening to the sweet note of the motor,that will do for me.

 

Still average 36 mpg in the normal weekly mix of roads ,better on a run about 39.5 mpg.

I am in Normal and Eco modes,and do not use it as driving aid,but if anyone took notice of it surely the car would be labouring.

Whilst we are on this subject, why does the indicator not advise you when to change down a gear? mine only seems to advise change up.

Mine indicates both up and down, only had it a week, think it's still in normal mode

Mine also tells when to change UP only

Yes mine indicates both up and down.

Mine tells me both up and down, on a colour maxidot

Mine only tells me up, just rolled upto some traffic lights in 4th to test it, if I hadn't dipped the clutch it would have stalled.

I ignore it anyway as all it wants to do is drive in the highest gear, labour the engine and increase fuel consumption.

Is this on the DGS ?, not sure I've ever seen it.

It tells me to shift down, but only occasionally; mostly I see it suggesting 2 -> 1. I think it only happens when you try to accelerate, so if you are just rolling to a stop in 4th, it will not indicate a downshift. But if you then try to plant it and the engine understandably struggles, it will recommend a downshift.

 

On another matter - I have manual 1.4 TSi. Has anyone noticed that sometimes when say waiting at the lights, you put clutch in to move from neutral to 1st, and the engine "blips" a little bit? Say to 1200 rpm, and then back to idle, without any input from accelerator? It doesn't do it every time which may mean that I haven't quite got the sequence of events right (I think it requires a shift from neutral, or maybe not). Or is it something to do with hill assist? I don't think I only see it on slopes.

Up and down, throttle closed downhill rolling often shows change down, as it does too when going too slow for the gear, it never tells me to change up when it would cause the engine to labour.

Is this on the DGS ?, not sure I've ever seen it.

 

If you drive in "manual" mode, yes it is. Not in automatic, obviously. Have only seen upward suggestions, though I haven't used manual mode often so that's probably why.

It tells me to shift down, but only occasionally; mostly I see it suggesting 2 -> 1. I think it only happens when you try to accelerate, so if you are just rolling to a stop in 4th, it will not indicate a downshift. But if you then try to plant it and the engine understandably struggles, it will recommend a downshift.

 

I also see this quite often when using ACC & the car in-front slows down such that the RPM is too low in the current gear, the display shows 6->5 of 5->4.

 

As Treendale said, when you are not injecting any fuel (not pressing the accelerator or using cruise) then it will not give any gear suggesting (because there is no real economy benefit in changing gear).

 

I actually think the geat shift indication on the TDI is very good.

Sometimes, you think that it recommends shifting a little bit early, however, when you look at the instantaneous consumption on the maxidot, there is a reduction when shifting to the recommended gear.

 

 

I actually think the geat shift indication on the TDI is very good.

Sometimes, you think that it recommends shifting a little bit early, however, when you look at the instantaneous consumption on the maxidot, there is a reduction when shifting to the recommended gear.

 

I also tested this yesterday, had cruise on doing 40mph in 4th on a flatish road, instantaneous was showing around 70mpg but the gear indicator was asking me to select 5th so i gave it a go, revs dropped to around 1300rpm and i could feel the engine labouring, instantaneous was should around 40mpg.

I also tested this yesterday, had cruise on doing 40mph in 4th on a flatish road, instantaneous was showing around 70mpg but the gear indicator was asking me to select 5th so i gave it a go, revs dropped to around 1300rpm and i could feel the engine labouring, instantaneous was should around 40mpg.

I don't know about the CR tdis but are you sure its labouring not just off boost? My pd140 Passat wouldnt labour above 1200rpm, wouldn't really accelerate much until it had built the rpm to 1700 then whack it would take off, but definitely wouldn't labour. No gear indicator there though. When my tsi vrs tells me to change up revs will normally drop to 1500 or so which is 200rpm bellow when you start to feel the boost pressure build, although if I'm cruising at a steady speed it might have me select a higher gear still. If I follow the shift indicator I can get over 40mpg so I'm guessing its not far wrong but its too much fun to follow it most of the time

I think it's great, and I think I've set it on eco mode. Did a 100 mile run the day before and averaged 57 mpg! 

I also tested this yesterday, had cruise on doing 40mph in 4th on a flatish road, instantaneous was showing around 70mpg but the gear indicator was asking me to select 5th so i gave it a go, revs dropped to around 1300rpm and i could feel the engine labouring, instantaneous was should around 40mpg.

 

I tried this a few times going home & to work this morning (although there's not too many places where I drive at this low speed as its pretty much all highway).

In most of the cases, running at ~65kph in 4th (usually around 5.5l/100km-55mpg), recommends changing to 5th, so then in 5th at the same speed consumption shows 4.5l/100km-62mpg.

Sometimes, after changing gear the vehicle speed has dropped a bit so I need to accelerate a little first to get back to the same speed.

 

After changing gear, it does take a few seconds for the boost to build back up (as V6Jules suggested) but afterwards it feels to me like the right gear to cruise in.

 

It does, however, make it more suceptable to changes in load, so when the road gradient increases slightly the RPM drops quickly & 4th gear would probably be better in this situation.

 

 

What I did notice whilst playing with this feature last night was it is only activated in "steady-state"/cruising conditions.

If I let the engine run in idle-drive at 1000rpm & then plant the accelerator pedal it doesnt suggest that I change to 2nd or 3rd.

Edited 20 May, 201412 yr by Gabbo

I've also noticed if I'm driving it harder it won't tell me to change up until I let off the accelerator a bit. It seems fairly clever and not just a simple hit this rpm and change up system.

What with gear change indicators, lane departure warnings multiple menus and information screens available...does anyone actually look at the road ahead anymore?

I've also noticed if I'm driving it harder it won't tell me to change up until I let off the accelerator a bit. It seems fairly clever and not just a simple hit this rpm and change up system.

 

Yep, it does take account your driving - I've seen it suggest a change up, and then if you accellerate it vanishes.

It's obviously not hill-aware, and does sometimes suggest an upshift a little early for my liking but on the whole it's a decent system.

What with gear change indicators, lane departure warnings multiple menus and information screens available...does anyone actually look at the road ahead anymore?

I know what you mean but they are just there to make your life easier. Most systems just advise which is fine by me.

I still prefer driving classic cars as they are far more rewarding as you have to be more focused however for daily driving why shouldn't we have a bit of luxury :-)

If you drive in "manual" mode, yes it is. Not in automatic, obviously. Have only seen upward suggestions, though I haven't used manual mode often so that's probably why.

No haven't seen that either BTW why do they call it manual mode ? I have found when it hits the redline it changes up on its own !