Background. I have spent the day helping my F-I-L with house clearance. My companion for the day was an ancient 2003 Ford Connect 1800 tdci in well used condition with a 3.5*2 metre single axle 100km rated braked trailer (much bigger than a camping trailer, but short of the full Ifor Williams axle construction plant haul trailers). It was my first experience towing anything of size. 

 

In summary, to drive, this combination was terrible, and it was mostly the Ford's fault. The gearbox was worn, stiff & vague, the clutch heavy & high, the engine was gutless, with little boost assistance, felt laboured with anything other than empty, there was a whine coming from the transmission under load and the vans rear tires were IMO, (not FILs) badly under inflated for towing, so the loaded trailer made the rear of the Ford bounce like a concertina over dips, potholes and ridges. The banter, weather, use of free vehicle, and Czech beer were wonderful, the 200 kms of driving, not so much.   :no:

 

Why am I writing this on your Skoda Forum? I have a new Octavia Petrol VRS DSG Estate on order. It will be my first DSG, having only owned manual cars previously, principally at the request of SWMBO, because she has developed hip problems. I have a tow bar ordered primarily for a rear bike carrier, but do plan to occasionally use the car to haul the same trailer I was using this weekend for furniture removal/ family assistance etc.

 

Can anyone offer insight on how they got on with a car similar in engine/transmission to my new steed. I know the Octavia VRS isn't exactly the model designated for towing, but it'll be my only car for 10 years, and I need it to be versatile as well as fun. High speed stability, braking performance, petrol-DSG tow performance, bad experiences etc.

 

I test drove the DSG in a diesel Superb and on the open road/ in traffic, it was great. My concern/ what I didn't get to test is confined space/ precision parking. I/OH will need to have enough control to park in a flat level garage with flat level approach less than 20cm longer than the car wall-to-door without scraping it, and in addition, precision reversing  aforementioned trailer over soft ground up a slight incline, every so often into FIL's garden. I'm going to carpet line the garage/ mark out some reference lines but i really don't want to crunch it through lack of transmission control. Its my first new car. Will it just creep if I release the footbrake only/ no throttle. Can this approach be executed as smoothly as a clutch and throttle pedal. If you need gas, presumably, there will be a fair amount of clutch slip on the DSG for low speed manoeuvres like this. Should i be thinking about changing to manual for towing with this car?

 

Probably sound like a newbie, because I am. Happy to be redirected if in wrong part of forum. All advice welcome/ greatly fully received. Essay over.

 

 

In the Caravan Club magazine Towcar of the Year results VAG DSG-equipped cars have done well. A Skoda Superb with the  DSG gearbox has been an outright winner  in the past. 

 

Lots of info. here - http://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/tow-car

In the Caravan Club magazine Towcar of the Year results VAG DSG-equipped cars have done well. A Skoda Superb with the  DSG gearbox has been an outright winner  in the past. 

 

Lots of info. here - http://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/tow-car

Thanks for the link. Specifically, i'm looking for experiences of VRS petrol DSG towing performance, AND precision maneuverability. There was a sparsely written tow review of a manual Diesel Scout, but didn't glean much from this

Sorry that site wasn't of more help.

 

I have a vRS CD DSG and often reverse up a friend's steep drive and then a right-angle turn through a narrow gap between his garage and hedge.  Never had a problem - in fact I find it easier than in my wife's manual 1.2T Clio (but that could just be more familiarity with my vRS).

 

The only problem that I have with my DSG is a reluctance to start off in reverse after standing for a while (more than a day).  Easily overcome by first moving a few inches forwards in D or just select R and wait for a few seconds before moving.