I thought I would like to change to a vrs with the dsg , is the tdi better suited to the dsg or manual ??

Some people will tell you the diesel engine doesn't suit the DSG, I have had 2 o3s now, both 150CR DSG and I love it!

I enjoy my DSG very much but to be honest I didn't have a choice!

I like the TDI DSG vRS, but I only got it DSG as it is the long haul machine (and the fact my Mrs last car was a 6-speed manual, but 5/6th were apparently surplus to her requirements!).

I'd have likely gone for the TSI Manual if it was a daily driver for me.

 

In my world if you do enough miles to necessitate a TDI, why not make those miles as relaxing as possible.

If you can, drive them both back to back.  I didn't warm to the offset pedals in the manual.  The DSG ones are also offset but less of a problem IMO. 

I adore the DSG in my vRS tdi. I spend lots of time in traffic, so it's worth it's weight in gold.

Only criticism is pulling away from a halt with any sort of purpose results in wheel spin, or thumping through the drivetrain. The minute you are rolling, you can floor it, and she goes like a rocket.

Economy is a couple of mpg less than the manual from the figures I see on here.

I now dislike driving my other manual car. All my cars will be auto in future.

I feel that a car of this nature (even though this is not the faster TSI version) is nicer when driven manually. I have tried the DSG and I have driven many auto shifters in my life but it just feels better.

In any case, the only automatic gearbox actually better than DIY is BMW's, and I don't even like that one (because it's still not capable of thinking with you instead of reacting to your throttle input).

I wouldnt want to back to a manual now after 2 DSG cars as its so effortless but I would recommend getting the paddle shift on the steering wheel which gives you a semi manual mode if you want it.

I like to do the driving in my cars so manual for me, and you also get better mpg and £30 road tax.  The gear change in the manual is a smooth one not notchy like Bmw diesel manuals. I tried the DSG's but thought they suited the bigger superb rather than the more spritely VRS.    

Edited 6 January, 201511 yr by jimmyp2

Further to my above post, I would add that if you do a lot of city driving in rush hours I can see the attraction of the DSG, however I don't so manual all the way!!

Its v much a case of trying both on an extended basis and seeing what you prefer/would rather live with.

Ive had two DSG equipped cars one 1.4 twincharger turbo petrol the other a 170 CR, now have a manual 150 CR and have to say other than the manual being a bit more work to drive (as the DSG does on the most part drive itself) I prefer the manual.

If you want to drive your car, go for the manual, if you want to travel in it, go for the DSG.

I moved from a 3-Series Auto to a VRS Manual. At first I loved the Manual yet after a year (and when stuck in traffic) I do miss the old self-shifter. Still not sure whether I made the correct decision, but I did save £1400 to spend elsewhere.

Manuel (sic) the whole way, que?? (especially if you're from Barcelona....)

This is my first tdi dsg and won't go back to a manual. Effortless driving.

It's very much down to personal preference.

 

I have heard some saying that the DSG doesn't pair well with TDI engines but I honestly don't agree.

 

The DSG on a TDI allows for effortless cruising about town with only minimal throttle input required to move and the box changing at exactly the right point.

 

The one criticism I do have about DSG on a diesel is that unless using manual mode there is no way to use full throttle without the engine revving right out which is a little pointless in a diesel even with the newer CR engines.

 

Just try both a manual and DSG and pick the one you like best. Get a proper test drive and drive where you want how you want... don't let the salesman dictate! lol

 

Phil

+1 for the max revs shifting, I always pull the paddle early.


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This is my first tdi dsg and won't go back to a manual. Effortless driving.

 

This is the problem with DSG/ Auto boxes, if you want effortless driving they cannot be beat, however if you want to actually drive a car a good manual box cannot be beaten.

It's very much down to personal preference.

I have heard some saying that the DSG doesn't pair well with TDI engines but I honestly don't agree.

The DSG on a TDI allows for effortless cruising about town with only minimal throttle input required to move and the box changing at exactly the right point.

The one criticism I do have about DSG on a diesel is that unless using manual mode there is no way to use full throttle without the engine revving right out which is a little pointless in a diesel even with the newer CR engines.

Just try both a manual and DSG and pick the one you like best. Get a proper test drive and drive where you want how you want... don't let the salesman dictate! lol

Phil

One thing I didnt like with my CR DSG was that there was some initial lethargacy on standing starts particularly in D, compounded by some very minor low rev inertia/turbo lag; on the most part the box also providing an element of clutch slip to smooth pulling away. I did find it unnerving that quite often when having to perform quick off the mark acceleration that there was noticeable delay and it put me in harms way a couple of times.

I found that often to do so required a firm stab of the throttle, timed a few split seconds before I actually needed the go but it was difficult to master....quite often it resulted in nothing then everything power delivery, wheelspin and all, also in order to smooth out the change into 2nd gear it would often delay the change so it could be rev matched....again in theory makes sense but in practise just further hampered progress.

Because you have full clutch control in a manual car it IMHO does not suffer any where near as badly as you can drive around the lethargacy by using a sensible amount of throttle and clutch slip to overcome any lag.

I acknowledge though that on the move DSG is on the whole very nice and smooth; the shifts are v quick and satisfying and in somw circumstances in manual mode it could be fun. Came into its own on a long journey for sure. That said and done I dont think DSG provides such an enjoyable driving experience over shifting your own cogs as you're always that bit detached from the experience.

The manual boxes in the O3 are also very nice in their shift action, the bigger output TDI's (vRS particularly) having enough torque to make having to swap cogs a less frequent activity anyway.

The TDI does not suit the DSG engine in the same way that a TSI engine does.

 

Very smooth and easy to use in town but uses more fuel, revs higher and drive mode selection is a joke with a TDI DSG.

 

If you were going for a 150TDI then it's a different kettle of fish to going for a 184VRS.  I assume you want a VRS for the performance and if so the manual gearbox is better.

 

Try both back to back, if a dealer won't let you do that then find another one that will and make your own mind up.

 

I'm never having a TDI with DSG again.

As many have said it is all about personal preference and also factoring in the kind of driving you do. Because of tendanitis in my left knee I have auto's by choice for my last 3 cars so DSG was the only choice for me. I do miss a manual when doing the cross country blast, I had a 3 series m-sport manual for 6 months while waiting for my VRS which was fun to drive but not for my knee.

Prior to that I had an F10 520d auto which, IMO, is one of the best auto's on the market and the DSG cannot hold a candle to that. The DSG is a good all-rounder but I think it needs another couple of ratios and due to the narrow torque band in the diesel I find that you get a lot of wheelspin in anything other than very dry roads. The manual would help flatten this with more even throttle control.

The sport setting is laughable through the mode selector as it holds the revs way too high for a diesel, the gearbox switch to sport is fine when you want to overtake etc. hardly ever use the paddles, probably more suited to the TSI engine.

Best to test drive both and make your own mind up.

Yes something i have never quite understood is why the sports mode allows revs right up to the soft limiter before changing.

In fact why have a 5k+ red line at all? Its all done at about 4k rpm anyway so why not just set the limit around there. Would certainly prevent the real lack of puff the engines develop when over-revved.

It depends if u feel the need to be 'in control'. If you are buying basic transport and wish to avoid the hassle of using a clutch especially in stop start traffic then why bother with the manual. To cruise around in the Dsg is ideal for its design, I guess on a race track it would be hopeless.

Also it comes down to cost. Dsg adds more cost to the car price.

And if you really need to be in control and want a driving car then buy second hand porsche or a BMW (with manual gearboxes), much more fun!

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by octavianestate

It depends if u feel the need to be 'in control'. If you are buying basic transport and wish to avoid the hassle of using a clutch especially in stop start traffic then why bother with the manual. To cruise around in the Dsg is ideal for its design, I guess on a race track it would be hopeless.

Also it comes down to cost. Dsg adds more cost to the car price.

And if you really need to be in control and want a driving car then buy second hand porsche or a BMW (with manual gearboxes), much more fun!

 

Mmmm...bit OT, but second hand Porsche+intermediate shaft issue = £7K's worth of fun. Guaranteed.

Mmmm...bit OT, but second hand Porsche+intermediate shaft issue = £7K's worth of fun. Guaranteed.

 

Yes but the IMS issue is not guaranteed, buy the right model or the upgrade bearing, like you say O/T!!