Erm, when pootling out the good flat straight almost level road home, with a warm engine, it was immoderately entertaining to merely floor the pedal and watch the gears drop from 7th to 4th(not sure I ever saw 3rd, since a few year ago) with the revs rapidly rising to 4000, or slightly beyond, and repeating instanteanously.

btw

In these "kick down" conditions  staying in "D" or switching to "S" made ABSOLUTLY no difference.

I checked, n checked n checked n checkec n checked

"S" merely holds higher revs in each gear, say for a twisty bit of road, or to give the impression of going faster, by dint of higher revs.

marcus

I don't think I've used the kick-down switch, in "S" it's quick enough to be embarrassing, especially in the Superb.

Longer wheel-base= less weight on the front wheels, = axle-tramp, very noisy & not too productive. Much better to get the car rolling & then open wide..... Same with the EOS, it's heavier to star with & if the roof is folded back into the boot

the C of G is lower, but there's more weight on the rear axle.

SWMBO's Octy is the quickest off the line, as you might expect, 'cos it's lighter, & has a little more power than the others. (257 bhp versus 250 & 249, +, & of course more torque

as well, varying from 280 ft. lbs. down to 265 ft.lbs.)  AMD Technik rules......

 

To get back to the OP's question, I've driven 4 different Skoda's with the 1.6 TDi / manual 5-speed & felt that it's the wrong choice unless you feel that fuel consumption is a real issue.

We've also driven a Yeti, 2.0 TDi 140 ps with the 6-speed DSG & although a Yeti isn't for use, the combination was easy to live with & very suitable for the job.

Given the choice between a wide ratio 5-speed manual or a close-ration 7-speed auto with the 1.6 diesel I'd go for the auto, it would transform the driving experience from barely acceptable to "quite pleasant".

 

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

DC 

 

DC

Old Newbie,

By kick down, I meant "mashing the pedal" which in a TA Autobox will cause the transmission to drop gears, anyway to my preception, it has the same effect in the DSG transmission, which with the standard-fit traction control, produces virtually no wheel spin or axle tramp, a brief "chirrup" and one is away.

Quite a brainless operation requiring zero fine motor control cept to keep the steering wheel pointing in the correct direction.

And, as far as I can subjectively analize, makes NO difference whether in "D" or "S", mashing the pedal to the floor simply gives the maximum possible acceleration, within the prevailing  limits of power and traction available.

marcus

Edited 25 July, 201510 yr by dieseldogg

Old Newbie,

By kick down, I meant "mashing the pedal" which in a TA Autobox will cause the transmission to drop gears, anyway to my preception, it has the same effect in the DSG transmission, which with the standard-fit traction control, produces virtually no wheel spin or axle tramp, a brief "chirrup" and one is away.

Quite a brainless operation requiring zero fine motor control cept to keep the steering wheel pointing in the correct direction.

And, as far as I can subjectively analize, makes NO difference whether in "D" or "S", mashing the pedal to the floor simply gives the maximum possible acceleration, within the prevailing  limits of power and traction available.

marcus

Thanks, I know what "kickdown" means & how it works.........

As for wheel spin / axle tramp it might be less of a problem for you, putting 103 bhp & 184 ft lbs through the front wheels is quite normal, 250 bhp & 260 ft lbs is more than my Superb is designed to cope with!

 

Therefore I prefer (& need) to control the gas pedal rather than pushing through the carpet.

 

DC