Hi all, I currently have a 58 reg 170Tdi 4x4 Elegance twindoor with a manual box, I'm looking at changing it for a facelift model, Either Outdoor or Elegance, 4x4 and same engine, whilst there are a few manuals out there most are DSGs, as I tow a caravan l was wondering what a DSG box is like for this and also for every day use. I've heard some horror stories about DSGs and I've also been told a manual.is better for towing, just hoping you all might be able to help quell and fears I have. Cheers

A search on Google for "DSG towing" will bring up loads and loads of information - almost all of it positive. I have a car with DSG but have never (with any car) towed more an a light trailer.

A search on Google for "DSG towing" will bring up loads and loads of information - almost all of it positive. I have a car with DSG but have never (with any car) towed more an a light trailer.

Cheers, I'm sure theres plenty of info on the net but I was hoping to hear first hand experience from fellow Superb drivers.

The vast majority of the DSG horror stories relate to the 7 speed DSG. It has dry clutches that wear out and had recalls for software updates and oil changes.

The car you're looking at has the 6 speed gearbox which has "wet" oil lubricated clutches and can handle more power/torque.

This makes it a good towing car as it can and will slip the clutches where necessary without any ill effects as they are lubricated and cooled with oil.

Hi

I tow a caravan with a 2013 Elegance estate 170bhp but manual, I looked about for the right car with DSG but ended up with the one I've now.

When doing my research can remember a few comments people saying that it would change gear when you wouldn't really wanted it too ( you'll probably know what I mean with towing a caravan) ie when pulling up along hill etc, but as they also say you could just knock it across into manual

Am sure you'll have done your research but I looked at a 2014 Tour de France edition (based on outdoor) which was only based on a SE model (Elegance a lot nicer I thought) and it was only 140 bhp and manual as I thought all the outdoors where (140) unless the DSG came with 170 bhp as it was the 170bhp I wanted

I haven't really answered your question but hope it's of some help

I use mine to launch/tow my skis and boat my caravan is too big to tow (Static)

I towed a Bayliner Capri 18 1/2 foot which is just over the tonne from Lochgoilhead to Glasgow then down to Dumfries which was about 180 miles but some of the roads around Lochgoilhead were  "challenging" but the car was Superb and no issues at all with the twisty stuff and steep inclines/declines  I had to negotiate... 

As said above when needed too I just slipped it in to manual (remember it is an electronically controlled dual-clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox)
--Straight from Wikipedia--not an automatic :clap: 

I am completely won over by the DSG box and will never revert back  to a manual and I think I will stay with 4x4 as well 

Even pulls my boat out in soft shale which my Terrano some times stuggled with  

Edited 1 September, 20169 yr by DEL80Y

We've towed a caravan a few times now - it's a Bailey Champagne (MTPLM=1410kg) using our mk2 FL L&K 170 DSG. Being relatively inexperienced in towing, I think the 6-speed DSG works a treat because I can let the car sort out what gear it thinks it needs to be in. Apart from the obvious box behind us, we didn't really have a sense of towing anything. We had no issues towing, save for some occasions where the DSG decided to hold onto 5th gear for no obvious reason. A simple tap into 6th using the manual override sorted that out.

Been times when I've been in 6th (manual box) and it's performing ok with the caravan on but for what ever reason the display is telling me to drop into 5th. Sounds like the DSG the other way round

Edited 1 September, 20169 yr by Snapper1725

Been times when I've been in 6th (manual box) and it's performing ok with the caravan on but for what ever reason the display is telling me to drop into 5th. Sounds like the DSG the other way round

Your Manual box tells you when to change or the ideal gear on the Maxidot??? My manual does nothing of the sort! Maybe because it's a prefacelift 58 reg?

The suggested gear is given as a number in the very top right corner of the maxidot display. It'll also suggest lower gears when the DPF is regenerating. My car is pre facelift and has this feature.

Hi all, I currently have a 58 reg 170Tdi 4x4 Elegance twindoor with a manual box, I'm looking at changing it for a facelift model, Either Outdoor or Elegance, 4x4 and same engine, whilst there are a few manuals out there most are DSGs, as I tow a caravan l was wondering what a DSG box is like for this and also for every day use. I've heard some horror stories about DSGs and I've also been told a manual.is better for towing, just hoping you all might be able to help quell and fears I have. Cheers

 

oh! I have so many doubts in buying Octavia too.  I'm in process of choose 1.8TSI DSG or manual. DSG is very interesting in technics and driving but negative stories about it very confuse me.

 

Have you made your choiсe?

Bear in mind you may not be towing for a significant portion of your driving, so think whether DSG is for you in your day to day situation as well.

Many like the DSG experience, a few others don't so have you tried one before?

FWIW we have a Superb FL2 DSG 170CR and it gives a very relaxed driving experience. Being a previous 5-speed manual driver, it's nice that the DSG maximises use of 6th without me doing anything. The gear changes are seamless although takeoff from stationary is occasionally clunky if you're in a hurry.

 

I also have an Octavia III Greenline (105CR) manual and I've had to learn to drive that efficiently (recommended gear changes are earlier than I'm used to and has 6th gear). However....

 

There are times I don't like the DSG (and start-stop) as it can't read the road nor predict the future. When driving around, there's still a lag when I floor it and it selects the right gear. I do use sport mode (better) but hardly use the manual selection. Takeoff from stationary feels more laggy because in a manual I can rev and drop the clutch but I don't think I have that option on the DSG.

 

Finally it's easier for me to override the stop-start on a manual (using the clutch). I struggle to get just enough brake pressure to stop the car but not engage SS.

 

Having said all that, I like the DSG maybe 95% of the time, but I also quite like manual gearboxes.

 

I think it's been mentioned on here before, but the DSG is a computer controlled manual gearbox with two clutches. It's not got a torque converter like on a regular slushbox.

I would say it depends how well skoda (VAG) have engineered the DSG box and cooling system. Towing a heavy load is going to generate a lot more heat in the gearbox but I'm sure they have tested it well.

I would say it depends how well skoda (VAG) have engineered the DSG box and cooling system. Towing a heavy load is going to generate a lot more heat in the gearbox but I'm sure they have tested it well.

 

If these are computer controlled clutches, then arguably it's no different to a manual gearbox? Or is my understanding flawed in some way?

There may be losses associated with excessive quantities of gear changes I suppose...

If these are computer controlled clutches, then arguably it's no different to a manual gearbox? Or is my understanding flawed in some way?

There may be losses associated with excessive quantities of gear changes I suppose...

Towing always generates extra heat in the transmission fluid because the transmission is doing more work. Doesn't matter who/what is in charge of the transmission. Some cars are not type-approved for towing for this reason.

 

There are times I don't like the DSG (and start-stop) as it can't read the road nor predict the future. When driving around, there's still a lag when I floor it and it selects the right gear. I do use sport mode (better) but hardly use the manual selection. Takeoff from stationary feels more laggy because in a manual I can rev and drop the clutch but I don't think I have that option on the DSG.

 

Finally it's easier for me to override the stop-start on a manual (using the clutch). I struggle to get just enough brake pressure to stop the car but not engage SS.

Does your car not have the button to switch "off" the stop start???

Pretty much every VAG and other brand I have driven with stop/start can simply be switched off using a button?? Not sure why you are suffering so much.

If these are computer controlled clutches, then arguably it's no different to a manual gearbox? Or is my understanding flawed in some way?

There may be losses associated with excessive quantities of gear changes I suppose...

Look here it is a Manual box you should try it for a couple of days in full manual..

Lots of good info below

If you have spare half hour you could read the vw vortex one below

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5989734-How-to-Play-The-DSG-Game-and-Win-DSG-Driving-Tips-and-Tricks

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-shift_gearbox

..http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/technology/glossary/dual-clutch-gearbox-dsg

 

Also a good video to watch is this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj1Vk7SE-TI

 

Edited 13 September, 20169 yr by DEL80Y

That video was good. There was a related one which I just watched which is pretty good as well regards how a DSG drives well and how it shouldn't be driven:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W42zsFYjZvM

 

If you have had a normal/torque converter auto  transmission in the past - this is not bad at explaining why you might cause the gear changes to hesitate...

Does your car not have the button to switch "off" the stop start???

Pretty much every VAG and other brand I have driven with stop/start can simply be switched off using a button?? Not sure why you are suffering so much.

Yes it does and I quite like having stop-start, just not when I've just arrived at a junction and come to a stop and getting ready to pull away then the stop-start stops....

Basically I'm happy having it on the majority of the time.

If these are computer controlled clutches, then arguably it's no different to a manual gearbox? Or is my understanding flawed in some way?

There may be losses associated with excessive quantities of gear changes I suppose...

 

Manual gearboxes do not have oil coolers, DSG gearboxes do have oil coolers. Therefore they must generate a lot more heat.

 

DSG boxes also have service intervals for the oil whereas manual boxes do not so there is obviously a lot more going on inside a DSG box to warrant that

Yes it does and I quite like having stop-start, just not when I've just arrived at a junction and come to a stop and getting ready to pull away then the stop-start stops....

Basically I'm happy having it on the majority of the time.

There should be either longer period of time after you press brakes - like at least 3 seconds - or you would need to floor the brakes to engage S/S - now you need to be very gentle and on the flat surface.

Towing with a dsg is surely going to wear it out prematurely , not like the torque converters with their oil drive where slipping didn't wear any clutches out. These dsg boxes in effect have 2 motor bike style multi plate clutches which will be under a lot of strain. I think I'd keep well clear of a second hand one with a tow bar

Edited 14 September, 20169 yr by terrytowelling

Four years regularly towing a 1585 kg van behind my CR170 DSG. I have the integrated towing electrics package and it's magic!  I just let the engine/gearbox management system do its thing;  always in the correct gear, provides engine braking on down slopes, etc, etc, whilst turning in (typically) 29 - 30 mpg towing at 62 mph where possible.  

 

IMO, a keen eye on engine oil temperature is pretty important - it is very easy to get it up into the 120s on long climbs.  Skoda have said it is OK upto 130C so long as the coolant temp doesn't go above its usual level.

Edited 14 September, 20169 yr by Mayor of Newark

The clutches are lubricated and cooled by the gear oil. Yes there may be some extra wear but compared to a manual they are much stronger. I know there was a taxi in Ireland on here with 500,000kms and the DSG still had it's original clutch pack in so they are strong!

 

The reason the DSG has an oil cooler is that under slip conditions (referring to the clutch) so hill starts, crawling traffic etc the clutches are rubbing and causing heat. While driving along the motorway in 5th or 6th gear there will be zero slip in the clutches and so no real excess heat.

 

Plus the gearbox has a built in program that if the clutches become hot they reduce/cancel all slip. I experienced this while driving through London once. 2 hours of stop/start traffic in 30c+ temperatures. The clutches went very sharp with almost no slip while crawling etc they just grabbed pretty much straight away which made it a little jerky. But were fine once driven normally for a while.