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

Towing with any transmission wears things out prematurely, especially manuals as clutches are at the mercy of the drivers left foot and their driving skills! As it is not cooled like a DSG and can be slipped easier than a DSG I can imagine a manual clutch wearing out faster than a computer controlled DSG clutch! and as they both control a normal six speed manual box the wear and tear is likely to be the same!

The DSG's are temperamental  enough as it is without  towing anything , I wouldn't tow with one , you're asking for trouble . Manual is for towing , DSG for lazy b0ggers ;-)

Edited 14 September, 20169 yr by peterposh

The DSG's are temperamental  enough as it is without  towing anything , I wouldn't tow with one , you're asking for trouble . Manual is for towing , DSG for lazy b0ggers ;-)

Peterposh have you ever owned a DSG or towed with it????

This car did win tow car of the year from a few different places over the years and I for one are completely won over by it after actually driving it and doing several long tows with my boat and skis..

Just come up on 20,000 miles driving since I purchased it 6 months ago. Mines is a 4X4 so maybe that's why I feel so confident driving and towing with it.

It even tows better than a Defender I had. 

 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.

Your car should have 'launch control' for fast getaways from a standstill.

 

Turn off traction control - left foot hard on the foot brake - right foot on the accelerator and push it to the floor (revs will be limited automatically so it won't red line, somewhere around 3000rpm) - left foot off the brake - it will fly off the mark.

 

If you are not sure Google DSG & launch control.

 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h_AYAKPBFI

The DSG's are temperamental enough as it is without towing anything , I wouldn't tow with one , you're asking for trouble . Manual is for towing , DSG for lazy b0ggers ;-)

Peterposh! Yes early DSG's were temperamental but they were the dry clutch 7 speed gearbox type! The new ones are wet clutches on a standard manual 6 speed gearbox and from what I have gleaned of the net they are hell of a lot more reliable! Case in point is if you actually look around the net you will find it hard to find anything post 2014 about DSG problems! And like many say you only ever hear the bad stuff and when there are so many VAG cars out there with DSG gearboxes the odd horror story is inevitable!

I wouldn't have one for towing , too much expense when it goes wrong

You can guarantee that towing with a manual you're going to need a new clutch at some point... the 6 speed DSG will likely never need a new clutch... say no more.

 

As long as the gear oil and filter is changed as per schedule on the gearbox there should be no problems. I've had more manual gearbox failures/problems than I had with my DSG (I had no problems with the DSG- a couple of clutches, shift mech. problems and a completely failed 6 speed box on a Seat PD130 once).

 

The DSG obviously still has a DMF which will need replacing at some point in it's life but it's also the case in a manual. The difference is that due to the DSG being kinder to the DMF and changing down when required etc it's less likely to fail.

 

And as above the problems relate to the 7 speed dry clutch gearbox where the clutches generally wear out and produce a judder (most common failure). I wouldn't tow with the 7 speed!

 

And the comment about DSG being for lazy b0ggers is just stupid...

ooh, someone's touchy

If it packed up the first thing they'd say is "have you been towing with it sir"?

Go in with any clutch or gear problem, on any type of gearbox, they will ask you that. 

At least they can't weasel out of a warranty repair by telling you you've been riding the clutch or changing gear wrong if you get a DSG... :P

If it packed up the first thing they'd say is "have you been towing with it sir"?

As it was winning Tow car of the year which they quite proudly advertised I doubt this very much as it would be bad PR!

 you pays your money and you takes your choice

My CR170 DSG has done 165 000 kilometers by now and approximately 60 000 kilometers out of this I have been towing a 1,5 tons trailer. No issues so far.

Oh no , you know what will happen now :-0

Oh no , you know what will happen now :-0

 

Yes, I do. I will tow another 60 000 kilometers.