DSG noob seeks friendship, maybe more.

merlin · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:06

I know nothing about this method of changing one's gear.

Enlighten me, is it any good?

Can you for example drop two gears at once?

Does it rev match for you?

Are the units strong? I've heard people say they're avoiding DSG Audis and VW's and going for manuals instead because of the desire to remap at a later stage (manual box being stronger).

Is there some sort of auto mode so if you're feeling lazy it just does the job of a traditional auto changing gear at low revs for economy?

Conscript · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:09

Theres a fairly good Wiki page on it to cover the basics. I remmeber reading a bit about it a few months ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox

oli collett · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:16

merlin said:
Are the units strong? I've heard people say they're avoiding DSG Audis and VW's and going for manuals instead because of the desire to remap at a later stage (manual box being stronger).

Unless you're planning to put a lot of torque through (beyond the limits of stage 1 on any DSG car i know of) you won't have a problem - they are good for approx 350lb/ft. So I don't know what they are planning to do with them!

There are rumours of a new 7 speed version which should be able to cope with a lot more torque but I doubt that will show up until Q4 2009/2010.

Bennie-Mac · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:18

I've never driven one but my dad test drove the Audi A5 3.0 DSG and he hated it. Says that when it changes up it always overrevs and makes you sound like a driving noob

[TW]Fox · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:20

It doesn't come in any good cars Merlin, forget about it. It's not right for you.

oli collett · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:21

Bennie-Mac said:
I've never driven one but my dad test drove the Audi A5 3.0 DSG and he hated it. Says that when it changes up it always overrevs and makes you sound like a driving noob

Mine doesn't unless it's in s mode - you can just stick it in manual instead.

I love DSG - think it's a great system but it won't be for everyone.

Firestar_3x · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:25

[TW]Fox;13707137 said:
It doesn't come in any good cars Merlin, forget about it. It's not right for you.

Bugatti Veyron has DSG iirc

Participant · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:34

Firestar_3x said:
Bugatti Veyron has DSG iirc

LMAO owned.

Anyway I'm very much a fan of the DSG gearbox. It's great fun having the options of
- using the paddles
- semi-automatic stick shift
- fully automatic

on Golf GTis / R32s I've driven (never driven an Audi with it but I assume it's the same). The changes seem very quick and smooth.

OllyM · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:35

On the diesels at least it's slow, sluggish and annoying IMO.

Wicksta · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:38

Everyone who has DSG/SMG etc cars always says they are great and will defend them to the hilt on web forums.

Until they sell them.

rpstewart · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:40

Robbie G said:
- semi-automatic stick shift

Semi off topic but why is it that every one of these that I've seen is, to me anyway, the wrong way round? A traditional (racing) sequential box is pull for up and push away for down yet all roadgoing ones I've seen are push for up and pull for down.

Everyone gets the paddles right (left down, right up) so why is the stick backwards?

Participant · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:45

Hmm good point I guess it's because to the average Golf driver, it's more logical to push forward for a higher gear when you're accelerating. Psychologically you're moving forward, you want a higher gear, you press the stick forward.

OllyM said:
On the diesels at least it's slow, sluggish and annoying IMO.

If you mean slow to change gear, that's one accusation that surely cannot be levelled at it.

rpstewart · 18 Mar 2009 at 15:59

Robbie G said:
Hmm good point I guess it's because to the average Golf driver, it's more logical to push forward for a higher gear when you're accelerating. Psychologically you're moving forward, you want a higher gear, you press the stick forward.

OK, I can see the logic in that. However to me it's the braking and downshifts that seem (more) wrong, as you brake the weight transfer is forwards yet you have to pull against that. Translating that to a manual a third to fourth change under acceleration seems more natural than fifth to fourth under braking.

Housey · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:25

It's better than Selaspeed

EVERYTHING is better than Selaspeed!

Not sure I've added much really.

Demon · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:29

I think you like DSG or not..

I love it, even in the diesels.. I found it pretty weird at first and it takes a while to get your head around manually shifting with the paddles, it feels quite alien for a lot of people.. took me 400 miles before I felt pretty comfortable with it in maximum attack driving..

OllyM · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:33

Robbie G said:
If you mean slow to change gear, that's one accusation that surely cannot be levelled at it.

No, slow to react - especially from a standstill if you see a gap in traffic for example.

Alex UK · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:37

[TW]Fox;13707137 said:
It doesn't come in any good cars Merlin, forget about it. It's not right for you.

It doesn't come in any good cars? So the Golf GTI, R32, Passat R36, Scirocco, Audi TT, TT-S, Q5, A5, S3, S4 etc. etc. are all a bit rubbish are they? As you're undoubtedly aware the DSG 'box is an excellent system and may be exactly what merlin is looking for.

merlin · 18 Mar 2009 at 16:51

Just flirting with the Golf Gti ED30, had a test drive arranged for today, turned up to be greeted with a "ah, umm, well, y'see we just sold it so now you can't drive it, sorry - we should have called you shouldn't we?". Retards. :mad:

DrDee · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:08

merlin said:
Just flirting with the Golf Gti ED30, had a test drive arranged for today, turned up to be greeted with a "ah, umm, well, y'see we just sold it so now you can't drive it, sorry - we should have called you shouldn't we?". Retards.

Did they not have any other GTi's?

merlin · 18 Mar 2009 at 17:13

DrDee said:
Did they not have any other GTi's?

Yes, but they were all 30bhp down on power versus the ED30.