Auto boxes on "superminis"

DSG is pretty much the best WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT THINGYMABOB out there.

Wouldn't say its totally seamless compared to a proper torque convertor auto, mind. But then neither is a proper torque convertor auto anything like as good as a DSG for spirited driving.
 
CVT is definitley miles better on the Jazz but a lot of people just like to jump on the band wagon. If you drive it where you control the gears it's a million times better and is pretty fun!
 
You can get CVT-7 with paddle shifters that effectively does the same thing. DSGs allow
manual shifting too.
 
Brookert said:
Automatic vans, thats the biggest lol of them all................
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Until you try an automatic HGV!

My Scania for example, it has a clutch that you must use to pull away & when you stop, otherwise its an auto but effectively a manual.....
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Until you try an automatic HGV!

My Scania for example, it has a clutch that you must use to pull away & when you stop, otherwise its an auto but effectively a manual.....
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Is that so you can control pulling away better than an autobox could?

My work has auto vans and they do my head in! I go to pull away at a roundabout, and it nudges me into harms way, then decides to shift down twice!!
 
Auto 207 here with a 1.6. First gear is a bit short for the power of the engine but it's fine. Gets about 36mpg round town and 40+mpg on the motorway depending how fast you go. High 40's if you're prepared to sit at 65, low 40's at 70+ and dips in to the high 30's at 80+mph.

I've driven quite a few autos in small cars now, from Fiat 500 up to a Prius. The true autoboxes (torque converter type) have all been fine but the robot shifting manuals are shocking slow to react and are frustrating to drive. The VW DSG box is by far the best of the lot. The gearing is good and the gearchanges are quick and in the right place.

Seriously, in a stock hatchback that's used for shopping and motorway work I can't be bothered with gears any more. It's not a sports car, modern autoboxes are fine and the sooner people get that in their heads the better.
 
Howard said:
I think Fox's head just exploded.
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:D

Brookert said:
Is that so you can control pulling away better than an autobox could?
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Yes, compared to a clutchless auto DAF 105XF for example, the Scania is much more precise when shunting in tight spaces, the DAF had such a high "bite point" the truck would either sit still or shoot forward (or back) at speed!

I actually quite like the Scania 'box (Opticruise I think its called) you can drive it in full manual mode,where you have to use the clutch for each gearchange, semi auto which is as I say pulling away or stopping with the clutch but otherwise forgetting it.

I usually select gears myself ( my "fuel bonus" depends on me keeping the tachometer in the green band ) left to its own devices, the box in auto mode revs way past peak power/torque which seems a bit daft given the type of vehicle the box is fitted to.
 
So the decision now then is to either buy another auto now or wait until she passes her manual and continue to drive her crud 1.0 Micra for the time being.
 
ash_scotland88 said:
I'm sure my parents was the 5speed. I honestly cant remember though, I know (think) they had two types of auto.
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Did you have the facelift model by any chance? Mine was definitely four as it had 'tiptronic' function, only ever got to 4 on the dash display.

I miss the xenon headlights from the Focus :(
 
Minstadave said:
My first car was a 1.0L Corsa with a automated manual box and it was perfectly acceptable to be honest, as long as you stay away from a torque converter automatic it's not that bad.
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Yup that is what she drives, an Auto Micra. When I drive it I cry, I'd rather blink glass into my eyes!
 
squerble said:
Did you have the facelift model by any chance? Mine was definitely four as it had 'tiptronic' function, only ever got to 4 on the dash display.

I miss the xenon headlights from the Focus :(
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Nah I don't think it was.
It was the autobox that also had the option to move it to the side and flick up and down gears. Honestly can't remember what it was called.
 
So is the DSG gearbox worth looking at on a 1.4 Ibiza? Or better to go with a manual? Do you get little paddles to change gears rather than a normal stick?
 
My gf has an 06 yaris auto, think it runs a similar system to I-shift. Its pretty hopeless in auto mode as the changes are slow and jerky, but in manual mode its pretty good to be fair, fairly nippy and gets 45mpg.
 
I've never thought as DCT or DSG as anything other than automatic. The fact that the quote Fox posted can barely string an english sentence together and then proceeds to mention numerous times that it's an automatic surely backs the viewpoint :p

The debate about manual vs automatic has never been about the mechanics of it, it's about the user aspect. Swirl a lever and press a pedal = manual. Do nothing and waft along = automatic. Simples! :)

I like DSG/DCT/insertacronymhere
 
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Have driven both the cvt jazz and a fabia vrs with the dsg. It's obviously not fair to compare them performance wise and leaving this aside I much preferred the jazz. A cvt box seems to really suit a car that's made for cruising around, it's not really any fun to chuck around on fast twisty roads as it's constantly searching/changing but I guess that's not the point.

I like dsg too but I would never, ever own one outside of its warranty period - that and it still has the issue of lag when pulling off that good slushboxes (merc, most bmws) don't suffer with. You can get round it by holding the brake but who really wants to do this everytime they're waiting at a roundabout, can't be particularly safe either.
 
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