DSG or manual

Freefaller · 3 Nov 2014 at 11:09

DSG for a diesel and city commuting for sure - I'd choose that if I was going to be in slow moving traffic regularly.

For a sports car or enthusiastic driving I will always choose a manual. Yes it's not as quick potentially, but it's more versatile and flexible IMO - and whilst I'm no driving god, heal and toeing and getting that gear change "just right" really is satisfying and far more engaging to me.

Firestar_3x · 3 Nov 2014 at 11:11

Oh and I quite like the full throttle gear changes and the lovely noise that makes!

Dr Who · 3 Nov 2014 at 12:23

Freefaller said:
DSG for a diesel and city commuting for sure - I'd choose that if I was going to be in slow moving traffic regularly.

For a sports car or enthusiastic driving I will always choose a manual. Yes it's not as quick potentially, but it's more versatile and flexible IMO - and whilst I'm no driving god, heal and toeing and getting that gear change "just right" really is satisfying and far more engaging to me.

For the track, sure but the road an SMG is a much nicer experience overall.

Freefaller · 3 Nov 2014 at 12:39

Dr Who said:
For the track, sure but the road an SMG is a much nicer experience overall.

Not for me, I actually enjoy a manual gear box, I've driven DSG cars, and they're great, but I just prefer the mechanical connection I get from a clutch pedal and a manual gear box

Similarly if they released a DSG box for a bike I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be keen on it

PMKeates · 3 Nov 2014 at 14:30

Firestar_3x said:
Don't find that myself, my only criticism of DSG is it can jerk a gear change every now and again whilst crawling in traffic, and the 2nd gear at junctions issue can get annoying at times.

It's certainly "more boring" than a manual or a single clutch automated manual, so it's only really vying with a torque converter for "second most boring" type of transmission - with a CVT taking first place.

Blackhawk47 · 3 Nov 2014 at 14:49

Freefaller said:
DSG for a diesel and city commuting for sure - I'd choose that if I was going to be in slow moving traffic regularly.

For a sports car or enthusiastic driving I will always choose a manual. Yes it's not as quick potentially, but it's more versatile and flexible IMO - and whilst I'm no driving god, heal and toeing and getting that gear change "just right" really is satisfying and far more engaging to me.

What about a diesel sports car?

Howard · 3 Nov 2014 at 15:57

Firestar_3x said:
Don't find that myself, my only criticism of DSG is it can jerk a gear change every now and again whilst crawling in traffic, and the 2nd gear at junctions issue can get annoying at times.

Agree with this. You learn to work the throttle around it though I find

(Mine's not a VW DSG but it's about the same thing)

Firestar_3x said:
Oh and I quite like the full throttle gear changes and the lovely noise that makes!

Agree with this too. I don't get the noise like you do I'm sure

but it's fun to mash your foot and have uninterrupted acceleration

Freefaller · 3 Nov 2014 at 17:17

Blackhawk47 said:
What about a diesel sports car?

No such thing.

wildman_33 · 3 Nov 2014 at 21:30

DSG definitely, I have a 6 speed manual mk6 and wish it was a DSG. The gear change on the manual isn't all that nice and the diesels have really long gears so they aren't fun to drive anyway.

One · 3 Nov 2014 at 22:02

Freefaller said:
No such thing.

Audi R18? Or do racing cars not count?

Definitely DSG too. You can always stick it in sequential mode if you wanna play with the gears, you don't get a clutch peddle of course though. You get a satisfying noise when you change gear at full revvs too

It's more economical if you're trying to be too as it will always stick it in a higher gear as soon as the engine is ready, way before you would do so in a manual.

nam · 3 Nov 2014 at 23:07

DSG for me in the R, love the noise it makes on up-shifts and the smoothness. Had the S-stronic in the Audi A1 and that was great too, never going back to manual again

matthab · 3 Nov 2014 at 23:56

Nothing like a DSG fart when pushing on wards.

Dr Who · 4 Nov 2014 at 06:48

Freefaller said:
Not for me, I actually enjoy a manual gear box, I've driven DSG cars, and they're great, but I just prefer the mechanical connection I get from a clutch pedal and a manual gear box

Similarly if they released a DSG box for a bike I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be keen on it

DSG on a bike is completely superfluous as a Bike already has a sequential transmission, however, they do automated shifters for bikes with push buttons on the bars which do faster changes with minimal off throttle.

DSG is faster, more economical, better in traffic, has launch control and it's only disadvantage is you can't stroke your mpeen when you do a good change, I can live with that for the road, especially on a diesel.

snips86x · 4 Nov 2014 at 06:53

We've got a VW Passat at work with a 2ltr Diesel and DSG and its fantastic to drive but on long journeys, you do miss the manual.

Freefaller · 4 Nov 2014 at 07:51

Dr Who said:
DSG on a bike is completely superfluous as a Bike already has a sequential transmission, however, they do automated shifters for bikes with push buttons on the bars which do faster changes with minimal off throttle.

DSG is faster, more economical, better in traffic, has launch control and it's only disadvantage is you can't stroke your mpeen when you do a good change, I can live with that for the road, especially on a diesel.

I said for a diesel commuter wagon they're great. So we're in agreement so not sure what you're disagreeing with me on...

Again for a bike I'd never go for DSG, it's just not the same or (in my opinion, just to state the obvious) as fun.

As previously stated, in stop start traffic, an automatic is great, and great for lazy style driving that torquey diesel engine offers.

However, for me (in my opinion, again...) there's nothing quite like a manual box for having fun in, dare I say it takes a little more skill to drive hard and fast too? And we all like to get our "mpeen" (whatever that is) stroked when we get good gear changes - don't you get satisfaction from changing through the gears in a tough set of transnational curves on fast sweeping roads/tracks? I do.

Anyway, just to repeat myself again, DSG for a diesel and for what the OP is after is perfect.

matthab · 4 Nov 2014 at 09:00

I would say the DSG in my Cupra is a perfect mix. When you want to go fast you just use the paddles, the rest of the time it becomes quiet and smooth. Even in the Leon Cupra I test drove the DSG felt like the perfect choice. The 6 speed manual just didnt feel as good.

All personal opinion of course.

wingman · 4 Nov 2014 at 10:28

Freefaller said:
there's nothing quite like a manual box for having fun in, dare I say it takes a little more skill to drive hard and fast too? And we all like to get our "mpeen" (whatever that is) stroked when we get good gear changes - don't you get satisfaction from changing through the gears in a tough set of transnational curves on fast sweeping roads/tracks? I do.

Pretty much this for me, it's another element of engagement which I would like to always have, even if it's a weekend car of some description. That 2nd to 3rd gear change at full revs is such a satisfying transition and part of the personality of the car.

If my commute involved more traffic I'd probably opt for a slush box, or if the budget allowed, a DSG.

Not sure if one can "hoon" in an auto.

However to come full circle there are cars nowadays which reward you for going for the auto option, like the ZF 8sp in the M135. Faster, more economical, and looks blisteringly quick. I doubt I’d buy that car without it!

Firestar_3x · 4 Nov 2014 at 10:51

Howard said:
Agree with this too. I don't get the noise like you do I'm sure but it's fun to mash your foot and have uninterrupted acceleration

Is it wrong for me to want the dual exit (i.e. single exhaust tip on each side) version of this?

Will resist though, want to keep the car standard this time....

MattU · 4 Nov 2014 at 12:46

Funny was just thinking of posting a thread like this myself. It's time for me to choose a new company car and there seems to be some very good deal on for the GTD. It would be £290 gross and £150 tax, which is around £150 a month cheaper than any other car I may have chosen (XE SE, 520d, C300H)

Currently I'm one of those evil 320d ED drivers, but not sure whether to have a change and save a bit of cash.

If this is a company car, DSG for me works out at £20 gross on lease and £38 extra tax a month, would not be worth it for me, although will miss the auto.

I was going to consider the A3 etron, but it is £590 gross to lease! completely wipes out any tax saving. Will wait to see what the Golf GTE costs though before I choose.

Dr Who · 4 Nov 2014 at 15:18

Freefaller said:
I said for a diesel commuter wagon they're great. So we're in agreement so not sure what you're disagreeing with me on...

Again for a bike I'd never go for DSG, it's just not the same or (in my opinion, just to state the obvious) as fun.

As previously stated, in stop start traffic, an automatic is great, and great for lazy style driving that torquey diesel engine offers.

However, for me (in my opinion, again...) there's nothing quite like a manual box for having fun in, dare I say it takes a little more skill to drive hard and fast too? And we all like to get our "mpeen" (whatever that is) stroked when we get good gear changes - don't you get satisfaction from changing through the gears in a tough set of transnational curves on fast sweeping roads/tracks? I do.

Anyway, just to repeat myself again, DSG for a diesel and for what the OP is after is perfect.

I am happy with a manual for the track or DSG for the road. Weekend car, again likely manual. I don't really find any road driving satisfying anymore, the roads are in too poor a condition and too clogged for spirited driving for the most part, so for a road car for daily use a sequential manual gearbox creates more smiles than I would get from the odd spirited drive on the road with a clutch.

Not arguing with you other than the suggestion of DSG on a bike seemed a little off the point but there are many Auto bikes out there, none of them sporty as far as I am aware. Whilst a DSG shift can be automatic, other than that it is a sequential manual just like a bike and bikes don't use the clutch to change gear when riding hard.