Quote Originally Posted by JPH View Post
I've been driving my Golf 6 TDI DSG for about 6 months now. Yesterday I jumped into a Golf 6 118 DSG courtesy car for the day. I noticed a couple of differences. The delay mentioned in this thread was very noticeable on the 118's 7 speed DSG compared with the TDI's 6 speed DSG. Secondly, when the hill hold feature releases automatically (1.5 seconds after you take your foot off the brake) the 118 rolls backwards. This was a big surprise the first time it happened as the TDI always has the clutch biting when the hill hold releases, and always creeps forward on even the steepest hills.
The 118 was fun for the day. Its a bit quieter, even though the engine appears much busier than in the TDI. I did miss that sensation of limitless torque the TDI gives as the turbocharger kicks in though.
Interesting comment about the hill hold. I haven't ever been game to leave my Golf for long enough to actually start rolling back, though I've noticed if you try to take off quickly from a steep hill it'll roll back a centimetre or so. Not enough to be dangerous in a normal situation, but enough that if it was a human L-plater taking a driving test in a manual they'd get an instant fail. However, if you're slowing down to almost-stationary speeds on a hill, and then lift off the brake, the car will crawl forwards rather than roll back.

The torque band on diesels has always felt really weird to me. Gutless below 1500rpm, wonderful power to 3000rpm, but then the fun's all over.

Quote Originally Posted by coreying View Post
Diesels have much more torque, much lower down. There's a hill outside my work which in my friends Focus diesel manual (2L ~100kw & 320NM) can go up it 'idling' in 2nd gear with him and myself in it. My Polo GTI Manual (Stage 1, 154kw & 328NM) can JUST get up it 'idling' in 1st gear if its only me in the car), a Golf 2.0 FSI manual (110kw & 220NM) instantly stalls...
This is why your TDI will creep forward but a 118TSI will instantly roll back.
Are you sure that isn't partly because the ECU in the Focus manual is gently applying throttle for you? Some diesels do this as an anti-stall measure, because dropping below idle will cause the engine to stop instantly rather than cough and splutter like a petrol. I found the 103TDI Golf very easy to stall, for instance.