Do you actually use the DSG, or is it always in automatic mode?

[h100vw]

Those issues can be dealt with. ;0)

Thought I might update this.
I eventually bought a 2011 Golf GTI dsg and can say that I love the dsg, but only in automatic. None of you mentioned that when in manual mode, if you put your foot to the floor that the kickdown is still active. This spoils it for me and my car spends 99.999% of the time in 'D'. I mentioned this annoyance in another thread and was told basically that I should read the manual as this is VW's designed behaviour, and suck it up. Well sorry, but I think when the car is in manual it should mean manual. It really shouldn't have been that hard for VW to deactivate the kickdown button when the transmission is in manual. As for 'S', haven't really found a use for it.

[Candyman]

For those finding it changes up too early in D, try a week of using D but push harder with more throttle as you take off

Although I got a new mech unit on the R and a software update, D mode works so much better when pushed harder for a few days.

Driving in manual mode and then using D appears to make the shifts much earlier

I also notice as others have that using paddles causes more abrupt shifts after a while than manual mode, ESP downshifts.

In S mode, unlike our GTI, the R is fantastic for my daily 100 km commute

[Ryan_R]

Can't push harder when there are cars in front of me. If I'm doing 60kph I'd rather keep it in 4th or 5th gear rather than let D choose 6th or 7th

[Candyman]

Can't push harder when there are cars in front of me. If I'm doing 60kph I'd rather keep it in 4th or 5th gear rather than let D choose 6th or 7th

The time I leave for work, everyone else is still asleep in bed

No 7th gear here. D only hits 6th for me when I hit the 90 kph zone, otherwise it sits in 4th/5th and the R has plenty of torque for that rev range

[Ryan_R]

Lucky you, although there's a sizeable difference in fuel economy though. I'm under 7l/100k.

[Candyman]

Lucky you, although there's a sizeable difference in fuel economy though. I'm under 7l/100k.

I gave up worrying about fuel economy when I bought my Subie.

For the fun returned, the R effectively runs on air

The last company vehicle I had used twice the fuel the R uses and half the fun. Still, I wasn't paying for the fuel back then

[AdamD]

For those finding it changes up too early in D, try a week of using D but push harder with more throttle as you take off

Although I got a new mech unit on the R and a software update, D mode works so much better when pushed harder for a few days.

+1. I've driven DSGs that feel doughey, soft and awful, but I've managed to get mine behaving quite differently thanks to how I apply throttle, and use D about 90% of the time now. By accelerating with a bit more throttle, my car only drops into 6th once I'm at about 65km/h, and no longer accelerating at all.

I'm able to play tunes with the engine by just making small adjustments to the throttle position, while maintaining a constant speed. It's much more eager and throttle-sensitive than some I've driven.

[Candyman]

That little mechatronics can work for you and against you

I'm into my 5th year trying to figure it out and the one thing it enjoys is being worked, hard.

Wife disagrees

[Rob_R]

That little mechatronics can work for you and against you

I'm into my 5th year trying to figure it out and the one thing it enjoys is being worked, hard.

Wife disagrees

Thats what the guys said to me last night, at a dinner, cruise and hang out at DubAddiction, to stop being a pussy and keep driving it like you stole it.

[phantomcamel]

I hate to say this, but if you have issues with how the DSG responds, torque curve & whatever...why didn't you buy a manual????

I love both transmissions for different reasons - currently driving manual GTi and I feel immersed into the driving process & shift when "I" want to shift!
I do love the DSG too - really maximizes each gear in terms of power/torque/fuel consumption - you'ld struggle to shift that quick going through all the gears!

It really comes down to personal preference - I you are a driver who wants to be fully "in charge", listening to the gears/engine and change when it suits YOU - go manual, otherwise enjoy the best AUTO transmission available right now - the DSG gear box!

Enough said, rant over ... back into my box