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

**MurphyTheElf** · 07-04-2010, 10:02 PM

I've had the GTI for over 5 months and I use manual mode about 60 - 70% of the time. I use automatic when the car is cold, then flick it across to full manual after about 5 minutes. If I hit heavy traffic, I'll whack it back into automatic until I get some clear road. When I'm getting ready to park, back to auto again.

I love the throttle blips and controlling the rate of acceleration (I hate automatics dropping down too many or too few gears, and the DSG can still suffer from this). My fuel economy is pretty crappy (just over 10L/100km), but did I buy a Prius? No.

Oh - and I never use S unless if I'm doing something stupid. It's very aggressive.

**demonjay** · 07-04-2010, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by pogo_55

How often do you actually take them out of full automatic mode, as I suspect it is not often.

Having only ever owned manual cars I thought the same thing, and actually worried about becoming a "automaton", but now after 5 months of ownership (r32) I find myself driving in manual mode maybe 30-50% of the time. Sometimes it's just for the feel of riding the torque or others just for the fact I don't like how the auto handles some parts of my commute.
Ultimately I love having the choice, if your just a driver I guess auto will be predominately be your domain, if you love to drive every now and then you will love the choice too.

**Corey_R** · 07-04-2010, 10:54 PM

I probably used manual about 40% of the time. I had a stage II APR tune MKV GTI, so even the fact that D wanted to put it into 6th gear at 60kph didn't really worry the engine due to the awesome torque. I used manual whenever I was on spirited driving and during the warmup etc.

**Axis** · 07-04-2010, 11:01 PM

I keep the car in D about 80% of the time but regularly press the paddles to temporarily change down if I want to burst up a hill or speed up after a slower car turns off in front of me.

I've only ever used S once on the highway as a test to see what it was like. It was very agressive as mentioned. If I'm away from the highway or city then I leave it in manual and use the paddles - or the shifter if there's a lot of cornering going on.

**MkVIGTI** · 08-04-2010, 12:27 AM

haven't got my car yet but i would probably be using the manual mode for about 30% of the time, since it has paddle shifters right behind the steering wheel it is pretty convenient actually.

**adzy** · 08-04-2010, 05:45 AM

Automatic mode is sooooo lazy and shifts before boost builds with anything under 60% throttle I find although I still use it when I am in the daly comute but when a tasty corner shows up I throw her straight into manual mode

On a sunny weekend blast...... it stays in manual mode

**cktsi** · 08-04-2010, 07:57 AM

I don't usually drive in heavy bumper to bumper traffic, so it's around 90% manual mode for me. If only the darn DSG would let me shift to 2nd gear manually <20km/h then it would likely be 100%.

Admittedly whilst their torque converter gearboxes (completely different to DSG), BMW's apparently let drivers select 2nd for takeoff. Does the 6DSG for GTI and TDI drivers lets them select 2nd gear at crawl speeds?

**HereGoes** · 08-04-2010, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by MurphyTheElf

I've had the GTI for over 5 months and I use manual mode about 60 - 70% of the time. I use automatic when the car is cold, then flick it across to full manual after about 5 minutes. If I hit heavy traffic, I'll whack it back into automatic until I get some clear road. When I'm getting ready to park, back to auto again.

I love the throttle blips and controlling the rate of acceleration (I hate automatics dropping down too many or too few gears, and the DSG can still suffer from this). My fuel economy is pretty crappy (just over 10L/100km), but did I buy a Prius? No.

Oh - and I never use S unless if I'm doing something stupid. It's very aggressive.

I second that. D annoys me when driving around so i drive in M unless on the highway or in traffic.

**Stjohn** · 08-04-2010, 09:11 AM

This is my first Auto/DSG car so I am still getting used to 'not clutching'... So far so good, but i'm sure the 'Manual Feeling' will want to kick in somewehere along the way..