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

[guest12345]

D mode probably 70% of the time. BUT mind you i live in the CBD of sydney, so traffic all the time, if not traffic, there are alot of traffic lights. But i still sometimes use the "manual" mode... much more than S to be honest. S is too extreme on road that can't go faster than 60km/h. Don't actually like it always jump to 1st gear whenever i slightly slow down.

[GHW]

Another Passat (R36) and well over 90% of the time. This is due to how good this gearbox is and how poor the position of the tiny manual shifting buttons is.
My prior Subaru 3.0RB was 90% of the time in manual. This was due to how cr*p (and I mean, easily the worst gearbox I've ever encountered) the "pro-drive" slushomatic was and also due to the awesome paddle shifters located on the column not the wheel (much much better than tiny plastic buttons on a wheel)
Gti hasn't arrived yet but i suspect it too will stay in "auto"

[Rob Burns]

There's a few places I use the manual. Going through the harbour tunnel would be the one place I almost always use it. I'll drop it back to third or fourth and let the rpm of the engine keep it at the speed limit w/o having to ride the brakes. I'll then do the remainder of the trip home using manual mode.

[DarkCloudNebulae]

Hi I also own a Polo GTI and like the idea of a new Polo GTI when it arrives which will be DSG.

I assume that theoretically the DSG could be used with a single clutch pedal that acts as a "disengage both" switch, while a computer selects the correct clutch to engage when the pedal was released..? maybe an idea for VW to help the manual lovers get to like the DSG..?

Also I have a question about the gearbox in manual mode, at a set of lights, does the clutch engage on the release of the brake? or on the addition of throttle? And how do people find this (seamless, not like a learner driver dropping in one big hit)?
And again how does it feel releasing on stopping? fairly seamless?

My understanding is that DSGs equivalent in other VW backed brands are made to be (closer to) fully manual, with no (less) over-riding while still having no clutch pedal. This would be a nice option in the GTIs and Rs which I understand still change/protect the gearbox if you do something stupid (like those gear shredding moments you sometimes have in a manual). Can anyone tell me if I am mistaken about this? or does the Box in the GTI downshift in S and manual for you, and upshift if your a little late doing so?

Cheers!
DCN

[Corey_R]

I don't think that VW would ever add a clutch pedal to the DSG. A human couldn't press and release it fast enough to keep up with the DSG gearbox. It'd defeat the purpose.

There are now two DSG gearboxes and also different revisions of the 6sp DSG. Generally the clutch engages when you press the throttle. This is why a lot of bad press has occured around the 'hesitation from initial movement', but the new R has apparently reduced this to next to nothing.
There is also the 'tap the accelerator' trick where it engages the clutch for 2 seconds, so you do that before you need to take off and it'll do so without hesitation. I don't know whether that applies to the 7sp DSG though.

I'm not aware of how the PDK in Porsche operates, but the Audi S-tronic, and the DSG equivs in Skoda and Seat are all practically the same gearbox as the DSG, so not really sure if what you're saying is correct. The DSG and S-Tronics will upshift if you hit the redline, and they'll downshift to prevent stalling. In fact, even if you are driving in full manual, it's usually smoother if you just let the car downshift itself when coming to a stop at lights.

Anyway - go have a test drive of one at some stage

[DarkCloudNebulae]

Thanks Coreying,
I hear ya about the timing, and I was suggesting it more as a response to needing two clutch pedals. not too much as a serious option (though you never know what you will see).

I have read (I think on this forum) about the Scirocco having a DSG also that did not auto shift in S and manual and this was why I was asking, however Ill have to go back and dig it up and recheck it, I looked a while ago about the DSG well before the new Polo was coming up.

I will defiantly test drive the new Polo once available, however I am very happy with the current one for now! Just always interested in the way things work. I guess this is one of simple differences between a sequential manual or a 'DSG' style box.

Very interesting stuff anyway! Thankyou for the info!!

Cheers
DCN

[nau]

after few days in my new GTI got only one thing to say about DSG.... its fantastic in auto but in manual really dont see much use for it unless u want buttons to push...
big thing about downshifting (in other cars that I drove in a last few years) that u can slow down without breaking .... GTI just goes in higher revs without any issues and a bit more sound to it ... cant really say that Im disappointed and maybe it will grow on me but thats just how it is in my opinion

[hooba]

Old car saying, gears are for go, brakes are for slow. If you don't believe me, get a quote on how much a clutch versus a brake pad replacement costs.

[rossw]

Old car saying, gears are for go, brakes are for slow. If you don't believe me, get a quote on how much a clutch versus a brake pad replacement costs.

There are two different things here that people often confuse.

1 . Slowing down for a corner or traffic lights. Here it makes a lot of sense to use the brakes rather than trying to use the clutch or torque converter as a brake.

2. Holding speed down a steep hill. Here, it makes more sense to shift to a lower gear and allow the engine braking to stop you from speeding up (with the clutch fully engaged, i.e. not slipping). If you use the brakes continuously instead, they will heat up and on older cars or a long descent, may stop working before you get to the bottom. In extreme cases you can warp or crack the discs.

There is no wear caused to the engine because the load is a small fraction of what it sees when you accelerate. Oil continues to circulate and there is no harm done at all. There is no wear caused to the clutch (manual or DSG) because apart from actual gear changes it is fully engaged, unless you are terrible at downchanges.

So yes, actively slowing down - use brakes and match gears only, don't brake using the clutch. Holding speed on a descent - use a lower gear and avoid riding the brakes. A lot of modern automatics will do this for you if they sense excessive brake usage (eg, Mitsubishi, Honda, others).

There is a good reason why steep descents will have a sign that says "trucks must use low gear". IT's a good idea in a car too, manual or auto

[7R]

30% manual control, 70% fully let it do its own thing. I do however put the selector into N if I am stuck in peak hour traffic. Take it out of D, S or M+- for the time I am sitting in queues which is a lot in Sydney. Also even in D or S I tend to drive it like manual just without a clutch pedal so I work the accelerator through the revs in each gear and use throttle position to prompt gear changes as much as possible.

Its a great box - I do miss manual but the downshift farts from the exhaust, especially in S are great the hear.