DSG: Problems, Questions, Likes and Dislikes

**hokxj** · 06-04-2013, 11:51 PM

Looking to buy a Golf/Polo. I always hear people say drive a DSG like a manual. As someone who's never driven a manual. How would you best describe the proper way of driving a DSG? I know that when reversing you should let the car come to a complete halt before you switch to drive (I do that already). When in stop/start traffic, can you ease your foot off the brake to let the car roll forward?

What are some other tips?

**SilvrFoxX** · 07-04-2013, 07:09 AM

Don't get hung up on what people say, drive the DSG like you would an auto. Everything else is a wank

**rory** · 07-04-2013, 08:45 AM

Love driving with the DSG. My wife hates it whilst trying to park due snatchy engagement at low speed, especially on sloping parking spots.
Having sufferred one mechatronic failure 800ks from home and the inconvenience that caused, I wouldn't buy one again anytime soon.

**cktsi** · 07-04-2013, 12:41 PM

You can't completely drive the DSG like an auto. The only thing to keep in mind is on uphills, don't use the accelerator to "hold" your car stationary whilst at the lights. In higher powered cars, auto drivers leave their foot off the accelerator and footbrake, and the car will still "hold". Lots of auto drivers do this.

DO NOT DO THIS WITH A DSG.

If you follow this simple rule, then yes it is equivalent to driving an Auto. Break this rule, your clutch will wear prematurely. If not all your drivers can reliably obey this rule, I would not get a DSG. I also would not get a DSG if you live in a very hilly area (like Coogee in Sydney) and do lots of very steep hill starts on a daily basis.

On a manual, I've burned out clutch plates doing hill starts in Coogee (and these were once off trips). Granted this was in a cheap Jap car... but would you want your Euro car clutch plates to burn out like that?

**mfl** · 07-04-2013, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by cktsi

You can't completely drive the DSG like an auto. The only thing to keep in mind is on uphills, don't use the accelerator to "hold" your car stationary whilst at the lights. In higher powered cars, auto drivers leave their foot off the accelerator and footbrake, and the car will still "hold". Lots of auto drivers do this.

DO NOT DO THIS WITH A DSG.

Actually I wouldn't be doing that in any type of auto either. Stationary on a hill without your foot on the brake, really ? ... (yes I have owned a few modified V8 Commodores)

I also was given a DSG Golf as a loan car, drove it like a normal auto, not an issue.

**hokxj** · 07-04-2013, 07:00 PM

With hill start assist, I presume you don't need to use a handbrake for a hill start then? Looks like I'll have to get used to that, got a test drive booked for the next weekend, so will see how it goes from there.

**Aoife** · 24-04-2013, 10:40 AM

Ive recently picked up a Golf GTI DSG recently.

Quite enjoying it after driving a manual my entire life. The majority of the time I drive it in manual mode and have found using the steering wheel paddles to change my preferred option.

Got one little quirk I havent been able to find a solution I like. If I have to take off from standstill with with a large amount of lock on the wheel, by the time I am half way round the corner I want to change to 2nd but cant use the paddles as they are out of reach. At the moment I am shifting up using the stick rather than have it screaming by the time I exit the corner and point straight again.

Has anyone else had this and have any other solutions that they have found works for them?

**Rawcpoppa** · 24-04-2013, 10:43 AM

I use the stick as well. Other than that you'll get accustomed to the wheel and will learn to sometimes press up shift paddle while the wheel is turned/off centre eventually.

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**Silvertfox** · 24-04-2013, 12:35 PM

In that situation I'd use the S position and revert to manual once the turn is negotiated. Try to grope the paddles when the wheel is rotating is a problem!

**MovieDude** · 24-04-2013, 03:17 PM

I've owned my GTI DSG since last May and still loving it. However, I've noticed that in the mornings it stays in 1st gear a lot longer than when the engine/gearbox is warm. Sometimes I can go nearly 100m and around a 90 degree bend before it will change up to 2nd. From there it's fine. Is this something that I should get checked out?