DSG "S" mode is a bit bonkers!

[cameronp]

Has anyone else noticed that when you floor the accelerator in sports mode, the DSG will upshift well past the redline? It seems to change somewhere between 6500 and 7000rpm on the 118TSI, where the redline is at 6000. I presume that VW knew what they were doing when they programmed it to do that, but I did find it a little unnerving.

More generally, "S" mode does provide a nice rush of power but it seems way too aggressive for anything other than overtaking on a country road. I might have to try it next time I want to fit in a small gap in traffic, though, since the normal "D" shift pattern is just like a typical automatic, a bit too unwilling to drop down a gear when needed.

[elisiX]

I've only had my GTI a few days, but S mode is not being used much. Normal driving in traffic, on the way to work is basically always in regular drive. However if I want to give it a squirt, have some fun, its in manual using the paddles. Paddles give me the same enjoyment, I hear the same pop etc from the exhaust, but without the nutty revs being held onto forever. I just find sport mode too erratic for street driving. 1st to second is awesome.. and into third is great too. But it holds onto revs too long before upshifting again.

I'd be interested to hear from other GTI owners with DSG on this.

[Corey_R]

There are already a few threads on this, but it's too late in the evening for me to bother looking....
But yes, S is purely for aggressive driving. It's to give you the fastest 0 to 100 times possible, etc. 6000 is where the "redline" starts "fading in". It isn't a hard redline. Also, remember that the needles are still analogue, so they'll float a bit higher than what the engine actually hits before "falling back" to the changed gear RPMs.

In my MKV GTI, I rarely used S because it's really not meant to day to day use. Simply for track or 0 to 100 runs.

[BBP]

Sport mode would also be useful for the Putty Road and the old Pacific Hwy and Buckett's Way !

God I love Putty Road.

[flappa]

Does the GTI have a Rev Limiter ?

and if so, is it adjustable ?

[Corey_R]

Of course... practically all new cars do.

It's not user adjustable, although I believe it is adjustable through the ECU.
However, on the DSG models, you'd also need a DSG reflash to adjust the shifting points of the DSG.

Of course, adjusting the rev limiter would only be beneficial if the car is modified and has more power in the high RPMs. Otherwise you'd accelerating at a slower rate than if you had just changed up and used the torque and power available in the next gear!

[G-rig]

I never use sports mode, holds it in gear too long and not even convinces it's faster.

[niall]

Another thing I'm struggling with (Golf R)...
In "S" mode (auto not paddles) the car sometimes holds 1st gear well into the red-line even though I only have the throttle halfway down. Most times it changes at exactly the right time when the torque feels strongest but not always.

Is there a technique to change up a gear before it hits the red-line, maybe by manipulating the throttle?, and I don't mean by revving it into the red-line?

Thanks,
Niall

[Corey_R]

As long as you've waited until the car and the gearbox is warm (if you warm the car whilst driving instead of stationary idling, assume the gearbox is also warm when the OIL temp is at 80+ in the R), then yes as you thought, it's all controlled by your foot. S mode is a lot more aggressive than D mode (hence the title of this thread I merged your thread into) and will take more getting used to. Plus, at 60 and 80 km/h speeds, it'll never get into 6th etc. Then it's amusing to put the cruise control on cause it'll change to 6th, and the slightest touch of the accelerator will make it drop to as low as 2nd!

Anyway... you must've just got your car, so give it some time and you'll get used to it. Go on a nice long drive on some twisties and experiment with the different mods