MT vs DSG survey

[Dubya]

Yeah windmagnet, those are basically my feelings too. From this day forward I will always prefer a DSG type gearbox over manual and both of them heavily over an auto. I can't stand autos, but I love the DSG for all the reasons you mentioned and more

Nonetheless, I am yet to read any reasons why the DSG provides a superior driving experience to the manual.

I have read justifications for DSG such as:

- dual-clutch autos are used in F1 (but Coreying says they retain the clutch for launch);

- dual-clutch autos are used in Ferraris etc;

- DSG makes a nice sound between gear changes;

- DSG offers gear changes that are quicker by a degree (that is of little moment on the road).

But I have not read how doing less (by surrendering control of the clutch to a CPU) enhances the driving experience.

Easier, sure. Sounds great, if you say so. Technological tour de force , no doubt. Used on race tracks (so are slicks etc etc).

But a more engaging and enjoyable driving experience?

How exactly? If I knew that I might be convinced to switch.

Speaking of which, I thought Coreying might have put in his two cents worth about the Monty Hall Dilemma in General Discussion. I am sure his views, being those of, if I understand correctly, a self-proclaimed "logician", would be valued and carry some weight.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ad.php?t=42135

[jayjay]

i think i my experience of driving and being driven in an automated clutch car (family has a 118 tsi 7sp and the first get smg m3 respectively), i've found that there's a greater level of control over the gearshifts as opposed to an automatic.

and whilst i'm religiously a manual driver ( i like mind mapping the mechanism as i shift ), had i wanted to drive fast around a race track, and lacked the coordination to heel-toe, aggresively launch etc, a gearbox like the dsg or smg would be a lot more consistent and most probably faster than i could shift myself.

[trueman]

Totally off topic of the original thread!!
They always end up with the MT proponents beating their chest.

[Dubya]

Totally off topic of the original thread!!
They always end up with the MT proponents beating their chest.

Or asking inconvenient questions like those above and, for instance:

Doesn't DSG put you one step closer to being a passenger?

[nicandlance]

Isn't DSG just for people that like a manual but don't know how to drive one????
Ouch!

[Swallowtail]

LOL... Nic, stop stirring.

If the R36 had been available in manual I probably would have got it with a manual. However now that I have the DSG I love it.

[OilBurna]

I'd love a manual but driving in stop start traffic at a crawl is not much fun after a while, just need to do the paddle shift conversion...

[Frankenstrat]

Totally off topic of the original thread!!
They always end up with the MT proponents beating their chest.

I certainly don't beat my chest about my choice of transmission, nor do I seek to refute the arguments of proponents of DSG transmission. I drive a manual because I want to. I have no feelings of superiority simply because I have a clutch pedal in my car.

[Corey_R]

I certainly don't beat my chest about my choice of transmission, nor do I seek to refute the arguments of proponents of DSG transmission. I drive a manual because I want to. I have no feelings of superiority simply because I have a clutch pedal in my car.

+1
Nice post

[Dubya]

I certainly don't beat my chest about my choice of transmission, nor do I seek to refute the arguments of proponents of DSG transmission. I drive a manual because I want to. I have no feelings of superiority simply because I have a clutch pedal in my car.

I have not seen any examples of chest-beating by MT drivers either - just a few probing questions to find out how DSG adds to the driving experience, if at all.

If it doesn't, the convenience of an auto-shift would appear to be the main benefit.

However, as I enjoy using the clutch and so see surrendering control of the clutch as more of a deprivation than a benefit, I wouldn't part with $2,500 to lose the clutch. But I am interested to know if there is a gain in driving enjoyment in real-world conditions in addition to the convenience factor as there may be something else I need to take into account when next faced with this decision.