Reverse gear in DSG

[Lucas_R]

Thanks for clearing that up for a DSG newbie (me). I only had it for a week, still learning the car. I have never driven a car with DSG before so I just want to make sure nothing is wrong. As I said, it only happens in very low speed or reverse. When it gets going, it's smooth as. I asked the dealer of I bought the car from about the reverse gear. He said it hesitates/vibrates at the beginning because it's turbocharged.... ok then, I know I won't waste my time to ask him any more questions.

Haha best/worse excuse ever. Goes to show how little of a clue some people in the automotive industry have.

The biggest mistake people make (and its not the customers fault - its VW/Audi/Skoda's fault because they sell the car as an "automatic") is that people try to drive them just like every other automatic they have owned in the past. As others have mentioned, the DSG is a sophisticated manual gearbox which has an electronic brain that controls the clutches for you.

Some things to keep in mind when driving a DSG equipped vehicle:

1) Clutch needs a second to engage when taking off from a standstill
2) Clutch needs a second to engage when reversing or doing 3 point turn etc. The gearbox is not as quick to respond as a traditional automatic gearbox
3) DSG's do not like to creep forward in traffic jams (it essentially rides the clutch just like a manual would)
4) If the car is shuddering its because you are going to slow and the gearbox doesn't know to engage the clutch or not - obviously this cannot be avoided sometimes when you are trying to reverse park or manouvre in a confined space, but try to limit how much of this you do (eg dont do it on purpose for extended periods of time)
5) Keep your foot firmly on the brake when stopped at traffic lights etc - only having your foot placed lightly on the brake can engage the clutches
6) If you get stuck at a railway crossing or other situation where you will be stationary for an extended period of time - put the gearbox into neutral or park to risk slipping the clutches (and to give your foot a rest).