RS - manual or DSG?

[K1W1]

Of course there are better manuals out there but the only ones I've experienced are the Audi ones and the Mini ones (they're seriously excellent).

I thought you said Skoda gearboxes were the best in the business?

[Jake02]

I thought you said Skoda gearboxes were the best in the business?

I said some of the best, which doesn't imply that I think that they ARE the best, rather close to the best. It's also a matter of opinion wouldn't you agree? Good.

Is my grammar ok!? Great!

[woofy]

I have had 3 mazda gearboxs and they were as notchy and sometimes difficult as hell, they get better over time. One was very similar to the MX-5 one. I actually prefer the Skoda manual one, it seems a shorter throw, and not so hard to change gears.

[Damo105]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Manual it is. Lease paperwork will be submitted tomorrow. Now begins the 5 month wait!

I'm used to European clutches, my current daily drive is a manual Peugeot 207, and their gearboxes aren't anything great, so the VAG box should be a lot nicer. I've had a few other euro's before this, all manual, and my old 306 S16 had a clutch like a truck!

My weekend drive is an Alfa 105 coupe with a temperamental 2nd gear synchro, so the Skoda box will be a doddle compared to that!

[MarksVRS]

With the lazy mountain of diesel torque I wouldn't have it any other way. Always been a manual driver anyway, even in my VY Commodore V6 which I had to order and wait for. In that case it worked out better for resale, as P platers all over Sydney were looking for the S model witha a manual gearbox.

IMHO the vRS manual gearbox is direct, short enough throw and good ratios. Not sure if ratios differ for diesel though.

[aslsw]

Funny thing is that is was the DSG gearbox that got me looking at the Skoda in the first place!

My brother-in-law has a R32 in Switzerland which I've driven a lot. I just loved the gearbox and started looking at VWs and then 'found' the Skoda - and got a better deal.

I admit that the DSG can be a bit weird sometimes eg. even in manual mode it automatically downchanges as you come to a stop which can be a bit disconcerting if you try to downchange manually.

I drive it in manual about 80% of the time, but I like the flexibility to be able to choose. And I find in manual mode it drives more like a 'true' manual than a normal auto.

Plus, the multi-function steering wheel is a bonus.

Horses for courses in the end I guess!

[woofy]

Its pretty petty not to put the multifunction controls on all models, some cars only do it with the manuals, in my man RS there is the spot for the controls filled in with ugly blank plates, surely they could have just put them in.

[CanberravRS]

Ive had the 6sp man for the last nearly 3 years, and although not as neater shifter as my Cooper S i had, its far and away one of the best 6speed changers around.
Go drive a Mazda or Subaru to find out how vague shifts can be.

Saying all that though my new car will be DSG, but i had no manual choice so it will have to do with paddles.

[pwcar]

I've owned and driven manual cars all my life. I was a bit torn like you are.
In the end I got the DSG in an Octavia RS with the diesel engine.
It's still a manual gearbox and has the 'connectedness' that is missing with an auto and torque converter, it just that the dual-clutch automation allows it to change itself like an auto.

Hit a twisty mountain road and just stick it in 4th and it rarely needs changing, or put it into S mode and it makes very good choices anyway
it holds gears and revs out more, it also does good down-changes and engine braking.

Drive the car around on forest tracks and roads and it also makes excellent choices, it never feels like it is in the wrong gear and engine braking is present when needed.

It's much better around the city and heavy stop start traffic than a manual and I don't regret my decision.
Plus it's got flappy paddles on the wheel for when you feel all video game-ish or F1 driver-ish