Mk7 GTI - manual or DSG?

[Mattlock]

Haha. I converted my wife from auto to manual about 15 years ago. She won't drive an auto or DSG - hates the lack of control!


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[Vagabond]

Modern cars are the culmination of over 100 years of human ingenuity - everything from the ignition system down to the rubber compound in the tires represents a cohesive marvel of design and engineering. Years of refinement have improved the driving experience beyond imagination, but have also slowly dulled our appreciation. Manual transmissions provide humble acknowledgement of the inner workings of the vehicle, its engine and its underlying physics which ultimately helps reinforce the connection between man and machine. To me there is something fantastic about manual transmissions. They're also fun.

[Mike_lama]

If you look at the pros and cons, DSG will always come out on top, especially in the pros department plus we all love the DSG farts.

BUT there is one key factor that can't be measured with manual and it is the high level of engagement you get from executing smooth shifts and feeling much more in control. Level of enjoyment I experienced in the manual vs DSG when I test drive both was non comparable. Couldn't swipe the smile off my face after the manual then drove the DSG and it wasn't the same, was disappointed.

I'm now a proud owner of a Golf GTI MK7 2016 in manual.

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[Mattlock]

The only negative I have with the Mk7 manual is that I now find it almost impossible to heel-n-toe my gear changes.

In my Mk5 I could do it easily every time and it was great fun to get it right with timing and smoothness.

In the 7 because they've changed the pedal hinge, the gap between the brake and throttle means that the R has almost stood on its nose before you're in range of blipping the throttle.

It's a real shame as it's the only feature of the DSG cars I like plus there are other manual cars out there in the VAG family that have software to blip for you.


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[SevenR]

lol, if I couldnt heel/toe in a manual it would be pointless to drive one!

what you need to do is modify/extend the go pedal (not the brake pedal obviously) so you can heel/toe - I had to do this years ago to my 911 for the same reason.

i dont understand this talk of 'not feeling/being in control' of a DSG 7R, in the old days of torque converter auto yeah definitely agree, but with this car its an automated manual & I allways feel in total control of how it works when in manual/tiptronic in race mode.

in regards to choosing dsg/or manual - I couldnt make up my mind so went with the dsg - I can always pick up a manual in a few years time if I miss one bad enough.

[Sharkie]

Have a look at the reviews to see where the journo's hearts are at .... pretty much every single one prefers the manual over the DSG .... and these guys drive cars for a living .....

[Tuan]

Manual

[Mattlock]

lol, if I couldnt heel/toe in a manual it would be pointless to drive one!

what you need to do is modify/extend the go pedal (not the brake pedal obviously) so you can heel/toe - I had to do this years ago to my 911 for the same reason.

i dont understand this talk of 'not feeling/being in control' of a DSG 7R, in the old days of torque converter auto yeah definitely agree, but with this car its an automated manual & I allways feel in total control of how it works when in manual/tiptronic in race mode.

in regards to choosing dsg/or manual - I couldnt make up my mind so went with the dsg - I can always pick up a manual in a few years time if I miss one bad enough.

Yep, I know I need to modify the throttle to bring it up to the right height - I just haven't got around to it yet.

The 7's DSG is much better than the 6's but it still has automatic behaviours in manual mode that I don't like. The one that annoys me the most is a double shifting effect either up or down. If you grab a gear at the red line, then there are occasions that the car goes for it at the same time and you end up shifting 2 gears.


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[SevenR]

I have never found an issue with 'double shifting'

[3C4M Guy]

I bought a DSG and regret it - only because I really miss a proper manual with 3 pedals! So much control. So much fun. A manual is the only way to go for the enthusiast driver who understands how cars work and wants to get the best out of them ... whilst having fun at the same time. I've tried a spirited drive through the hills with a DSG and even manual shifting with flappy paddles, it just doesn't do it for me.

Having said that, a manual is increasingly becoming a pain on our crowded roads. I guess the answer is 2 cars - one of each! If you want just one car, I'd say a manual unless you do most of your driving on crowded roads in peak hour.