DSG or not DSG, that is the question.....

[Flashpilot]

Hey folks,

Well, a deal is done on an 06 DSG and it looks like we could complete next weekend.

The thing is, I have had the "horrors" instilled in me by a mate who says the DSG  can be troublesome and that the MK5 GTi can be troublesome?? This has come as a surprise to me.....i mean, its a Golf!

What I don't want to do, is sell my beloved, trustworthy (albeit shabby) Beemer Diesel and replace it with an 06 GTi that's going to give me a headache.....I just want a reliable car! 

Reassurance needed!!!! 

[Shorty]

Is only the mechatronics that can be troublesome on them dude, i';ve heard of people buying a warranty and then if it does go pear shaped its covered under that.

If you look after them and service them correctly you should be ok, i don't know if it was later ones that were more common to failing too?

I've just got a DSG equipped car and its unreal, dont know why i didnt get one before!

[sub39h]

I've got DSG and I'll never drive a manual again. One of the few ocassions in a car where you can have your cake and eat it too

[monte]

I've got DSG and I'll never drive a manual again. One of the few ocassions in a car where you can have your cake and eat it too

Im sure 99.9% of ALL DSG owners would agree too 

  DSG = MUCH AWESOMENESS 

Im on the forum quite often, and there are hundreds of members. I don't know how many are DSG owners, but I for one don't know anyone thats had DSG problems 

[Lex]

i have a dsg edition 30, its got 69 k on the clock, when i bought it i had it serviced (majora) and had the dsg oil change, its been fine and works great, all the options of manual and when you cannot be bothered stick it in D.

S is good ( blips of the downshift!) and launch control is great at the lights....

happy days!

[seiko]

drove both dsg and manual, when i was looking for a edition 30, for me the manual was more involving and felt more of a drivers car, and bought the manual 

[Flashpilot]

Some interesting comments peeps....thanks 

My mates R32 was a great car, with the DSG and another guy I know had a manual GTi and he loved that!! So now I'm confused....

I've had a lt of cars, never an SMG or DSG, always the normal manual or auto. I actually get a kick out of driving a manual well and fom what I can gather, there are times when the DSG can change gear when you don't want it to (High revs, or mid corner, but I'm guessing second could be down to technique?).

Now, I'm not a thrash merchant and nor will I likely attend any track days in it.....but I do like to be in control f the car (my Discovery 3 auto can do what it likes, but the second car can't!!  ). Double de clutching, heel toe, left foot braking are all methods I use when "making progress", so maybe I should just go for whatever car comes up at the right price?

What are people's thoughts on mileage? Is 90k+ okay with good history etc, or should I be thinking the lower, the better?? I've seen a car I'm keen on at a good price....with loads of history apparently....and it looks fab. I was always told to buy on condition and not on miles......

[john87]

When I bought my car, the 'GTI specialist' salesman recommended the manual over the DSG, and said that very few people my age went for DSG versions :-/ possibly worried about me coming back with gearbox issues!

Anyway, the manual is smooth as you like and has a much better 'box than my previous 8th gen Civic. I've been in an R32 with DSG and was very impressed, but having driven a works automatic pool car, I find my foot gets bored and even after a long journey, was still searching for the clutch pedal when stopping at junctions 

[ojs]

I've just had this same dilemma recently, DSG or manual. So I test drove both, one ED30 manual and the other a standard gti with DSG. What I found, especially being mechanically minded is that you have more control over the car with a manual.
Ill explain, when entering a corner or a roundabout I usually downchange and apply the brakes slightly, when down-changing i release the clutch slowly and scrub some speed with the engine braking. I didnt find this as effective with the DSG, when changing gear you knock the leaver and its changed gear instantly.
But thats just my opinion. If possible try both 

p.s ED30 is an awesome car, I would highly recommend one!!

[Kregiel]

my missus has dsg and myself gti manual, both are great and very different cars, at low speeds start/stop dsg seems to be slightly jerky, but once you get going it's as smooth as silk and the speed of shifts is unreal, also it gives you great manual option as well.... in summary depending on what you're looking for, dsg will always be quicker no matter how good a driver is, manual for me is much more involving learing toe/hill action etc, in traffic dsg is much better and for trashing if you want to just concentrate on your line, entering into corners and quick exit just stick it in S

try both and make up your mind!

[sub39h]

What are people's thoughts on mileage? Is 90k+ okay with good history etc, or should I be thinking the lower, the better?? I've seen a car I'm keen on at a good price....with loads of history apparently....and it looks fab. I was always told to buy on condition and not on miles......

Me personally I'd always be put off by a high mileage car, but the general consensus on here (and rightly so) is that a car with 90k which has been looked after is better than a car with 30k that's been thrashed to within an inch of its life, not serviced on time etc.

Just make sure for that age it's had at least one cambelt/water pump change (preferably recently) and get someone to vagcom scan it if you can

[TurboTrev]

As I said in a recent similar thread, make sure you buy/negotiate a warranty that covers the gearbox.  I know 3 people with DSG, including my wife's 11 reg Polo GTI and all of us have had very expensive problems (all covered under warranty, thankfully).

[MAT ED30]

Hate dsg  I hate the noise the exhaust makes with it and no matter what you say it's an old man auto  if it goes wrong then is mega ££££ to sort out but with a normal box anyone could sort it. I owned a car with dsg and after a few months it had to go I just felt so detached from driving it but as they say ETTO 

[Flashpilot]

Thanks for all the opinions and views re DSG. I am a driver that likes to feel involved and think that possibly the slight jerkiness and "remote" feeling a few people have mentioned, may ultimately spoil my driving pleasure a little bit. I do pride myself on being smooth when driving anything......

One car I'm looking at has 93k miles on it and was owned by one of the good peeps on here prior to the current owner...and it looks completely mint..but there is another, with a slightly lower spec, but it has but 45k! The higher spec' , higher miles one is about 1500 squids cheaper.....what a dilemma! 

Will keep all posted......

[Tamiyoman]

My Ed30 is DSG and had it for about a month now and done 500 miles thus far, love that you can stick in auto when stuck in traffic and use the paddles when driving "Enthusiastically".

DSG= DAMN SWEET GEARCHANGE 

As others have said as long as you service correctly it should pose no problems, I heard that the majority of DSG issues seemto be on 56 and 07 plate plate golfs, but I guess thats just statistics and its a lottery, my own 08 plate Ed30 DSG mechatronics failed at 37K and were replaced by VW under warranty and then issued a new 3 year warranty on the box so i am safe until October 14th 2014