Few questions from a newb!

[marty77]

Hi guys got a few questions about a gti I went and had a look at.

The car had dsg and seemed smooth enough from cold in d but when I flicked into manual and pulled away from the lights it seemed to thump into second and third.  Once up to temp in did seem OK but having read the horror stories I wondered if I should walk. 

Also after only a minute or two after starting from cold the fan kicked in which seemed strange to me?  Other than that the wings had a touch of rust that would get sorted and round the lights switch it was a bit tatty.

The car is high specced and other than what is mentioned seems in better condition cosmetically than others I have seen.

Cheers in advance.

[Lone_Par]

You might be able to get the rust sorted under guarantee from VW. There is a thread on here - use the search. It documents members successes.

[marty77]

Yeah I'm not too bothered about the rust as the guy said it would be fixed, the dsg worries me more.  The car is on 44k and is an 07 so should get the dsg service done pronto.  I also reckon it will need belts done too around now?

[RedRobin]

.
Firstly, A Warm Welcome to the forum 

Yes, you should definitely get a DSG box of tricks regularly serviced as VW advise.

If you need the support of a VW document re getting your VW dealer to sort out your wings rust free of charge, PM me with you email address.

[Lone_Par]

I've got a manual so can't comment on the DSG I'm afraid.

The cam belt and water pump should be done at 4 years or 40k so factor this into the price or get him to do it before you buy. VW do this for £499 fixed price IIRC.

[marty77]

Cheers for the offer i may do that if they get arsey.  The car chimed to say it needed a service when i started it and the guy said one would be done before the car was sold but as long as the dsg thump isn't critical i might put a cheeky offer on the condition cambelt and dsg are sorted along with the rust.

[RedRobin]

^^^^
A DSG service MUST be done by either a fully approved VW dealership or a workshop (JKM just as an example) who knows exactly what they are doing and has experience - It's important.

[marty77]

Its a VW dealer so who knows!  Salesman tried to imply it was because I wasn't revving enough when I changed up and that dsg was for driving quickly and red lining the car....

Looked at a leon cupra too but not sure I could live with the interior compared to the golf.

[RedRobin]

Its a VW dealer so who knows!  Salesman tried to imply it was because I wasn't revving enough when I changed up and that dsg was for driving quickly and red lining the car....

Looked at a leon cupra too but not sure I could live with the interior compared to the golf.

....Typical salesman! That's bollox! If you experience any knocking or lumpiness in your DSG it's past the time for its servicing and will potentially be very expensive if it goes belly up.

The Cupra is a nice place to be - It feels very sporty inside. Yes, very plasticky but modern and who wants leather everywhere, but the windscreen rake etc and instrumentation is nice. The Mk5 Golf clocks display is crap. Cupra has K04 turbo I think, and more power tuning potential. It depends what you want.

[marty77]

Hmm I will g and have a drive at it and see how it compares to the golf.  I was not impressed with the gti and for the most part dsg. 

Cheers for all the advice guys.

[RedRobin]

Hmm I will g and have a drive at it and see how it compares to the golf.

....Ultimately that has to be the only way and the best way to decide when buying a car. The spec etc on paper is all very well but it's how you personally like her feel when you drive her. Rather like choosing a partner - Not all hot looking people are as nice as they look. Mind you, some ugly hotties are also ugly inside - The movie "Shallow Hal" gets it across very well:

[marty77]

  Very true!  Well i went for a spin in the Cupra and quickly realised it wasn't for me.  The ride felt far more fidgety than the gti however it was pretty rapid from what i could tell.

Unfortunately as i thought the interior didn't do it for me.  The gti had more of a quality feel and when it comes down to it i prefer the looks of the gti both inside and outside.

So looks like the gti is it, now just need to decide if i take the gamble or hold out for a manual with the same options in my price range.  Again thanks for all the help guys, great forum.

[RedRobin]

^^^^
Don't be put off by DSG - You may prefer Manual but DSG offers the best of both worlds, it's far more than just an automatic.

It can be an automatic if you want it to be (D-mode) but like all auto transmissions it will shift gear when it decides and not necessarily when you decide. But D-mode is invaluable for trafiic jam queues and urban crawls etc (or for a wifey/GF who is not really a 'driver').

Driving in M-mode is just like a conventional manual transmission except the shifts are perfect and faster every time without fail (unless the DSG needs servicing!). So, Think Manual and shift as you would do normally. There is a learning curve before it becomes fluid and second nature because there are many other ways of exploiting the DSG shifts.

[marty77]

I loved the dsg and my wife drives an auto so she would prefer it too.  Most of my driving these days is on the motorway so auto makes sense its just the possible bills and beatings from my wife if it goes wrong!

[RedRobin]

I loved the dsg and my wife drives an auto so she would prefer it too.  Most of my driving these days is on the motorway so auto makes sense its just the possible bills and beatings from my wife if it goes wrong!

....IF it goes wrong! - You have to think positive. Any and every car can go wrong irrespective of transmission type. Does your wife like to 'beat you up' or 'bend your ear' at every opportunity? Why would it be your fault? For choosing DSG in spite of her preferring it?