Ian_C Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Blimey, much quicker than I was expecting, undoubtedly on par with mine, probably quicker! Seems to go for a second wind about 4-4500 and then a soft limiter kicks in about 6500 before a 6800 max, peak power plateau from 5500-6800. Demo car was a Sportback and surprisingly a manual - joyous!!! Good ratios, nice long sixth, taller than my S4. Pick up in sixth even from 50 mph was impressive. Plant your foot and 0.5 seconds later as the boost builds off she goes. Didn't like pulling away in second though - admittedly a lazy habit I've acquired with my V8. Today was hardly a fair test of mpg, you'd need to borrow one for 24 hours or a weekend to know what it does 'on a run', although one guy on Audi SRS is saying his has done 42 mpg long term average from new which is remarkable. Very impressed, could definitely live with one of those day-to-day. I'm sure the 3dr handles even better - and gives better mpg - with its slightly shorter wheelbase and less mass (off top of my head Sportback is approx 40mm extra in the wheelbase and 40mm extra rear overhang) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 In the press today that Audi are looking to increase prices by around 5% on the whole range due to increasing costs. Might make it more difficult to haggle. Saying that my dealer was flexible when I bought the S6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 What percentage did you manage Dave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 <opens database> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I am probably getting old, but I found the DSG an absolute pleasure to drive and would definitely have one over a manual these days. Quicker when you want to be, lazy when you dont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 And guaranteed to go wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 5 year warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 That just means you shouldn't have to pay the bill when it does inevitably go wrong. I'd far rather have a gearbox that doesn't break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 (edited) Are they really that bad? I don't know anyone who has had a problem with them, even in powerful cars such as the S4 and S5? Even the TTS my brother had - although he drives like Miss Daisy.... that car probably didn't see above 40mph in an entire year. Edited November 29, 2013 by DanG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I know of lots of people who've had no problems, I know a few who have, and I've read plenty. Of course you only get the bad news on the internet, but it has been enough to put me off. The fact it might go wrong isn't great in the first place. The diabolical attitude of (seemingly) most VAG dealers when you do have a problem is what kills it altogether for me. A DSG box is a pointless piece of technology in 99% of the cars VAG put it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Quick Google for AUDI DSG gearbox problems shows older threads, not newer, unless you are Australian.... Could just be a feature of the bots. Will research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 VAG have (finally) acknowledged there are problems with the DSG box and have issued a world wide recall, apparently the fix is to change from good modern synthetic oils, to old fashioned mineral oils. We had a lot of problems with DSG boxes, and hence don't buy anything VAG with one, but then our cars do work pretty hard compared to the average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I do think the reason we hear so much about VAG's DSG and little about equivalent boxes is down to the sheer number of cars out there fitted with it. I can't help thinking most other manufacturers have been more honest, both with themselves and their customers, and realised that it's actually quite expensive to make a flappy paddle (*) gearbox reliable, and hence only offer it on high end performance cars that actually benefit from it and can bear the cost. In hindsight, VAG would have been much better advised taking a leaf out of BMW's book and concentrate on developing their auto boxes instead. Obviously they wouldn't produce anything as good as BMW's 8 speeder, but it'd be better than the DSG for (as I said) 99% of the models they put it in. (* - official Clarkson definition) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 (edited) The recall is for the latest 7 speed DSG boxes and not the older 6 speed boxes. I had a DSG R32 from new for 5 years and did over 80k miles in it and the box behaved perfectly just with the scheduled oil changes at 40k. The way I look at is, they are very complex and if they do go wrong out of warranty As much as I love DSG, when I bought my Rocco I went manual as I didn't want to push my luck:-) Edited November 29, 2013 by Cuprabob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Interesting that Audi run 7 speed S-Tronic on the S4 and RS4 and 6 speed on the S3 - probably something to do with space. Its also interesting to note that neither the S4 nor RS4 are available with anything but an S Tronic. In fact, an A4 quattro is difficult to buy without the S Tronic - certainly no 6 speed quattro S-Line 2.0Ts like mine available... only manual available for the lower powered Diesel. Perhaps that put up the value of mine?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Early days but almost 6k miles with the 7 speed S-tronic in the S5 and no problems. I'd agree with Dan, it's an absolute pleasure to drive. Seamlessly working away in the background while I potter about, you struggle to notice the changes. The economy is brilliant. Then lightening quick and smooth changes at full blat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I do think the reason we hear so much about VAG's DSG and little about equivalent boxes is down to the sheer number of cars out there fitted with it. We have just as many Fords with the Powershift gearbox as we had cars with DSG, we've had a failure rate of zero on the Powershift boxes, and a frankly amazing 100% failiure rate on DSG boxes, yes, the gearbox on every single DSG equipped car we have ever had, has failed. Make of that what you will, but personally I wouldn't even consider DSG on anything that was going to click past 60k miles while in my ownership. I appreciate our cars have a harder life than average, but they are all treated equally hard be they Ford, VW, Vauxhall, Mercedes etc, the highest mileage DSG box we had did just a smidge over 100k before it died, the lowest mileage box went at 35k, most of them go pop around 70-80k miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 Just put down a deposit on one, arriving February, considered the new Golf R, but cant be doing with VW dealers, they are just utter cr4p 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 I had the 7 speed dry clutch DSG in my Golf GT-TSI. It was a heap of shit. Changes got progressively worse, ending with the 1st to 2nd change going in with a very heavy clunk when cold. In the end, it needed a new mechatronic unit and I believe clutch plates. I'd never spend my own money on one - they're even more troublesome than the Alfa Selespeed. The ZF 8-speed auto is a masterpiece and pretty much decided which brand of car I was ordering this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 It's not just BMW that use the zf 8 speed box. Audi use it, Jag I think too and others.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 BMW are the only manufacturer that offer the ZF box on small / mid sized hatches and saloons in the UK, though. (It's worth noting that my Golf barely made it to 40k miles before the box needed work - although it only made it to about 13 or 14k miles before it needed a full engine rebuild) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Ashley, what spec have you gone for? Do you know build week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Ashley, what spec have you gone for? Do you know build week? Hi Dan, finding a car was a total ballache as I wanted a three door,plenty of sbacks about, Managed to locate one build week 3, not the exact specification I wanted, but I need to get out of the current S3 sooner rather than later, so I took the car. Basically three door black pearl, tech pack, comfort pack and a few other bits just North of 36K, managed to get a 6% discount, should be in it by mid Feb, well thats the plan, but hey ho it is Audi we are talking about, would probably take them 12 months plus to build & deliver a OEM key fob if their past efforts are anything to go by I was going to hang on for the new RS3 which is supposed to be launched March, but whilst I can live with the DSG, do not want a "sportback" which is just a marketing b0ll0x of a name for an estate car. Why in Jeebus name they cant build a 3 door manual RS3 is beyond me, as if you want a uberfast estate car, you buy the RS4, why add another layer of the same configuration, when you could build a stonkin 3 door version with some serious attitude and performance, whilst still retaining a reasonable level of practicality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Id hang on a couple of weeks and get a 14 plate. DSG drops 0-60 to 4.8 which is pretty quick! You can probably still extend your warranty to 5 years too, so giving you total piece of mind and keeping residuals strong as it's transferable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 See, the S3 is a very sensible choice. By that I don't mean ill of it. I mean it is the car that a clever person chooses above the RS3. Rather like the M135i is to the 1M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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