DSG - So how do you drive yours ??

[wytco0]

Now that mines has done 1600 miles and has loosened up a bit I am much happier to use the full rev range.

I notice that for fairly low speed drives on normal A and B roads that I keep switching to S mode along with a bit of manual and paddle use, I don't like D mode for this sort of driving the car feels slow and sluggish in D. I always switch to D when I am in heavy traffic its fine for that.

Now when it comes to motorway speed D seems the best choice, the car feels alive and responsive when its going reasonably fast and I don't find S any better. I don't use S mode on the motorway and I don't use manual either. Does the DSG switch to a more sporty S like mode on its own sometimes? I haven't really noticed when but sometimes it seems to switch to what feels like S mode (stays in gear to much higher revs that D does), I guess I should read the manual ;-)

I am still not completely at home with the DSG box but I am getting to like it more and more, the ability of this car to be a family car and to smoothly deal with traffic and then with a flick to S or manual to turn into a fairly aggressive sport scar is fantastic. Reading the thread about the Porsche test drive made me think how much I would love on of them, but as a compromise between a sensible family car and a sports car the R32 is in my view brilliant.

[cjallaway83]

Hmmmm, I just got very jealous reading thru that

Got to wait two and a half months till I can even drive mine!

[UKLooney]

I always have mine in manual mode, unless in stop/go trafic.

[Soulboy]

I reckon it took me 7,000 miles to get used to the DSG.

I have it in D most of the time when just stuck in traffic etc - then 'change down' into S when I come to overtaking / roundabouts / junctions etc, then 'change up' to D again when its back to cruising/crawling along.

On twisty roads on a weekend type drive its manual all the way.

I used to find S a bit too manic, but as it is sensitive to how hard you press the accelerator, I find I can get it to change up - without red lining all the time - just by being a bit gentler with the accelerator.

[Oli]

I use mine in D for most 'in town' traffic, when it free's up a bit I usually use the paddles unless I am particularily lazy and on the motorway, I have now started using it in manual, so that I can use the torque to accelerate and not kick down through the gears, which it tends to do

[RedRobin]

[ QUOTE ]

I reckon it took me 7,000 miles to get used to the DSG.

I have it in D most of the time when just stuck in traffic etc - then 'change down' into S when I come to overtaking / roundabouts / junctions etc, then 'change up' to D again when its back to cruising/crawling along.

On twisty roads on a weekend type drive its manual all the way.

I used to find S a bit too manic, but as it is sensitive to how hard you press the accelerator, I find I can get it to change up - without red lining all the time - just by being a bit gentler with the accelerator.

[/ QUOTE ]

....I drive in DSG exactly the same way as soulboy - We probably like the same music too! If/when I use Manual-mode it's always with the paddles and never the stick. Please note that I'm driving a Mk5 GTI and not R32.

DSG takes time to familiarise oneself with, not because of any difficulty but because it offers such a choice of combinations in how you use and switch between modes.

In answer to one of the poster's original questions: The DSG never switches between D and S of its own accord.

[wytco0]

RR, thanks for that, I still have not read the manual but I did just drive mine for about 40 miles and I think its just that if you accelerate hard in D it will keep in a lower gear for much longer, in fact up to the red line, under normal acceleration in D it changes up quickly.

I also noticed that I do sometime use the paddles in D, I had not even realised I was doing it but I change down from 6 to 5 failry often using the paddles in D.

I had forgotten that you could use the stick to change gear in M!! I never do that either.

[RedRobin]

That's another thing about the DSG and its ECU - As you have discovered, it will hold gears according to how you use your throttle and responds much more sensitively than the older technology automatic transmissions.

Also, don't forget that you can paddleshift several gears in one superfast session. This is where VW badly need to have given us a large display of gear #

[AGK512]

The accelerator does have a kick-dow switch under it which if you press it will select the lowest possible gear regardless of mode. So when the foot is to the boards the result is always the same lowest gear max go keep it there and it will just change up at limiter When you lift off again what happens next depends on the mode you are in. M no gear change. S no change unless big throttle back off - assuming you are doin less than about 130 . D will start changing up pretty much as soon as you lift.

[RB32]

Tending to be more and more D - RS32 has said that the DSG learns your driving style and I was sceptical but now I think it does. It is much more in tune with me now than at first (have now done 5k miles) - it seems to get the right gear for me much more than previously... either that or I have adapted! I tend to use the paddles with D when I need to set up a corner or roundabout. And on the motorway I have got into the habit of flicking the up paddle even when in D6 - because it is then much less prone to dropping a cog if you just want to surge forward in top.

I'm glad I got DSG. Not sure I would have written that 5 months ago.

[rs32]

.. to be fair I think it's been more RR who has praised the abilities of DSG to learn things progressively.

Having never owned a DSG car I remain tempted by it, but not yet tempted enough to switch from the "porridge stirring" method !

[hixster]

Same as you guys , mostly D in traffic/motorway, occasionally slipping into S mode, but mostly drive manual paddles when having fun. I'm enjoying using the down shift/ engine braking with the paddles now :-)

On that note, I nearly stacked the missus' Citroen Saxo last night, was approaching a roundabout and went to down shift on the left paddle, took me 3 clicks of air to realise I didn't have any paddles, doh!!

Think the DSG is becomming second nature

[R32Geordie]

Anyone dragged it against a manual R32 from lights?

Wonder if there really is much of a difference against a normal gear changing driver.

TP27 - we'll have to have a head to head someday

[AGK512]

A tenth or two which is going to be a few feet each change and car length by 3rd i guess. Having said that it might be a liitle more on that tricky 1st to 2nd change in any car when the taps are fully open !

[AGK512]

[ QUOTE ]

took me 3 clicks of air to realise I didn't have any paddles, doh!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Good job the three peddle were in the same order then !

[theshadow]

When I'm just plodding around I swap between D and S - but usually like to drive in manual mode with the stick. Paddles are for full attack mode, although I still find it's useful to use the stick in the tight bends when the steering wheel's been turned quite a bit and the paddles are on opposite sides.

[zharca]

Hi, been lurking around here a while, so I thought I'd add my 2c.

I got the DSG box because mine's an everyday car and I thought the manual was a pain in traffic. DSG in drive is just so easy and great for commuting.

I'm not crazy about Sport mode, maybe I haven't practiced enough. When I want some open road performance, like for overtaking or roundabouts, I just use manual and the paddles. Drive can also drop down a gear on the motorway when the choice would be to just use the torque.

Folk keep saying the noise is great, but when you just want to go by people those changedowns/changeups sound like a full-out boy racer even when you're trying to slide past. ("If you're driving fast and people notice, you're driving badly" - L Setright)

Anyone using launch control?

regards, jeff

[theshadow]

ALl I can say is that launch control works very nicely indeed...don't bother to race anybody without it.

[zharca]

..........Aaahh Dubai, nice big straight roads, no speed cameras.

Not like Surrey in wet December.

Guess I'll just drive home tonight in "D"

I think launch control is the real reason for the better acceleration times.

jeff

[SamD]

[ QUOTE ]

I think launch control is the real reason for the better acceleration times.

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely it is more to do with the fact that the gear changes are significantly faster than anyone can possibly acheive in a manual?

[zharca]

Hi, I think it also might be better at getting off the line than the average driver as it does the work for you:

-Sport mode. on the brake, throttle hard to the floor.

Does a full-out start with the haldex already distributing to all 4 wheels as soon as you lift off the brake. I think you'd have to be pretty good at drags to make a better job and with a manual car, the power distribution won't change 'till it senses the front wheels load up.

jeff

[AGK512]

So when you are on the brake and foot to floor does it hold steady 3k or so then ?

[livall]

To activate LC you must:

1. Engage sport

2. Switch off ESP

3. Hold the car with your left foot on the break

4. Increase revs with your rights foot (limited to 3000 rpm)

5. Let go of the break and your away

Works well however there is about a .5 second delay between when you take your foot off the break and when you actually launch. This kind of takes away the point of it as it makes it far more difficult to time pulling away from traffic lights etc.

[wytco0]

Well after reading some of the posts here I have found myself using the paddles a lot more in D mode. I think I am starting to love DSG ;-) I still have not read the manual but I am sure that on my car the feel of the DSG system changes after a bit of performance driving...

If I force it to change down either via the paddles or by booting it a bit it seems to stay in a mode that more like S for a while even wehn I have not kicked down on the throttle, actually I love this feature even though I dont know what happeneing !

When performance driving and playing with DSG (on a private track) the fantastic performance of this car really shows the handling and drivability are magic, this has got to be as near to supercar performance people without supercar incomes are ever going to find.

[theshadow]

Another interesting thing about launch control...if you launch it and keep your foot to the floor it seems that the software allows the engine to rev about 500 rpms more! And the shifting of the DSG is a little rougher too.

The strange thing is that when the engine's revving that extra 500rpms, the car doesn't seem to go any faster than normal due to the powerband of the VR6 being down lower. So while the launch control launch is killer, I'm thinking of experimenting with using the launch control but shifting up manually just at redline with the paddles so the "surge" keeps coming on smoothly instead of letting the engine rev up all the way in S and having the power die out at the top of the rev range each time.

Not sure which is faster...launch control and letting the S mode handle the shifting while keeping it planted or using lanch control and keeping it planted but then taking the shifting duties over with the paddles after 2nd gear so I can stay in the torque curve better.

Of course the last car I dragged was a 300hp Mustang...don't think there was much I could have done shifting-wise to keep him from catching up and cruising by me eventually

Also possibly of interest: best 1/4 mile time in the R32 so far is 14 seconds flat with the LC activated. Normally run low 14s though, 14.2-14.3 depending on the road surface.