How well does DSG go with 170PS?

[Ianmk13]

I bought an 07 Reg 170PS SEL DSG Estate a couple of months ago after my Signum 2.2DTi auto box failed at less than 65000 miles making it almost beyond economic repair (due to a well documented design fault, but Vx wouldn't have any of it).

The Passat was bought in a hurry and now I've had it a while I'd like to know whether what I've noticed with my DSG is normal or not.

Accelleration is a bit unpredictable - not good when pulling out into traffic on roundabouts, etc. Sometimes you (and the passengers!) are pushed back into your seat and at other times accelleration is a fairly relaxed process. Also, reversing is a bit difficult in that it is almost impossible to reverse slowly and not have the clutch 'snap'.

As I say...Is this normal or should I get it looked at while under warranty?

[Quatrelle]

Do a search for, among others, "lorriman"'s posts on the DSG box.

[Ianmk13]

Do a search for, among others, "lorriman"'s posts on the DSG box.

Oh! I see.

I hope it's not a case of "Out of the frying pan....."

At least I've got the best part of a year to get it sorted. I can handle the bucking bronco but I don't think my other half would be impressed if she drove it.

With my 53-reg Signum, the gearbox failed at 65k miles because engine coolant contaminated the auto transmission fluid and damaged the auto box. It needed a full rebuild and replacement radiator. Despite what Vx customer services told me, this was a known problem and is all over the Vx forums. The fact that a 'field mod' had previously been applied at Vx's cost - and without my knowledge - to prevent this (apparently without success) would suggest to me their recognition of a design fault that I could not have known about that should have been paid for by Vauxhall. In legal terms, the car did not meet my reasonable expectations of reliability and was not fit for purpose.

This failure was the last straw. I have not mentioned the various other problems I had with this car. Having had two or three previous Vauxhalls, this was by far the most unreliable car I have ever owned.

I will not be buying another Vauxhall.

[Dook]

I have the DSG in my 07 plate 170 Estate, and at 30k miles have not had any issues with it at all. No judders, no snatching, and reversing is fine. The only thing to watch out for on the latter is to make sure Auto Hold (if fitted) is turned off first. I can be nice and gentle with it, and it changes up at the lower end of the rev range, but if I boot it harder, it will hold onto the revs till 3-4k.

Overall, well impressed and worth the extra money, and the manual mode is pretty good fun on the twisty's :biglaugh:

[The Fingers]

I have a DSG mated to a 140 tdi, your right they are a little unpredictable, slow to decide which gear to be in when going from braking to accelerating (noticed at the roundabouts).

I must admit i tend to drive mine as a manual most of the time now, when i am in control of the gear selection i cannot fault it at all. fast changes and holds the gear as long as YOU want it to. Although refining the driving style slightly as it doesnt like the manual gearing down from 3rd to 2nd when slowing down to a stop.

I dont know what others with long term experience of the DSG think but i have found the best way is manual up and then left in manual let it change down itself when coming to a stop getting involved when required on normal driving. Doing it this way 9 out of 10 times no intervention is required at roundabouts and you are in second when you try to get a rolling start without it jerking into 1st and pinning you in your seat and flashing the little yellow one at you.

When driving quickly i have found sport to be a little late in the down changes it tends to drop the gear in the middle to end of the corner instead of my manual change just entering the corner and then even power through the bend and flooring it on exit:firedevil, 'S' seems to let the front end to drift out slightly as there is no driving load to the wheels when its deciding which gear to be in, until it gets the power down the the front end comes back in check. I have spoken to a few R36 drivers that have said this is very noticable with it having all that power / weight at the front. I told them how i drive mine and after trying it they said the fear has turned into smiles again.....

Reversing - i have had no issue with at all, i think its down to technique, very very light squeezes (i mean 1/2 to 1cm travel of pedal) seems to do the trick. This also works with slow moving traffic small squeezes or just a tiny tiny tap to release the auto hold and let it creep slightly then squeeze to move faster.

When driving slow it likes to be gently squeezed - dont we all:biglaugh:

Getting a quick start from the lights is still baffling me though - light goes green give it some welly and............................................ NOTHING:zx11:, that cheeky corsa is two car lengths in front and then BANG HERE SHE BLOWS - WHAT CORSA!!!!!!!:biglaugh: - These TDI's need that there LAUNCH CONTROL then that issue would be gone. It will work to a fashion if you hold the brake with the gas applied but its not going to do the box any good at all.

'D' is for 'driving miss daisy' / cruising

I dont know is its the drive by wire but it does seem like what we do now happens a second later.

Other than the waffling on above (sorry sorry sorry) - I LOVE MY DSG

Enjoy the passat you will love it soon once you have mastered the MANUAL BOX with added computer controlled auto changes.

[hartry]

" 'S' seems to let the front end to drift out slightly as there is no driving load to the wheels when its deciding which gear to be in, until it gets the power down the the front end comes back in check. "

Are you saying the car understeers when off the power, then when you get back on the power the front end starts going where you are pointing it?:confused:

[The Fingers]

" 'S' seems to let the front end to drift out slightly as there is no driving load to the wheels when its deciding which gear to be in, until it gets the power down the the front end comes back in check. "

Are you saying the car understeers when off the power, then when you get back on the power the front end starts going where you are pointing it?:confused:

I wouldnt says it understeers as such, and not a sliding drift.

Its hard to describe, with load on the engine in 3rd (manual) it pulls round corners great even with a good foot full of accelerator.

in 'S' it seems to engage the clutch mid corner to drop into 3rd and the front end goes light and doesnt stick as tight into the corner until it get full drive again then it pulls tight again.

Go on then kick me in the face and say 'that understeer you ****' if thats the case - manual = less understeer with DSG??????:D

[hartry]

'****'? - not at all!

as far as i know, and again anyone correct me if i'm wrong, understeer refers to any situation when the car is cornering at less of an angle than the wheels are turning - it just nearly always happens the other way round with reference to power than what you described, especially in road cars which are designed as such because your average joe is deemed better able to drive a car which handles that way - i.e. usually a road car will understeer as it reaches its grip limits with the power on, then as you take your foot off the gas, will cease to understeer and return to normal again. but hey, i'm no scientist or engineer, i'm sure there is a rational explanation for what you're experiencing in the dsg

[ledburyloafer]

what about "lift off" under steer, thats fun....

[hartry]

:D

[dunkley201]

For what it's worth, my 140 DSG behaves much like that described by "The Fingers" above. Perfectly acceptable, just "tickle" the throttle at first when pulling off or accelerating from a previous braking. Then apply as much throttle as needed once moving. It avoids any "thumps". I generally leave mine in "D" and let it do its thing. (OK, call me Daisy :Blush:!) It will normally out accelerate the average joe, no problem, quickly moves up the gears using the bottom end torque. I tow a caravan too. With the 'van there can be initial slight judder from the clutch when starting to reverse, no throttle applied. Then you have to ride the brake to avoid it running away with you! For all its foibles, I really like it, especially with Auto Hold as well.