To Buy or not to Buy (Golf 1.9 GT TDI DSG)

[Matt C]

I currently drive a GT TDI Passat 4 motion and need to change it out in the next few months (company rules). I am looking at the 140 BHP Golf with the DSG gearbox as its replacement. As I'm looking at spending my money I would be very interested to hear of anyones thoughts on the DSG gearbox.

I "drive with enthusiasm" and expect the gearbox to spend half it's time being manually shifted and half its time in auto for the M25 carpark and the London crawl. My local dealer will allow me a 30 minute escorted test drive to see if I like the system (gives me the impression they aren't confident in it).

Any experiences good and bad and any comments on mpg v manual etc gratefully received.

[Eshrules]

I currently drive a GT TDI Passat 4 motion and need to change it out in the next few months (company rules). I am looking at the 140 BHP Golf with the DSG gearbox as its replacement. As I'm looking at spending my money I would be very interested to hear of anyones thoughts on the DSG gearbox.

I "drive with enthusiasm" and expect the gearbox to spend half it's time being manually shifted and half its time in auto for the M25 carpark and the London crawl. My local dealer will allow me a 30 minute escorted test drive to see if I like the system (gives me the impression they aren't confident in it).

Any experiences good and bad and any comments on mpg v manual etc gratefully received.

i can comment on the DSG box as such, i have no experience with it and dont want to lead you down the wrong path...

but as for the 30 minute test drive, make sure you get it on a motorway and make sure you take it through the revs, use the gearbox well and check for any apparent faults.

many people have reported the box 'jamming' this is from what i understand, not an issue with the box but as follows : (try and keep up ill try my best )

the DSG box works with in effect 2 clutches. when you are sat in 1st gear, 2nd gear is already pre selected with the other clutch, waiting for the change. as you change up gear, the clutch which was in 1st, now selects 3rd, ready for the next change etc etc. this helps to reduce gear change times and makes it much smoother....

NOW, if you, for example, give the car agood stretch and you're in 4th gear, ready to change up, but all of a sudden slow down, and go to select 2nd, the issue is that the '2nd clutch' has already selected 5th gear, so needs to 're jiggle' (very technical term) and select 3rd... this is when the delay occurs and what people think is the box jamming....

just thought id try and point that out to you, in case you worried...

hope ive explained it clearly (and correctly, most importantly)

[Matt C]

Thanks for that it makes sense to me. I was asking for a 24 hour test drive but they don't want to know.

[Eshrules]

Thanks for that it makes sense to me. I was asking for a 24 hour test drive but they don't want to know.

did they give any reason why not? sounds poor to me.. is this a main dealership?

[Matt C]

Yes it's a main dealership, i have bought two passats from them, given them seven years of service work (under the VW 3 year service plans) and all my parts business for top-up oils aftermarket add-ons etc.

They recently changed from a private company to part of a larger group, so good bye to customer service. Reason given..."we don't give longer/unaccompanied test drives any more".

I am now looking for a dealer with a more realistic attitude to customer service who would like the next few years of service revenue. In the meantime I thought I would pick everyones brains.

[Eshrules]

Yes it's a main dealership, i have bought two passats from them, given them seven years of service work (under the VW 3 year service plans) and all my parts business for top-up oils aftermarket add-ons etc.

They recently changed from a private company to part of a larger group, so good bye to customer service. Reason given..."we don't give longer/unaccompanied test drives any more".

I am now looking for a dealer with a more realistic attitude to customer service who would like the next few years of service revenue. In the meantime I thought I would pick everyones brains.

yeah and id take my business elsewhere too... you're buying a 3rd car from them and they wont let you take more than half an hour for a test drive... thats utter poo....

money talks mate and if you have it... take it elsewhere

ruddy dealerships, think their above themselves