How was DSG in the snow?

[BenR]

...as I'm hoping to persuade the employer to pay for DSG for my next Passat, which I will drive for 4 years.

[The Fingers]

like an upsidedown toitoise.

DSG - Doesn't Snow Go

mine 2.0 TDI (140) DSG PASSAT is completely useless in even the lightest of snow.

Its fine once you get it moving, however it stays where it is and spins no matter what you do once stopped, any slight covered incline is a turn round and go the other way. I even got overtaken by a double decker bus on a slight hill once - NOT GOOD

Lowering the tyre pressures seemed to help some (down to 29 psi)

Tip is to keep it moving and not give it too much gas pedal once you lose traction thatS it, it will slow to a stop and not get ANY grip, even the diesel creep forward on the box span the wheels.

This is the only thing that i can score this box down on, on every other side it is fantastic

For the amount of snow we see i would definatley recommend one, paddles are a must, auto hold on the dsg is brilliant.

GO ON GO ON GO ON - IN A FATHER TED KIND OF WAY.

[Cylon2007]

I had no problems with mine in the snow, the fact I fitted brand new tyres about 2k miles ago may have something to do with, plus mine has the standard SE 16" wheels not 17s. Certainly no worse than my first Passat that was a manual (the last one was a 4motion so not a fair comparison - shouldn't have got rid of it really)

[dunkley201]

No problems for me either. I have fairly new Dunlops fitted to the front. Last February it slipped a bit, but the tyres were due change. I let it start to roll using idle only then only use gentle throttle and just about no brakes at all. Certainly, if you gun it, it will slip, but so will any other.

[daveo138]

I seem to remember it was pretty lousy in the snow this time last year. Very dificult to get it off the line. If you're waiting at a junction, there is no way you can nip out into a gap. You need to plan well ahead and hope that it starts to move.

As for this year...I was driving a Golf for three weeks, as my car was back at the garage having its third mechatronic unit fitted! That's the third replacement, so actually its fourth including the original.

[Kaiser2000]

I had no bother with mine either (2.0 TDI 140). In fact I found it very good .. lost grip maybe twice over the few weeks, and no problems moving off etc - key is to keep it in low gear/RPM till you get moving

[The Fingers]

like an upsidedown toitoise.

DSG - Doesn't Snow Go

mine 2.0 TDI (140) DSG PASSAT is completely useless in even the lightest of snow.

Its fine once you get it moving, however it stays where it is and spins no matter what you do once stopped, any slight covered incline is a turn round and go the other way. I even got overtaken by a double decker bus on a slight hill once - NOT GOOD

Lowering the tyre pressures seemed to help some (down to 29 psi)

Tip is to keep it moving and not give it too much gas pedal once you lose traction thatS it, it will slow to a stop and not get ANY grip, even the diesel creep forward on the box span the wheels.

This is the only thing that i can score this box down on, on every other side it is fantastic

For the amount of snow we see i would definatley recommend one, paddles are a must, auto hold on the dsg is brilliant.

GO ON GO ON GO ON - IN A FATHER TED KIND OF WAY.

I should also add that mine is on Mitchelin HP Premacy's which having looked into it are not suitable for use on ice or snow at all, this could have been a big factor when looking at snow performance.

Main roads are fine, its the uncleared side roads where it was less than useless. During the last few weeks of snow we did get a good 10 inches.

[Teflon]

The Passat was better than the GTI, both of them DSG and both with good tread depth on the tyres. Delecate driving and a bit of advance planning got me where I needed to be. Because you can't start off in second or third gear the DSG might have a slight disadvantage, but good driving negates it.

My daughter's Polo, with skinny, half worn tyres peed over both of my cars though. Low profiles ain't ever going to be good in snow.

[DSGboy]

have TDI170, newish tyres on 16 inch rims, drove delicately and didn't seem to have significantly different problems to anyone else driving without winter tyres.

[wattagit]

Initially had problems but found it brilliant by just sticking it in Sports mode and esp off (who'd figure it)

Aparently this activates the diff lock in 1st and as it changes down the box at higher revs you actually get something called engine breaking

Couple the above with just being a lot more gentle with what you do being a taxi driver obviously a lot of stop start on untreated roads I was still working while most of the drivers were getting stuck