Like most people on staff, I love the Jetta TDI. But I really think that VW would have broadened the car's potential audience if it had made it available with a standard automatic transmission (as it is now, the TDI comes with either a manual or a DSG tranny).
The DSG is great at higher speeds and will win favor with enthusiasts. But enthusiasts aren't the only target audience with this vehicle -- the average buyer who's just looking for a car that's efficient and green (and who isn't interested in buying a manual) may not be as impressed.
At lower speeds, the DSG's lack of creep will no doubt feel a bit odd to the uninitiated; it's also a bit sluggish in stop-and-go traffic. As James mentioned in an earlier post, these DSG quirks could be a turn-off in a test-drive situation. And that would be a shame, since this is a great car that's worth buying.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 18,685 miles
billybobbovine says:
02:52 PM, 07/30/09
my DSG GTI creeps...yea if your at the light long enough it will take a second for the clutches to reengage, but it will creep
nealibob says:
02:52 PM, 07/30/09
I doubt VW is having any trouble selling these cars with either of the transmission options. Seeing as I can count on one hand (ok, a little more, but it is really sad) the number of diesel passenger car options offered in the US right now, I think people will take what they can get if they want diesel.
What I do find interesting is that most of the high-efficiency vehicles sold here seem to stick you with some other quirk:
- This TDI with the DSG
- The smart's similar, but far worse transmission (and lack of options)
- The Prius and Insight have ugly (well at least unconventional) designs
- The 335d's mandatory automatic (I would still take one if I could get it for a sane price)
Granted, there are cars like the Fusion and Civic that offer hybrid benefits while still being pretty much a normal car, but it seems like the segment is dominated by quirks and compromises. I'm not even going to explore the absurd SUV and truck hybrids, as that is a complete joke.
vwthing1 says:
02:54 PM, 07/30/09
TDIs past with conventional, torque-converter-based auto. transmissions had significantly lower fuel economy ratings than the manual versions of the same car. I'm guessing there's a balancing act between how many buyers VW turns off with quirky DSG behavior vs. how many VW'd turn off with a conventional auto and lower MPG numbers.
billt9 says:
03:00 PM, 07/30/09
it's sluggish because it's a
1. diesel engine
2. tuned for MPG
my understanding is it's tuned differently in the GTI?
a traditional auto would get you crappier mpg...
Is there complaints about the GT-R's sluggish DSG? don't think regular auto can do better.
billybobbovine says:
03:00 PM, 07/30/09
plus DSG is wayyyy better than any CVT that the other hybrids have. I had a sentra rental the other week with a CVT and I couldnt realize why the hell the car felt so weird accelerating, then i realized it was a CVT...DOH!
clarkma5 says:
04:27 PM, 07/30/09
I've only driven one DSG and it was in a A3 2.0T but it very definitely creeped like a normal automatic transmission.
fgbrault says:
06:22 PM, 07/30/09
My 2009 Jettta TDi creeps.
brianknight says:
08:46 PM, 07/30/09
Only thing quirkier than this behavior in my future Golf TDI DSG would be me trying to learn how to drive a stick.
I'd read about this, and it doesn't seem unacceptable to me. I might feel different if I lived in San Francisco, from the impressions I get.
argosreality says:
02:35 AM, 07/31/09
I actually hate the creep of an auto. If I wanted my car to move forward, I push the gas. Otherwise it needs to sit were it is
tryan says:
03:25 AM, 07/31/09
Not only does my GTI DSG creep, so does my parent's Sportwagen TDI DSG. I would bring it to the dealer and have them VAG-COM it and recalibrate the transmission (quick and simple for them to do).
While offering the 6-Speed Tiptronic from the 2.5L Jetta might have made that car somewhat smoother at low speeds, it would have been a detriment to efficiency. I will second nealibob, though, as I know from personal experience that VW is having absolutely zero problems moving TDIs (Sportwagen or Sedan).
buckusean says:
06:14 AM, 07/31/09
My 2009 SportWagen TDI DSG creeps as well. There seem to be many cases for creeping and non-creeping TDI DGS's. Does yours have the hill hold feature? That also seems to go either way (mine has it).
drwales says:
06:50 AM, 07/31/09
I hate creep. It's one of the main reasons why I never like automatics.
We are seriously considering a manual Jetta TDI sedan for our next (or second) car.
That's not a bug, that's a feature!
Path_Tech says:
07:38 AM, 07/31/09
Everyone out there who has a PERFECT car, please raise their hands......
Hmmmmm. I don't see any hands out there. Here's the deal, I bought a car (Jetta TDI Sedan w/DSG) for GAS MILAGE. In return, I average 34-37 miles combined driving and over 45+ miles on the highway. Is the car perfect? No.
Yes, the DSG has it's quirks but the benifits far outweigh any negatives.
audisport says:
09:55 AM, 07/31/09
It has the DSG for fuel efficiency. I don't think that this will turn off any potential buyers. It's a niche vehicle at this time anyways.
huyracing says:
09:59 AM, 07/31/09
agreed, the DSG isnt perfect but its the best of everything for me. comfy enough to relax and cruise and get good gas mileage.... and responsive enough to thrash around a track at 10/10ths. the problem is if you are out for a spirited cruise, it just doesn't seem to comprehend, lol.
automatics tend to return lower mpg's, so thats why VW is using the DSG. i think most people buy a TDI for mpg's... of course if research proves otherwise, then VW would give it a normal automatic like on the CC. (in other parts of the world it has a DSG)
blueguydotcom says:
10:09 AM, 07/31/09
Considering the TDI is selling so well I doubt VW is concerned.
matt_a says:
09:08 AM, 08/12/09
Some of us don't want an automatic transmission in their cars. I'm waiting for the day when I won't be able to find a manual transmission, and then I'll cry.
I for one enjoy shifting. I've never really gotten why automatics are more popular as they're generally slower, more unreliable, and less efficient. I guess there's less of a learning curve.
The DSG is a different animal, but the added complexity really turns me off. I'd rather have the 6-speed manual in that car.