Good thing I can still order a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI with one of these. This "other" six-speed gearbox is $1,100 cheaper than the six-speed, automated twin-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) we have in our long-term Jetta TDI.
Although I don't mind the quick-thinking version of the DSG in the VW R32, I just can't warm up to it in our diesel Jetta. Its slow responses in city traffic bug me every time I drive the car, and Sport mode doesn't help. Every shift has a buffered quality to it, suggesting that priority was (understandably) given to promoting smoothness and fuel economy at the expense of shift speed. This, I suppose, helps the DSG feel more like an automatic.
My other complaint is that on even mild downhill grades, the DSG allows the car to roll forward in Reverse. It's not a huge problem, and I *could* adjust if I somehow owned with this Jetta, but it's one more reminder than DSG is taking some control out of my hands.
I'm one of those people who has to be in control. So I'll take the 3-pedal, six-speed VW Jetta TDI. The old-school manual has the slightest of advantages in fuel economy -- manual Jettas are rated 30 mpg city/41 mpg highway versus 29/40 for DSG models.
throwback says:
05:43 AM, 07/22/09
"I'm one of those people who has to be in control. So I'll take the 3-pedal, six-speed VW Jetta TDI."
I know what you mean, but we are a dying breed.
dougtheeng says:
06:03 AM, 07/22/09
3 Pedals = win.
Its not about track time for me. Its about fun, control and connection.
carguy622 says:
06:40 AM, 07/22/09
3 Pedals + TDI SportWagen = Even Bigger Win
blueguydotcom says:
07:01 AM, 07/22/09
I still can't get used to my wife's DSG. Almost 3 years in and the phantom neutral still wigs me out.
vvk says:
08:11 AM, 07/22/09
Amen.
zcalvert says:
09:06 AM, 07/22/09
As a DSG owner of a GTI, it's fascinating to me that VW apparently uses such wildly different software for this application (then again, based on your comments about the suspension tuning, maybe i shouldn't be surprised). Based on your comments, one would almost think it's a completely different transmission
...maybe my local dealer has a TDI I can take for a spin to see for myself.
audipilot says:
03:25 PM, 07/22/09
"3 Pedals = win"
I agree 100%, I've driven both the Jetta TDI and GTI with the DSGs and I never liked the feel of them. What I absolutely hated was how fast the car shifted out of 1st gear, which I'm sure was fuel economy related, but it was annoying if you wanted to actually move at a decent pace from a stop. I'll take a manual any day over an automatic, even the DSG.
jerome81 says:
08:39 PM, 07/23/09
I have a 08 GTI with DSG. You are 100% right. I have no problem admitting I made a mistake on the DSG.
I never liked the VW clutches, the travel is WAY WAY too long, Mazda and Honda do them right.
I loved everything about the GTI except the manual box (and I'd driven nothing but for almost 15 years). The DSG was cool tech, very impressive, especially on test drives. For $1100, and not liking the clutch travel, I went for it.
Now that I've had the car a year, its worn off. It is clunky around town, it doesn't like to start in 1st gear unless I'm at a dead stop. Sometimes it thunks and thuds. It shifts too quickly, it sometimes get caught in the wrong gear, and I only ever drive it in D 99% of the time, meaning that nanosecond sport mode/paddle shifting really is pretty useless to me. I'll go drive a Cadillac or BMW with a standard auto, it feels just as responsive, but it doesn't clunk or stumble or not get into first gear.
I will NEVER buy another automatic car again. Never. And to all those people who say the DSG is just the awesomest thing ever, I 100% disagree. the only thing its good for is rippin around a track as fast as possible. The rest of the time its just as boring as a regular auto but with all the downsides I just mentioned.
Don't be fooled by the reviews and the test drives. The DSG is just not that great.
Otherwise I LOVE my GTI.