DSG Experiences

Tarmyn
Tarmyn Forum Participant Posts: 49
edited September 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Has anyone got any thoughts or experiences of towing with a VW DSG vehicle wether it be a 6 or 7 speed box .I would like to have our next car with DSG but are a bit doubtful of there merit.

Comments

  • Alanj76
    Alanj76 Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited September 2016 #2

    Hi we have aTiguan 177 DSG had it for 3 fantastic years love the car tows like a dream, I think it's the best tow car we have had and we have towed for 43 years,now have a Bailey Genoa we still go to France for 2 months each year would recommend DSG about
    28 mpg towing

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    I have a 2.0ltr turbo diesel Passat but i dont tow with it but if i did then i dont see that it would be any problem for the car as long as the outfit was matched.The DSG type gearbox seems fine to me as the car drives very well.

    v9

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited September 2016 #4

    although not a vw my last car car was a skoda superb (same stable) with 7 speed dsg and was brilliant same mpg as last post only slight drawback was it tended to hold  low  gear on hills but i just put it into manual mode and changed up would reccomend it

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

     .... .I would like to have our next car with DSG but are a bit doubtful of there merit.

    You need to test drive one & compare it with AN Other manufacturer's conventional torque converter auto and make your mind up from there Laughing

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited September 2016 #6

    Drove my nephews Audi DSG some months ago, all I can say is I hope Land Rover never go down the DSG route.

  • katieb
    katieb Forum Participant Posts: 74
    edited September 2016 #7

    We have a VW Tiguan.  Brilliant for towing - no more smelly clutch or worry about hill starts.  It's difficult to try one out for towing before buying but I can't think of anything to say against it for this aspect, although I've not had another automatic
    to compare it with.

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #8

    We have a VW Tiguan.  Brilliant for towing - no more smelly clutch or worry about hill starts.   .....

     

    You know there are TWO clutches in a DSG gearbox ...... Innocent

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #9

     .... although I've not had another automatic to compare it with.

     

    You need a drive of a 'proper' auto for comparison Wink They do drive differently

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #10

    I have long been a DSG fan and recently towed out van into the Austrian mountains with our DSG equipped Passat Alltrack, absolutely superb. Also has hillhold and coasting function (like the SAAB freewheel of old). However as MM suggests there are other types
    of self changing gearboxes or automatics so you may wish to try what MM calls a 'proper' Auto equipped car , whatever that may be. However DSG style gearboxes are becoming more common and Fords Powershift and Porsche PDK are forms of twin shaft, twin clutch
    boxes.   

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #11

     ... so you may wish to try what MM calls a 'proper' Auto equipped car , whatever that may be.  ....   

    See post above Kiss I don't like the lack of creep from an automated manual, particularly when slow speed manoeurvring

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #12

     ..... However DSG style gearboxes are becoming more common and Fords Powershift and Porsche PDK are forms of twin shaft, twin clutch boxes.   

    becoming more common so manufacturers can have an auto with better advertised fuel consumption Wink

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #13

    Mine has creep-ability albeit possibly not as smooth as a slush matic auto. I agree about the so called mpg benefits, another theoretical benefit which is unlikely to be achieved in the real world. It's like that old muttering rotter Steady Barker once said
    in the 80's fuel crisis, with all the supposed fuel savings we all need a fuel tanker to follow us around in which we can deposit all the saved fuel......

  • tobythedog
    tobythedog Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited September 2016 #14

    My neighbour changed from an auto diesel Mercedes to a VW with a 6 speed DSG.He tows a trailer with a small boat.

    He says the DSG has a far smoother change and  3 different driving modes. Before he bought the VW he enquired at a specialist about problems with the DSG. VAG did have problems concerning oil type on early boxes but this was rectified a few years ago. They
    quoted a taxi that they deal with that has 500,000 kms on the box.

    I have a Skoda with a 7 speed dsg ,which mated to a turbo petrol engine ,gives a barely perceptible gearchange.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #15

    My neighbour changed from an auto diesel Mercedes to a VW with a 6 speed DSG.He tows a trailer with a small boat.

    He says the DSG has a far smoother change and  3 different driving modes. Before he bought the VW he enquired at a specialist about problems with the DSG. VAG did have problems concerning oil type on early boxes but this was rectified a few years ago. They
    quoted a taxi that they deal with that has 500,000 kms on the box.

    I have a Skoda with a 7 speed dsg ,which mated to a turbo petrol engine ,gives a barely perceptible gearchange.

    A barely perceptable change on mine (Merc) too, but I'm not looking for it ... it'll change itself Wink I prefer a fluid torque converter auto.
    And I'm sure there are plenty of torque converter autos with 300 000 miles on the clock .... I know of quite a few with 250 000

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited September 2016 #16

    My neighbour changed from an auto diesel Mercedes to a VW with a 6 speed DSG.He tows a trailer with a small boat.

    He says the DSG has a far smoother change and  3 different driving modes. Before he bought the VW he enquired at a specialist about problems with the DSG. VAG did have problems concerning oil type on early boxes but this was rectified a few years ago. They
    quoted a taxi that they deal with that has 500,000 kms on the box.

    I have a Skoda with a 7 speed dsg ,which mated to a turbo petrol engine ,gives a barely perceptible gearchange.

    A barely perceptable change on mine (Merc) too, but I'm not looking for it ... it'll change itself Wink I prefer a fluid torque converter auto.
    And I'm sure there are plenty of torque converter autos with 300 000 miles on the clock .... I know of quite a few with 250 000

    agree entirely my skoda superb was superb so smooth youd have thought it was made of silk,also mated to 1.8 petrol turbo just thirsty

  • Tarmyn
    Tarmyn Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited September 2016 #17

    Thanks for your replies,been looking at a Passat Est DSG ..Recently on Honest John he mentioned extra cooling maybe required for autobox/DSG eqipped cars ,I will be towing a Quasar 544 MIRO 1177KG .

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #18

    I like the creep facility on my 7 speed auto box would not like a box without it.  . The changes also are so smooth and imperceptable.  The paddles on the steering. column provide a great alternative to auto driving.

  • tobythedog
    tobythedog Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited September 2016 #19

    I believe the DSG already has an oil cooler fitted. There are aftermarket oil coolers available but are generally marketed for people who are using tuned petrol engines. Vag did have problems with early model DSG's,around 2008/09,but recent stuff is fine.

    So unless you're going drag racing in Death Valley with the Passat i wouldn't worry about it.