Used VWs with DSG

Newtotowing
Newtotowing Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited August 2021 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a used (2014-2017, 40-70k miles) VW Passat Estate 2.0 desiel as first towcar.  I'd prefer an automatic or semi automatic rather than the manual but am a bit concerned about the DSG gearbox relability on an older car.  Does anyone have any experience of the longer term reliabilty of the Passat DSG for towing? 

Also is a second hand DSG likely to be more or less risky than a second hand manual car? 

Thanks in advance for any advice

Dave

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2021 #2

    I'd have thought that flatcoat would have had an opinion .... 😉

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited August 2021 #3

    Depends if it's a wet or dry dual clutch system. I’d not touch wet with a barge pole. Thinking about it, I’d not be too keen on dry either. Only you can decide if the chance is worth taking but why not look for something with a 'proper' torque converter box?

     

  • Baileyperson
    Baileyperson Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2021 #4

    In the past I've had two Passats, one manual and one auto with DSG box. I loved the auto one and was a brilliant towcar, used all over UK and a trip to Sweden to visit our son who lives there. We did about 3500 miles on that trip with no hiccups. I originally thought I would drive it using manual override but eventually I let the box do it's own thinking and it was fine.

    I changed the auto Passat when it had done 140000 miles, it had developed a problem with the manifold. Traded it in for a Ford Grand C max. I regretted the change but stuck with it for a while. I remember taking it in for service and asking them to look for a rattle. garage owner said "what do you expect? It's a Ford" sealed

    I now have a Sharan with DSG, Challenger 565 caravan, also excellent.

    I would be reluctant to go back to manual

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2021 #5

    The DSG is fine providing it is serviced every 40k miles. If you buy one over that mileage you should insist on evidence of a bill with mileage from a VW dealer which will be in the region of £200 or so. I have had 2 cars with DSG used for towing to over 100k miles. About to buy another DSG equipped car…. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited August 2021 #6

    Whoops, I see in a moment of madness I got my wet and dry the wrong way around.

    Dry = 👎🏻👎🏻
    Wet = 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Newtotowing
    Newtotowing Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited August 2021 #7

    Many thanks for your advice. Good to hear good experienes with the DSG, and I'm definitely not considereing the dry clutch DSG. 

Categories