I've just taken delivery of my first Passat DSG and was worried that I might lose the skills I've learned over 42 years of manual shifting.... but I haven't; it's too deeply ingrained. I'm enjoying te DSG though and it's made me a much more relaxed driver. Even Mrs Gti, who was nervous at first, says she wants to swop her Ibiza for something with DSG as soon as we've finished paying for the bloody kitchen....
[i]To be honest I am not that much of a fan though – it is kinda okay most of the time but I hate how it takes a bit of time to pick up especially when pulling out of a junction – trying to get the balance between barely moving and shooting like a 15 yr old the first time he hits 4th base is often difficult. (S-Tronic (DSG) double clutch manual I believe the system is on mine). Apparently this is an issue on this particular Auto box and it isn't the same on traditional auto boxes. [/i]
As a long-time auto driver I really didn't like the VW DSG system when I test drove one a few years ago, for this reason. Although at the time I'd a 3.5i (traditional) auto, so going from that to pretty much anything smaller was always going to be a shock.
And where does all this left-foot braking come from, right-foot braking in auto or manual - you're not Ari.
The left foot thing comes from instinctively going for the clutch and ending up trying to push the brake to the floor.
I own both a manual car and an auto car. Auto is the traditional slush box. No issues although in the early days of owning the auto (my first) I did catch myself resting my hand on the gear shift.
There is a manual over ride in the selector gate. But it's usually ignored. I select 'D' and just go.
I learnt myself LFB, decades ago. Pretty much useless in Audis these days for the fly by wire throttle controls. So as a consequence, I rarely LFB now.
Get the auto if you want it, you'll be fine
🙂
Does anyone use the semi auto mode on normal autos? I just can't get on with them, I think it's the lack of clutch feeling like I am not in full control.
As per my initial post, I have that feature. But my selector is just a big switch and the GB changes gear when it's happy to, seemingly regardless of my input.
Theres a tad of lag, which I believe the twin clutch system has addressed?
I am driving an Auto - work vehicle - for the last six months. Love it. Although I took my left shoe off when I was driving it at first to help me remember that there is no clutch peddle.....
I am now trying to get my s/o to ditch the manual Scenic we have and get involved with a modern Auto when I have to give the work car back.
I think on modern vehicles if you are a plodder (or even if you are not) there is not much difference. If you live in / near London or heavy traffic area they are great - stop / start / stop / start.
Back to bikes......
Spent many years swapping between manual and auto as MrsMC cannot drive manuals. Eventually we went to two autos, but I was getting manual hire cars for work one day a week, and still no problems [s]after the first T junction[/s].
In 4-5 years time the next small second car we get will probably be the one Jnr learns to drive in - ask me this question again in 4-5 years time!
nah, it's fine, at one point I had a RHD 6 speed manual, LHD Auto, and a properly difficult left hand drive manual dogleg box at the same time.
Auto to manual on the same side of the car is easy, you'll be fine.
Looks like it should be fine! Thanks for all of the info/advice/opinions everyone.
Loving the analogy about having rapid rise mech on one bike and not the other... I have struggled with this in the past to the point where I bought a new mech 🙂
Cheers
