DSG vs. Manual (on a TT)

I saw this interesting challenge on Fifth Gear and thought I'd share with you guys. I know its not an A3 but the specs of these TT's are really close to the 2 litre A3's. Cheers!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8uK_D3wPDY

The DSG is the ONLY auto-box I've ever considered owning.  Now that I have it though, I wish it was a manual.

Although it is nice to put it in D and just go.

It's still an excellent gearbox and is much, much, much more rewarding than any other automatic or "tiptronic"-whatever.

You have to appreciate the DSG when you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic (which is what I mostly drive in here in Southern California). It's nice to have the option when you do have nice curvy open roads to take full advantage of the DSG.

quote:

ORIGINAL: IzzyA3

You have to appreciate the DSG when you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic (which is what I mostly drive in here in Southern California). It's nice to have the option when you do have nice curvy open roads to take full advantage of the DSG.

Yes, same for me here in Northern California. I also like being able to shift with my hands on the wheel on those twisty mountain roads....

I recently got rid of my G35 Coupe (6-speed manual) and love the A3's DSG.  Stick shifts are fun... very fun.  But it gets old fast in slow moving traffic or stop and go rush hour crap.

The best thing about Audi's DSG is that its faster than the manual. I wish Vicky put it in "S" mode to see how that compares to the manual and shifting with the paddles.

On a side note, those of you shifting with the DSG, do you use the paddles or "stick"? I'm 50/50. I'd like to use the paddle all the time, but its a pain when making sharp right turns. I try to keep may hands on the wheel (sorta f1 driver style but still not enough).

quote:

ORIGINAL: IzzyA3
...On a side note, those of you shifting with the DSG, do you use the paddles or "stick"? I'm 50/50. I'd like to use the paddle all the time, but its a pain when making sharp right turns. I try to keep may hands on the wheel (sorta f1 driver style but still not enough).

I always use the paddles, but I know what you mean by the sharp right turn trouble. I wish I could make a slight change to the steering linkage easily, either electronically or mechanically, just to make it a little easier on those turns.

I drove my wife's A4 tip up a windy mountain road the first weekend we owned it, and got tired shifting it on those very twisty switchbacks. That was one reason I really wanted the paddles, and it's why I use the paddles exlusively, except for when I'm warming up the car, in which case I drive it in 'D' auto.

After six weeks with my DSG (following lotsa years with a variety of very good manuals and few years driving my wife's several manumatics on weekends), I'm still developing my 'technique' for the smoothest and most satisfying driving.
 
I don't use the lever for manual shifting, because my wife's car is a Mazda manumatic, with + and - backwards  (like BMW's automatics and SMG) from the A3.  It took me so long to get used to that after 5 years with her Passat Tiptronic that I don't want to have to re-learn every time I drive her car.  So obviously the paddles are my manual shifters.
 
I find that 'D' gives substantially better gas mileage, great for my 60-mile round-trip commute, but I often use the paddles to downshift for the better off/on-ramps along the way.  Haven't got a good sense yet how much my carpool buddies like my 'spirited' driving.  I like 'S' more and more for any in-town driving when I want to have better response.  It shifts just about exactly when I would for all but the most interesting roads.  I'm sure I'll use Manual when I get a chance to play on anything twisty, but there haven't been many chances yet.
 
I'm just about convinced that the various acceleration sensors in this car are used to vary the 'Hold' time in a gear after paddle use in D or S.  When I use them on a basically flat and straight road, the reversion to automatic happens pretty quickly, but if I've manually downshifted for a long ramp or steep downhill, the manual mode seems to stay in place much longer - nice.
 
I swear this car is much smarter then me (it definitely multi-tasks better), and even the keys have a better memory then I do. Have you noticed that the climate control settings are saved for the key in use?

driving my A 3,2 dsg for a few month's now and i am very pleased with the car. a few remarks on the gearbox though : for being able to use the torque of the engines if have to go manual otherwise it will shift down and rev up far above optimum rev range.the next thing is the kick down system:fine when driving in D and want a quick overtake but annoying when driving manual and you want to go fast even then it shifts down .i am having the impression that for being able to use the engine to its max you do need to "floor" the accelerator and so the kick down comes in .am i mistaken?? and if not how do i use the box to get the most out of my car? 

quote:

ORIGINAL: hannes

driving my A 3,2 dsg for a few month's now and i am very pleased with the car. a few remarks on the gearbox though : for being able to use the torque of the engines if have to go manual otherwise it will shift down and rev up far above optimum rev range.the next thing is the kick down system:fine when driving in D and want a quick overtake but annoying when driving manual and you want to go fast even then it shifts down .i am having the impression that for being able to use the engine to its max you do need to "floor" the accelerator and so the kick down comes in .am i mistaken?? and if not how do i use the box to get the most out of my car? 

There's a button on the floor underneath the gas pedal that puts you in the kick down mode, as you call it. I suppose you could disable it, but I haven't checked into that myself. For max power, keep your revs at or above 5000. I read somewhere that torque-power curves are optimal at about 5500 on the 3.2 V6. Personally, I like running the engine around 4000-5200 when I'm in the mountains. Around town and on the freeway, I'm often closer to 3000 or so for city fun, but that's another thang.