Hey Mike, I had a TDi Epiphany...

[caseydog]

Hey Mike, I put my Audi in the shop today, and they gave me an A3 Sportwagon TDi for a loaner.

Me likey. Me likey a lot.

It has the six-speed DSG transmission -- the dual clutch manu-matic.

I've seen the Jetta Sportwagon TDi around, and like that, too. It probably costs less than the A3, and it is basically the same car. Can you get the DSG in the Jetta?

30 MPG city and 42 MPG highway sounds very nice, too.

I may have found my next tow vehicle.

CD

[teardrop_focus]

The diesel torque... the DSG... equal prime pulling power (for a small car). Ahhh...




I love the DSG trans; call it what you will, "manu matic", etc, but it's a manual (yes, with automated clutch actuation), not a coaxial-torque-path hydraulically-actuated 'box saddled with a torque converter and with some lame manual interface with shift command delays up to one second long...

The DSG is heaven on earth; at least they were in the first year or two when I drove one that was coupled to the turbo'd 2.0 banger. Shift commands were executed instantaneously and the mid-shift throttle flutter was something akin to what you'd have heard years ago from an F1 car. I understand they've softened the software (no pun intended) and, at least in the current Golf and Jetta offerings, are not quite the same. Some losers have even given it the acronym Doesn't Shift Good.

[mikeschn]

I've heard that you can get the DSG in some Jetta's. I don't know if they pair that to a TDI.

I'm enjoying my 5 speed stick at the moment though...

I saw that Audi A3 TDI at the car show. Looks nice! But I'm really hoping they drop that TDI into a Tiguan. I'd replace the Forrester with a Tiguan in a heartbeat!

Back to the DSG, it's more like a Tiptronic transmission... there's no clutch pedal, and no stick. Can you describe what it's like to drive that A3?

Mike...

[Greg M]

Does it have the flappy paddles? Even Jeremy Clarkson is starting to like flappy paddles

-Greg

[caseydog]

Mike, the DSG is not the same as Tiptronic. A Tip is an automatice that you can shift manually. The DSG is a manumatic -- a manual with two electronically controlled clutches.

I've driven most of the manumatics out there, including Ferrari's F1, Lamborghini's E-Gear, and BMW's SMG. Those three are lightning fast for performance driving, but can be a PITA for normal driving -- especially for things like parking. They are single clutch systems that can be hard to move in small increments, as with pulling forward just the right amount in a parking space.

The DSG is much more civil in everyday driving, but not as good as the others for all-out performance driving. And yes, it has flappy paddles.

I really like the DSG with that TDi. It's a nice combination.


CD

[mikeschn]

Hmmm...

I guess I'll never know unless I test drive one...

Mike...