Scirocco Central

I'm looking forward to my new scirocco in the new year but have not had a dsg box before. Currently have a manual Eos which is great.
My question is how to to get the best out of it. How do I use it. Are there different settings? Also ordered multi function wheel which I believe comes with paddles. Again, how do I get best use of these?
I know these might sound silly questions but I've been a manual man for many years!
Thanks

Just wait until you get it and it will all become clear. it's a bit alien at first but you quickly get used to it.

Yes there are different modes, Sport, Drive and Manual, the latter allowing you to change gears with paddles on wheel or by nudging the gearstick.

Sport is quite hectic and keeps the revs high and drive changes up as soon as possible and down as late as possible.

r.gbrown wrote:I'm looking forward to my new scirocco in the new year but have not had a dsg box before. Currently have a manual Eos which is great.
My question is how to to get the best out of it. How do I use it. Are there different settings? Also ordered multi function wheel which I believe comes with paddles. Again, how do I get best use of these?
I know these might sound silly questions but I've been a manual man for many years!
Thanks

r.gbrown, they're not silly questions at all. I was exactly the same moving to DSG after driving manual cars all my life.
You should get used to it pretty quickly but might take a bit longer to really master it to get the best out of the car.
Leave it in full automatic for the commute to work or if your in traffic or if your just feeling a bit lazy, and then you've got the paddles if you want more input.
When the selector lever is in D position (fully automatic) you can just pull the left paddle to quickly change up a gear and overide the fully auto mode - great when exiting a roundabout for example, and when you want to go back into fully auto just pull the right paddle for a second or two and hey presto. All really smooth too.
The best part of it is just having a bit of an experiment. I haven't been dissapointed up to now so I hope you enjoy it too.
Best of luck.

Depends on what type of driver you are but In my experience only two modes are of use "D" for most driving situations. Gearchanges are Automatic and will happen as and when the gearbox thinks is the right time to do so depending upon a number of factors, throttle angle / load etc.

The second is manual mode using either the paddles or lever to change when you want** although gear will change automatically when rev limit is reached or overide shift command to protect from a downshift that may cause damage through over revving the engine.

DSG IMO is a great system which allows full throttle shifts without any lift off. Not as engaging as a manual, probably but overall makes day to day driving more relaxed and still makes sense when you're in the mood for a blast.

I haven't yet found a use for "S" mode, if you're pushing on it makes far more sense to use manual mode then slip back into "D". Sure others may disagree.

What do you guys do when stopped at lights for a short time. Do you just hold it on the brake in D or S or slip it into neutral ?

I just keep my foot on the brake in D. It disengages the clutch.
Sometimes I slip it in to neutral. Especially on these dark nights so it doesn't dazzle the driver behind as much.

I also just use D for everyday driving and manual mode for spirited driving (I did not even use sport mode on a recent track day)

If I sit in traffic for long I slip it into N, I have seen the actual consumption is then lower instead of leaving it in D.

r.gbrown

Your questions aren't silly at all. I asked the same questions myself before ordering a DSG spec Scirocco.

Here's my take on DSG after two years of using it.

It's the dogs wotsits!

Seriously.. it's a pleasure to use. Most of the time I have it set in 'D' and let the box do all the work. Lazy I know but that's why I paid £1,300 extra! If you do a lot of commuting in heavy traffic it's a godsend. That is the reason I specced mine in the first place

Flappy paddles? I thought I'd use them more often than I do. They are great to have when you want to override the auto function or when going down a steep hill and want to engage some engine braking. However in most driving circumstances I just leave the darn box in full auto. But, everyones different.

Sport mode. Now this is pretty raucous but I love it when I want a blast (or a bit of a race with someone - gave an Audi A5 a very good run for his money the other day - he was defo shocked how fast my Scirocco was - he just couldn't shake me off - all good fun). The car feels transformed in 'S' mode. The engine holds revs higher and the throttle is a lot more responsive (twitchy even). Combine that with the Sport setting on the DCC and the car feels ready and willing to it's maximum potential. It's quite a jump from the rather sedate 'D' mode ;-) Feels aggressive.

Hope that gives you slice of life while using DSG. PM me if you want to know anything specific.

Gaz

Sootchucker wrote:What do you guys do when stopped at lights for a short time. Do you just hold it on the brake in D or S or slip it into neutral ?

Recently I've started slipping mine into neutral if I'm at a set of lights for long periods. As Kev said it's kinder on the person behind if your not sat on your break peddle for the whole time you're stationary. Rear lights are so bright these days it puts a real strain on your eyes if somebody is sat on their breaks the whole time.

Gaz

Gary_Monkey wrote:As Kev said it's kinder on the person behind if your not sat on your break peddle for the whole time you're stationary. Rear lights are so bright these days it puts a real strain on your eyes if somebody is sat on their breaks the whole time.

that is a massive pet hate of mine

fyi: brakes

trix wrote:

Gary_Monkey wrote:As Kev said it's kinder on the person behind if your not sat on your break peddle for the whole time you're stationary. Rear lights are so bright these days it puts a real strain on your eyes if somebody is sat on their breaks the whole time.

that is a massive pet hate of mine

fyi: brakes

and pedal

I use the flappy paddles on some of the mountain roads around where I live, great fun. Around town and motorway driving just leave it in full auto, with my 170 diesel you don't even notice the changes, it so smooth. Just tuck your left foot under the front seat for a while if your not used to an auto. Get used to the box and you can start left foot braking.

As I've said before I've only had one really major major problem with the DSG box.........................my wife wants to drive everywhere.

Unfair.

Thanks everyone for the comments. Cant wait to take delivery............

Like you I am a recent convert to DSG. it really is the dogs wobbly bits! i am with most of the comments here - i use D most of the time, but I do manually down shift with the paddles for roundabouts and then manually come out (really for the fun of it!) and then come 5th - I let the auto take over (lazy). But I think its a learning box cos now, 3-000 miles in it downshifts almost before I would manually...

I nearly always drop it into neutral at lights and engage D as the lights change... Then all ready for green and go. Hill starts got me at first - but its obvious. Stop. Handbrake on and neutral. For the off, engage D and let handbrake off...

as mine is still quite new I haven't used S yet. I will once I have 5000 miles up... petrol consumption is really very good with it too - i think it might be marginally better when used manually... sometimes it almost changes up to soon I think...

Have you found the dreaded wastegate rattle yet? see my thread - and loads of other about it!

enjopy.

jonosussex wrote: But I think its a learning box cos now, 3-000 miles in it downshifts almost before I would manually...

yep it is a learning box.

Has anyone made the leaping our of the car while its still in Drive mistake? I did - just the once. I am used to a manual, came to a halt on the flat and got out nippy like and forgot to select P. Bloody thing set off by itself! OMG!! Got back in but it had (gently) crunched the front. Luckily it all polished out... PHEW. NEVER AGAIN!!

jonosussex wrote:Has anyone made the leaping our of the car while its still in Drive mistake? I did - just the once. I am used to a manual, came to a halt on the flat and got out nippy like and forgot to select P. Bloody thing set off by itself! OMG!! Got back in but it had (gently) crunched the front. Luckily it all polished out... PHEW. NEVER AGAIN!!

Same thing happened to me!
Where I work I sometimes get people blocking me in so have to wait. I was sitting in the car engine running, waiting for the t*at to move. When he came back, I got out of the car to inform him of his lack of parentage only to see his look of shock and an exclamation of OMG as my car started rolling forward. I jumped back in but it had already bumped up to a chain link fence. By the time I'd stopped ranting bloke was long gone !
Luckily the chain had lodged against the black gloss grill so just had to replace it and polish out some light scratches. As you say - Never again!!