How do the older DSG's drive with the PD engines? compared to the cr's?

[AjayB]

New to the forums, looking at getting an A3 for my 21st birthday present. Just stuck on whether to get a DSG or Manual. Budgets around £6000 so won't be one of the newer models. Heard that the older engines with DSG's are not as good as the new ones? is there much difference? i rented a '09 Black Edition a few months ago with a DSG box and it put a smile on my face all weekend driving it. Any replies would be appreciated, thanks.

Jay.

 

[h5djr]

I had a DSG box on a 2004 2.0TDI-140(PD) and a 2007 2.0TDI-170(PD) and also on my current 2009 2.0TDI-140(CR) and it has worked just the same on all three. The engines have been different and my current CR-140 has been re-mapped to around 170 and it's fine with the DSG.

Having had three A3s with the DSG I would never want to drive anything else. I mostly drive using the 'tiptronic' mode where I choose which gear I want to be in using the centre stick or the paddles. I only use 'Drive' when I'm in a traffic jam.

 

[N8]

Mines a 2008 2.0TDI DSG 140 and it drives like a dream

 

[AjayB]

Cheers for the replies lads, its a tough choice for me coz of my budget its either a high milage DSG and a moderate/highish milage manual. :S still swinging towards the DSG as long as its had its oil and filters changed as they should be.

 

[Minstadave]

Cheers for the replies lads, its a tough choice for me coz of my budget its either a high milage DSG and a moderate/highish milage manual. :S still swinging towards the DSG as long as its had its oil and filters changed as they should be.

If you're on a limited budget then go for a lower milage manual, you want to try and avoid nasty bills on a limited budget and the DSG dying is a big one. There is less to go wrong on the manual and if it's lower milage too then you're on to a winner.

I have a DSG 2.0T and love it but I'd still go for a manual if money was tight.

 

[h5djr]

Following the comments on the cost difference between the Manual and the DSG I've just had a look at the prices on ETKA and there is in fact less difference than you might think. The DSG is basically a manual gearbox with a double-clutch system attached and a special control unit that moves the gears around.

The total cost of a replacement Manual gearbox and a new clutch pressure plate works out around £3300. The cost of a replacement DSG unit including the double clutch assembly is around £4300. Obviously in both cases the internal parts of the gearbox are similar and can be changed without having to change the full unit. Also the clutch is much more likely to need replace on a high mileage Manual because it's a dry friction system that wears whereas the clutch plates on the DSG are running in an oil bath and are supposed to last the live of the car.

 

[NHN]

DSG all the way here & going forward, been used to driving manuals for years, GTI's,VR6's, S3, S4, now 2 A3's on dsg, will never go back quite simply as it takes so much stress etc out of the driving & I have fair power now which dsg's can handle much better imho in stock form, where as manual clutches go all the time on this forum alone.

 

[N8]

Nigel's absolutely spot on there. Keep the DSG box serviced etc, and you won't have any problems *hopefully*

 

[AjayB]

DSG all the way here & going forward, been used to driving manuals for years, GTI's,VR6's, S3, S4, now 2 A3's on dsg, will never go back quite simply as it takes so much stress etc out of the driving & I have fair power now which dsg's can handle much better imho in stock form, where as manual clutches go all the time on this forum alone.

Hi NHN, do you reckon a higher milage DSG will be ok then obv if been looked after? i really do want a DSG, loved having the rental few months ago, power was just on tap.. i'd also be wanted to map it. Another reason about getting a DSG is that the cars in control of shifting mainly so theres no grinding gears by accident etc so all helps with wear and tear. i'm quite new to all this stuff as i just drive my dads Merc and BMW at the moment but once im on the Audi hype i'll be doing quite a few things to it. The forums have give me some excellent ideas.

 

[N8]

Yes my DSG A3 is mapped and drives great.

 

[h5djr]

My A3 with DSG has been re-mapped to around 175bhp as well.

 

[N8]

Nice to see you posting again Dave, you haven't been on here for a while

 

[AjayB]

My A3 with DSG has been re-mapped to around 175bhp as well.

sounds good, i bet its rapid. i cant wait to get one. The forum just builds up the excitement.

 

[Minstadave]

Sorry to harp on but if you're looking at high milers make sure you're happy with the sums. These can be expensive, routine service costs even at a specialist aren't cheap, and the worry is the 1k lunched turbo or dsg rebuild.

 

[N8]

Mine cost £180 to service @ 40k. That was the first time in 3 years

 

[AjayB]

Cheers for the info, the costs are something i'll have to deal with if i want to get one. Hopefully ill pick up a peach of a car, still looking around though. Anybody know of any other places to look other than Autotrader and Pistonheads? Really want to get one within the next 4 weeks.