Author Topic: Direct-Shift Gearbox :?: (Read 3604 times)

Helliouse · « **on:** February 20, 2008, 08:10:09 pm »

Quick question what do you all think about this, and its technology?

Read a couple articles about it, and other variants which made me think about how much I like my manual and shifting...

lord_verminaard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:39:59 am »

My thoughts and opinions, take them as you will.

It's a neat replacement for an Automatic. That's it. Sure, it offers the economy of a manual with the ease of an auto, but I'm old fashioned in that I like to have a clutch pedal, and I like to row my own gears. Even if you have a DSG in "manual mode" it's just not the same as grabbing a gear and working the clutch. For me, shifting is one of the few things left in the driving experience that is sacred. The technology involved in the DSG is mind-boggling, but so far they have proved themselves to be quite reliable. I'm still a bit afraid of "black box" technology though. If something in that box fails it could be scary.

Thankfully, it seems that right now the good-'ol manual transmission is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Brendan

Helliouse · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2008, 12:03:01 pm »

I would agree.

Though I know a bit more as to how they work, my only worry is that they can't hold the power.

Still an interesting idea.

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2008, 01:42:58 pm »

modern gadget to sell cars. gimme a manual. although some of the modern stuff like a torquey CVT car is fun, its just not the same.

BGA · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2008, 05:07:36 am »

For a certain reason i need an automatic. My queestion is: can the DSG be installed as a stand alone with its blackbox or is it depending on motor
and/or car electronics? If electronics is easy I intend to use it in a old
Golf with a mTDI.

VW_Commuter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2008, 10:21:08 am »

Quote from: "Helliouse"

I would agree.

Though I know a bit more as to how they work, my only worry is that they can't hold the power.

Still an interesting idea.

You do realize that the current R32s come with a DSG transmission? The R32 produces 250Hp and 236lb-ft of torque. If you go here to myturbodiesel.com they talk about HPA Motorsports

Quote from: "HPA Motorsports"

built some high power testers for VW and they experienced no unusual problems

On the DSG FAQ at myturbodiesel.com they also talk about how the DSG was developed from the sequ

And this page from HPA Motorsports website talks about the custom tuning they do for the DSG. If you look at their 'Stage 3R' tuning, for a whopping $1995, they recommend it for cars with >400Hp with either OEM clutches or their aftermarket upgraded versions .

I know some people like to 'row my own gears' and I say good on you, but if you want the highest fuel economy in your TDI then the DSG is the way to go. I just wish they would have offered the 6-speed DSG in my Golf instead of the 5-speed Tiptronic. I know the 5-speed is better than the old 4-speed Tiptronic but it aint no DSG, that's for sure.

VW_Commuter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2008, 10:22:46 am »

On Edit - Deleted content due to double post.

jtanguay · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2008, 10:18:15 pm »

DSG technology is quite amazing... but also quite complicated. and not cheap. how much would a system like this cost? minimum of $2000 i would imagine... and thats low balling it. there might be a way to get it to run without a computer and just using a slap stick though... now that would be fun! what wouldn't be fun, is replacing the clutches on it!!!

human error leaves room for destroying engines/clutches, so i like the idea of computer controlled (no the computer is not going to go bezerk and start wrecking your tranny/engine :roll: :lol:) but i also like having the control

it really makes me pay attention to the road and concentrate on what the motor is doing.

cyrus #1 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2008, 01:13:41 am »

One of those links has a bit more info. It said that the mechatronics (the electrical parts that do the shifting, etc) are currently not serviceable and have to be replaced as a unit. The cost of this was about $4000. :shock:

VW_Commuter · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2008, 03:06:47 am »

Quote from: "cyrus #1"

One of those links has a bit more info. It said that the mechatronics (the electrical parts that do the shifting, etc) are currently not serviceable and have to be replaced as a unit. The cost of this was about $4000. :shock:

Cyrus, I agree that the cost of the DSG is quite high and i wouldn't even think of retrofitting one into an older vehicle due to the cost alone. But, on the other hand, if I was to purchase to new TDI I would definitely want a DSG box in it instead of a manual since my roundtrip commute is 130 miles with a mix of 95% highway/5% city so it would give me great fuel mileage. For our older MK2's and MK3's I don't think it's a very viable option.

Pat Dolan · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2008, 06:05:33 pm »

If there was such a thing as stand-alone DSG, I would have it in a flash for race cars. However, it is completely integrated with the engine ECU and available only on current tech stuff (as in not junk yard around here) AND bloody heavy. So, it's off to dream land.

However, if you price out a sequential 6 speed dog box, all of a sudden the DSG doesn't come off so dear. AND, the DSG can keep the turbo on full boil for an upshift, which even the sequential manual can not.

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2009, 01:06:21 am »

Quote from: "lord_verminaard"

My thoughts and opinions, take them as you will.

It's a neat replacement for an Automatic. That's it. Sure, it offers the economy of a manual with the ease of an auto, but I'm old fashioned in that I like to have a clutch pedal, and I like to row my own gears. Even if you have a DSG in "manual mode" it's just not the same as grabbing a gear and working the clutch. For me, shifting is one of the few things left in the driving experience that is sacred. The technology involved in the DSG is mind-boggling, but so far they have proved themselves to be quite reliable. I'm still a bit afraid of "black box" technology though. If something in that box fails it could be scary.

Thankfully, it seems that right now the good-'ol manual transmission is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Brendan

I agree with you 100% about just a plain manual wiith a clutch, it's about the only damn thing they haven't screwed with yet and made so complicated and expensive to replace or fix yourself, I also like the feel of doing it myself and feeling the synchronizers ect.