Hi, I have a Skoda with a seven speed DSG automatic gearbox and it is brilliant. Ideal for towing with hill start and can be used as a standard auto or you can change gear manually. This a well proven reliable gearbox used on a wide range of vehicles and capable of high torque loads. A big improvement on the old torque converter autos.
I bit the bullet as a try out on auto. It was great for towing as many above have said. I have had 2 auto since and would not use manual again for towing.My wife has an old manual which is fine but auto always for towing. I
Quote: Originally posted by keith p on 29/3/2017
Hi, I have a Skoda with a seven speed DSG automatic gearbox and it is brilliant. Ideal for towing with hill start and can be used as a standard auto or you can change gear manually. This a well proven reliable gearbox used on a wide range of vehicles and capable of high torque loads. A big improvement on the old torque converter autos.
What's better about it than a decent torque converter box? I can use mine as a standard auto or use the paddle shifts. It automatically adjusts to cope with towing, and thus the paddle shifts are never needed in practice.
Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 29/3/2017
Quote: Originally posted by keith p on 29/3/2017
Hi, I have a Skoda with a seven speed DSG automatic gearbox and it is brilliant. Ideal for towing with hill start and can be used as a standard auto or you can change gear manually. This a well proven reliable gearbox used on a wide range of vehicles and capable of high torque loads. A big improvement on the old torque converter autos.
What's better about it than a decent torque converter box? I can use mine as a standard auto or use the paddle shifts. It automatically adjusts to cope with towing, and thus the paddle shifts are never needed in practice.
I'm sure both types have their advantages and disadvantages. In all probability its a matter of personal preference. As a long-term user of TC autos, I would question the need for so many gears with DSG. The 4 gears in my auto-box are more than adequate, as the converter gives a range of ratios within each gear. However, I accept that DSG gearboxes are reputedly more economical.
Hi,
The DSG auto is far more efficient than the Torque Converter autos which generate a lot of heat through the fluid drive which in turn leads to poorer fuel consumption. Towing with a torque converter box may require the fitment of a gearbox heat exchanger.
Quote: Originally posted by keith p on 29/3/2017
Hi,
The DSG auto is far more efficient than the Torque Converter autos which generate a lot of heat through the fluid drive which in turn leads to poorer fuel consumption. Towing with a torque converter box may require the fitment of a gearbox heat exchanger.
True to some extent Keith, but largely outdated. Some TC boxes may (as you say) require a heat exchanger for towing, but many like my Volvo are already so fitted.
Many years ago I used to tow with a Mk 2 Cortina. At times I towed a large trailer on which I often had cars larger than the Cortina. Before doing so I contacted Borg Warner, who made my gearbox, and asked for their advice about fitting a cooler to the gearbox. They advised instead that I fit a temperature gauge to the box, which I did, and they told me to stop for a break if the temperature exceeded a certain point, which it never did. That was a car built in 1966, with a 3 speed auto.
My Volvo does 40mpg solo, around town, and 50mpg solo on a run. Towing makes little difference to that, but my caravan isn't particularly big or heavy. Not bad though for a 17 year old car weighing nearly 2 tons. Would it do that much better with a DSG box?
Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 29/3/2017
Quote: Originally posted by keith p on 29/3/2017
Hi, I have a Skoda with a seven speed DSG automatic gearbox and it is brilliant. Ideal for towing with hill start and can be used as a standard auto or you can change gear manually. This a well proven reliable gearbox used on a wide range of vehicles and capable of high torque loads. A big improvement on the old torque converter autos.
What's better about it than a decent torque converter box? I can use mine as a standard auto or use the paddle shifts. It automatically adjusts to cope with towing, and thus the paddle shifts are never needed in practice.
It does nothing a DSG does not do! Everything you have described is done by a DSG box. Again, I cannot understand why those with TC boxes do not realise the DSG does all those things, plus hill decent control. I would have no issue with a TC box, but I am much more than happy with the DSG. Progress is a wonderful thing. 😀👍
There are several types of "automatic" gearboxes available now and all have advantages and disadvantages. I have a Nissan Qashqai with the Torque convertor type and have found it fine for towing and solo. 6 speeds, the ability to flip it across to manual mode and choose my own gears which is ideal for engine braking down a hill, or when I want to hold it in a lower gear for overtaking. I accept that the twin clutch gearboxes are more economical though,and very popular, but I bet they will never be as reliable as the torque convertor type. Both the DSG and Ford Powershift are twin clutch gearboxes and are not without their faults. Search Google or Honest John and you will find numerous stories of the gearboxes getting confused if you slow at a junction or roundabout then hit the throttle to pull away quickly and they choose the wrong gear. I believe the powershift gearbox had so many problems in its early days it was the subject of lawsuits in both the USA and Australia as not being fit for purpose! Ford brought out lots of mods and software updates and hopefully they have got it right now. My Brother had a DSG in a VW Golf and it jammed in 1st gear and had to be transported to a VW garage to sort it. This was on a new car! Because the DSG and Powershift are basically two manual clutches, they also have two clutch plates which will wear eventually and other bits like dual mass flywheels to absorb the torque shock. These will also wear and eventually need replacing just as in a manual box. There is an interesting article on the Honest John web site about this;
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/27427/does-my-volkswagen-passat-dsg-have-a-dual-mass-flywheel-
To summarise, you pay your money and take your choice, and I haven't even mentioned the boom in CVT transmissions. Thats for another day!
Mike3003, I can think of one thing that a TC box does that a DSG doesn't, and that is the torque doubling through the torque converter. The infinitely variable ratio of the torque converter (usually up to 2 - 1) means that a TC box doesn't need so many gears, and when needed provides an overall ratio of half of first gear.
I'm sure that a DSG box has other advantages, but in my opinion neither is overall "better" than the other. They are just different, and which we prefer is a matter of personal choice.
The TC box has certainly been around an awful lot longer, and has therefore had more of its "bugs" ironed out.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 30/3
I'm sure that a DSG box has other advantages, but in my opinion neither is overall "better" than the other. They are just different, and which we prefer is a matter of personal choice
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Automatic or manual
