The New Volkswagen Golf R: A Comparison of Manual and DSG Gearboxes

This is the new Volkswagen Golf R, and so is this the only difference between them? Is this one has a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox, and this one has thirteen hundred and five pounds worth of optional DSG. Today, we are not concerned with the subjective merits of DSG versus manual. What we are concerned with is how much faster or otherwise and how much more consistent or otherwise you can be in a DSG compared with your manual.

To put the manual Golf R to the test, I'll start by revving it up off the line, using the ESP feature that allows me to rev it a bit more. I want to wind it up against the handbrake before letting the clutch out, and then off we go. This will give me a bit of a flat shift, another flap shift, and third gear. According to the drift box, this run only came in at six point four seconds to 60, which is seven tenths behind VW's claim. I thought that run felt quite good, but I have no idea where another seven tenths are going to come from.

I'll try again, seeing if I can get it off the line initially a bit faster. But after a few more revs, I realize that this car is not going to do five point seven seconds today. No matter how hard I push it, I just can't seem to get there. The final effort still results in a six point three-second time, which means we have a six point four, six point six, and six point three - none of which sound anywhere near VW's claim of five point seven.

It's now time to try the DSG, so I'll stick it into S mode, turn off the ESP, open the accelerator, release the brakes, and then away we go. The process is remarkably easy, with perfect upshifts after each gear change. And that's exactly what happened - my third run came in at a blistering 5.7 seconds to 60. That's pretty special, but it's not quite as quick as VW claims it should be.

Not for either car, actually, because I think I'm still just a little bit tight, neither advanced nor many miles. But what we've ended up with is the DSG car going a minimum of naught point six seconds quicker than the manual in its best run, or the manual's worst run - nearly a second difference. Is that worth 1,300 pounds? I think it hasn't.

Not only is DSG more consistent and quite a lot faster on the move, but it's also more economical and a little bit cleaner on the emissions front too if you ask me. That's the best $1,300 you can spend on a car, far.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the new Volkswagen Golf R and so is this the only difference between them is this one has a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox and this one has thirteen hundred and five pounds worth of optional DSG today we are not concerned with subjective merits of DSG versus manual what we are concerned with is how much faster or otherwise and how much more consistent or otherwise you can be in a DSG compared with your manual right then run number one in the manual Golf R ESP off that allows you to rev it a bit more off the line hand brake all because what I want to do is wind it up against the handbrake a bit before I let the clutch out and then off we go little bit of a flat shift another flap shift third what is that I feel quite good actually but according to the drift box that was only six point four seconds to 60 what's that seven tenths behind VW's claim I thought that run felt quite good I have no idea where another seven tenths are going to come from anyway we'll try again let's see if we can I don't know change gear faster maybe give it a few more revs off the line Oh nein faster on that mantle I seen worse that is six point six seconds now again it doesn't feel like I'm doing a whole lot wrong there maybe I could get it off the line initially a bit faster but mmm no way Dwight this car is going to do five point seven seconds today no we're meeting the wheel last and final effort slightly better off the line slightly quicker gear change still go go to third gear cuz it'll only take 58 in second and that has done at the six point three oh dear that means we have a six point four a six point six and a six point three none of which sound anywhere near VW's creme of five point seven I think it's time to try the DSG so I've already done two runs in the DSG on round one it did 5.7 to 60 on run - it did 5.7 to 60 I'm about to do round three this is how easy it is stick it in s still need to turn the ESP off open the accelerator foot on the brakes release the brakes away we go perfect upshift another perfect upshift and another perfect 5.7 second run 260 that is pretty special it's not quite as quick as VW claims it should be not for either car actually because I think I'm still just a little bit tight neither advanced or many miles but what we've ended up with is the DSG car going a minimum of naught point six seconds quicker and in its best run or the manuals worst run nearly a second difference is that worth 1,300 pounds well I think it hasn't it not only is DSG more consistent and quite a lot faster on the move it is that good it's also more economical and a little bit cleaner on the emissions front too if you ask me that is the best 1,300 pounds you can spend on a goal far youthis is the new Volkswagen Golf R and so is this the only difference between them is this one has a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox and this one has thirteen hundred and five pounds worth of optional DSG today we are not concerned with subjective merits of DSG versus manual what we are concerned with is how much faster or otherwise and how much more consistent or otherwise you can be in a DSG compared with your manual right then run number one in the manual Golf R ESP off that allows you to rev it a bit more off the line hand brake all because what I want to do is wind it up against the handbrake a bit before I let the clutch out and then off we go little bit of a flat shift another flap shift third what is that I feel quite good actually but according to the drift box that was only six point four seconds to 60 what's that seven tenths behind VW's claim I thought that run felt quite good I have no idea where another seven tenths are going to come from anyway we'll try again let's see if we can I don't know change gear faster maybe give it a few more revs off the line Oh nein faster on that mantle I seen worse that is six point six seconds now again it doesn't feel like I'm doing a whole lot wrong there maybe I could get it off the line initially a bit faster but mmm no way Dwight this car is going to do five point seven seconds today no we're meeting the wheel last and final effort slightly better off the line slightly quicker gear change still go go to third gear cuz it'll only take 58 in second and that has done at the six point three oh dear that means we have a six point four a six point six and a six point three none of which sound anywhere near VW's creme of five point seven I think it's time to try the DSG so I've already done two runs in the DSG on round one it did 5.7 to 60 on run - it did 5.7 to 60 I'm about to do round three this is how easy it is stick it in s still need to turn the ESP off open the accelerator foot on the brakes release the brakes away we go perfect upshift another perfect upshift and another perfect 5.7 second run 260 that is pretty special it's not quite as quick as VW claims it should be not for either car actually because I think I'm still just a little bit tight neither advanced or many miles but what we've ended up with is the DSG car going a minimum of naught point six seconds quicker and in its best run or the manuals worst run nearly a second difference is that worth 1,300 pounds well I think it hasn't it not only is DSG more consistent and quite a lot faster on the move it is that good it's also more economical and a little bit cleaner on the emissions front too if you ask me that is the best 1,300 pounds you can spend on a goal far you\n"