The adoption of dual-clutch transmissions among automakers — particularly those selling cars in the United States — might be off to a slow start, but VW announced a major sales milestone today. The automaker said today it sold the millionth DSG-equipped vehicle last month.
Demand for the high-tech transmissions is increasing. VW sold 400,000 units last year, accounting for 40 percent of its overall DSG sales in the last four years or so. Now nearly a quarter of all VWs ship with a DSG gearbox.
Dual-clutch transmissions offer faster gear changes than a regular manual transmission, with the smoothness and ease-of-use of an automatic. The system uses two computer-controlled clutches, making the transition between gears much smoother than an F1-style automated manual. There is no clutch pedal, but gear changes can be made manually via paddle shifters or the car can be left in an automatic mode. DSGs also boast far less power loss than automatic gearboxes, and less power consumption.



02/05, 3:03 PM
posted by:
fan
wow, fairlight… pretty mature comment
02/05, 3:14 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
What do you want, a pat on the back or something?
02/05, 3:15 PM
posted by:
A4
can anyone guess why they are discounting R32’s left and right? Cause the only people that like paying 30 grand for a tuned-up rabbit hatchback expect it to have a traditional 6-speed manual, and not this DSG crap that VW wants to force on us. Id have an R32 in my driveway right this minute if it had a 6-speed and maybe 50 more horsepower. Ill stick to a chipped GTI – its faster.
02/05, 3:51 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Best transmission ever.
02/05, 4:24 PM
posted by:
davebo
I fully support DSG and can’t wait for more cars to adopt good, properly engineered dsg’s. For us people who like the fastest possible solution.
02/05, 4:26 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
I view DSG’s as a great replacement for traditional automatics. Not a replacement for traditional manuals.
I wonder how the durability / repair record has been on these DSG’s? Do they hold up well?
02/05, 5:14 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Well put Z06. An automatic is still just an automatic. I don’t really care if it shifts faster than I can. Until I figure out a way to hold a beer with my left foot, I’d just as soon give it something useful to do in the meantime.
02/05, 5:22 PM
posted by:
corvette
Wonderful congrats VW.
02/05, 5:37 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
johnnycanuck is my hero
02/05, 5:38 PM
posted by:
BradBot
From what I understand these transmission are extremely durable, not to mention they’re awesome. I still remember the first time I rode in an A3 that had it, I couldn’t believe how fast and smooth it shifted!
As much as I like traditional manuals the DSG and similar technologies get nothing but praise from me.
02/05, 5:58 PM
posted by:
gbb
I have only drove 1 car with a dual clutch trans, an Audi TT and it was the absolute best. This deal should be offered on every car or truck in place of the slush box autos available now.
02/05, 7:22 PM
posted by:
pbwe
Still, the cost for any repair is exhorbitant. When economy is a priority, manual is where it’s at. Any prospective purchaser of VW cars is advised to include the cost for a comprehensive after market maintenance insurance plan. Any prospective purchaser of used VW cars is advised to not be.
02/05, 7:24 PM
posted by:
pbwe
Still, the cost for any repair is exhorbitant. When economy is a priority, manual is where it’s at. Any prospective purchaser of VW cars is advised to include the cost for a comprehensive after market maintenance insurance plan. Any prospective purchaser of used VW cars is advised to not be.
02/05, 7:25 PM
posted by:
pbwe
I didn’t know I could stutter like that.
02/05, 7:26 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
LMAO @johhnnycanuck!!!!
Well that’s cool. Yeah DSG’s from what I’ve heard are really good. So ok it says towards the bottom of the article that it uses less power consumption so does that result in the increase of fuel efficiency?
I’ll stick with a single clutch, and a short throw shifter personally, after I got a stick I vowed to never own a car with an auto again. Manuals are just too much fun.
Also I don’t know what impact DSG’s are having on professional racing, are more and more race cars using DSG’s for the quicker shifting? Or does certain rules in whatever racing category we could talk about prevent them from being used?
02/05, 7:27 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
*johnnycanuck
02/05, 7:28 PM
posted by:
jamak
My brother has a gti with dsg and it is holding up fine but the maintenance cost of gearbox oil change is very high [$500.00 can.].The gearbox holds a lot of special expensive oil for the twin wet clutches.Other than that it seems very durable.
02/05, 7:46 PM
posted by:
golf4me
A4, you’re an idiot. Even if you were old enough to drive, you couldn’t possibly shift faster or more efficiently than the DSG’s VW uses, especially on the downshift.
What I want to friggin know is why do they only offer them here on GTI/GLI/R32? What about the goddam Rabbit/Jetta/Passat? No wonder their sales suck.
02/05, 8:05 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
I don’t know golf4me, A4 has a point. the R32 has only 250hp and 236ftlbs torque and only comes in a 6-spd DSG. Yeah it’s all wheel drive but a buddy of mine has an 04 Jetta GLI 6spd manual. It had 180hp stock and with an APR stage three chip it boosted hp to 220hp with 242lbs of torque. He’s slapping a turboback on it soon but man does it accelerate quickly. I bet it’ll take on an R32 even. But yeah I think A4’s point is that just because you have a DSG while yeah it gives quicker shifts doesn’t mean that makes your car quick.
02/06, 2:48 AM
posted by:
BradBot
Actually if you were to compare two identical cars except one was manual and the other had a DSG tranny, the one with the DSG would be at least a couple of tenths faster. Best Motoring did exactly that comparing a GTi w/ DSG v GTi w/ a manual
02/06, 9:56 AM
posted by:
The Stig
Most people find the DSG more attractive than a regular automatic. Some people find the DSG less attractive than a regular manual. Personally I find it an excellent compromise between wanting to shift and having to shift, especially in stop-and-go traffic. It shifts fast and seems to hold up, though the lords at VW consider the wet clutches wear items not covered under the general warranty.