GTI Stage 1 Flash with DSG

[SilverBug]

Hi all,

Been lurking here now since beginning of this year. Have just clocked over 5000km in my GTI and am close to having the car flashed with APR Stage 1.

The question that I am hoping you can help me with, not that I expect a definitive answer, is in relation to the performance of the DSG after the flash. I find at the moment that to drive the car manually with the steering wheel paddles is terrific and as close to a manual experience as possible with an Auto gearbox. The auto part satisfies the wife !!

In "D" the gearing to me feels all wrong and you find yourself constantly changing back a gear around town. In "S" it is so much fun to drive but never gets out of 4 gear.

So does the extra torque and power have a positive impact on the drivability of the DSG? I have briefly communicated with Guy who correctly states the inputs for the DSG change, but I want some real world advice from you guys with DSG who have the APR Stage 1.

BTW, I will be taking advantage of the free trial, just keen for peoples perspective prior to this.

Thanks heaps,
Andrew

[docjames]

Cant help you on the APR but agree with your opinion on the DSG.

After 1100km, my impressions:

in D it upshifts as soon as it can, never goes to 1 unless you floor it (stays in 2 even up ramps and at crazy slow speeds, makes noise like slipping clutch, which makes me worry about long term durability of the gerabox).

in S I cant get it above 4 except having to baby the throttle (in which case why be in S!), and in 1 it redlines itself again unless you massively feather the throttle.

[Nardi330]

i don't have APR flash so i don't know if it's the same.

with my bluefin, i can't feel any noticeable change to how/when DSG shifts. but with the added torque, staying in D is much less frustrating when getting caught in a gear too high.

[decksla]

ill be getting flashed shortly with GIAC but from what i understand the dsg has its own smarts (mechatronic) and so whatever you do with your ecu, the dsg will remain unchanged.

the flasher may however (if they can), decide to reset your dsg ecu so that it learns with the way you drive with the new software.

GIAC has a DSG flash also that increase the rev limit, increase the torque allowed and quickens the shifts. from what ive read it does little improvement in D and S modes but it more suited to the flappy paddles.

HPA also do a flash upgrade but its way more expensive, more involving and im not sure if it can even be done in OZ yet.

[blutopless2]

have apr flash on my jetta tsi.
i found that the response of the dsg improved after the flash.
before it really annoyed me the amount of take off lag that it seemed to have... really hesitant when i wanted to go from an intersection, so it seemed to make the car actually dangerous to drive.
once flashed it has improved this response from a standstill, and is more responsive to throttle input. it still has fuel economy in mind tho when in "D" so it will still short shift at about 2000 rpm.
the jetta didn't get the paddle shift so dont know how they are effected by the extra kw's.
fuel economy has also improved when not in fun mode. was getting 9 - 9.5L/ 100k's... since flash it is down at 8L/100k's with 180kW.