DSG performance - Need a Physio?

[WestOiler125]

Hi all,

have read the tread and been out for a test run. Mine has done 7000km and although there is some lag at takeoff I certainly have no jerkiness. This is a beautiful gearbox, I just love the way it matches the torque of the diesel and provides drivability for a short revving engine with the six speeds. Mind you, I'm not a revhead, being more of a cruiser, so I don't try to be first off the line.
My bro is an experienced Audi A6 TDI driver and explained that you need to get used to the lag at takeoff, which I think is minor compared to some petrol turbos I drove in the 80s and 90s (eg. WRX).
All in all I love this car.

[tryingavw]

Hi all,
Mine has done 7000km and although there is some lag at takeoff I certainly have no jerkiness. T:

Hi westy. i have ordered the same car as you- wagon, 125kW, granite, leather. ( except including satnav and xenons but not auto tailgate. ) But i only got around to driving the 103kW and did not notice any turbo lag with the 103. have you driven both and does the 125 feel much different? And whilst the 103 felt fine, I'm hoping the 125 has much more urge.

The biggest problem is I ordered late June and am now quoted december delivery !

[snodrogs]

Hi all,

have read the tread and been out for a test run. Mine has done 7000km and although there is some lag at takeoff I certainly have no jerkiness. This is a beautiful gearbox, I just love the way it matches the torque of the diesel and provides drivability for a short revving engine with the six speeds. Mind you, I'm not a revhead, being more of a cruiser, so I don't try to be first off the line.
My bro is an experienced Audi A6 TDI driver and explained that you need to get used to the lag at takeoff, which I think is minor compared to some petrol turbos I drove in the 80s and 90s (eg. WRX).
All in all I love this car.

I agree. I have read a lot of feedback and comments about jerkiness etc on forums including on the VW/Audi UK forums, but I too have got used to the little lag at takeoff, and allow for it. I don't do the quick takeoff from standing start crossing oncoming traffic that I would have done with my previous manual vehicle, but again, you allow for the differences between vehicles...

One of my earlier cars was a 1986 Mazda 929 Turbo (factory Turbo) and the turbo lag was shocking (but it was a beautiful car cruising on the open road). The delay with the Passat turbo is minor in comparison.

After 4000km in this vehicle I am used to the DSG and now I very rarely take off in such a manner that earns me a dirty look from the "boss" in the passenger's seat. She is used to the idiosyncracies of the vehicle and L O V E S it...

I had a 103kW TDi rental in Europe last year, and even at low km with my vehicle, I believe that I can feel the extra torque of the bigger engine. Having said that, if only the 103kW was available when I was looking to purchase, I would have been happy with that too. Great engines and gearbox combination IMHO...

Tringavw, the wait sucks, but it will be worth it!

[tryingavw]

Tringavw, the wait sucks, but it will be worth it!

the waiting really does suck, probably made worse by my adding xenons to the car a month into the deal. plus I'm just about to sell the wife's wagon ( 2000 bmw 528i) so will need to find alternative wheels for 3 months. After I get rid of it i'll hassle the dealer for a golf loaner....

[WestOiler125]

Hi westy. i have ordered the same car as you- wagon, 125kW, granite, leather. ( except including satnav and xenons but not auto tailgate. ) But i only got around to driving the 103kW and did not notice any turbo lag with the 103. have you driven both and does the 125 feel much different? And whilst the 103 felt fine, I'm hoping the 125 has much more urge.

This car has plenty of urge, it reminds me of my supercharged V6 Commodore, but just much more refined, better built and very stylish. I'm sure you will love the 125kW.

[richdave]

I have just dropped my Passat off for it's 15K service... I asked them to look at the transmission.

I got a shiney new Jetta for a loan car.. It is smooth as silk on take off. Not a hint of shudder or jerking. Same driving style...

I sure hope they can make the Passat better!

[passatpout]

I have just dropped my Passat off for it's 15K service... I asked them to look at the transmission.

I got a shiney new Jetta for a loan car.. It is smooth as silk on take off. Not a hint of shudder or jerking. Same driving style...

I sure hope they can make the Passat better!

I noticed the same jerkiness on mine (125kW TDI DSG) on take-off, sort of feels like a spring is wound up, then released all of a sudden. As well, my wife said that it hadn't gone into gear a couple of times when she'd driven it. When the corrosion was repaired last week, I asked them to look at the box (particularly after having a Jetta loaner with DSG, not sure on the engine, think it was the 1.9 TDI).

They reckon they reset the values back to factory, allow the fuzzy logic another play, and other than that they reckon it's the torque of that engine combined with the box to be normal.. the funny thing is that I remember commenting on it to the dealer when I test drove it before buying..

Anyhow, drove it from Melbourne to Newcastle on Sunday (did the whole trip on one tank, had to refuel in Newcastle, not because it was empty, I didn't even have the low fuel light on, but because I was back to Sydney yesterday and it wouldn't have quite made that), and noticed that it's really smooth shifting gears, but the initial take-off is pretty rough and snappy, regardless of how much throttle is used.

Last night, my brother gave it a blat down Hawkesbury Road, he mentioned the same thing - rough take-off, smooth as when shifting up or down, since it was in 4th with him going full throttle and he hadn't noticed the changes. It kept up with a Forester (the version with the WRX engine) going back up the hill, even though he was trying to get away from us..

I'll give it a few more km, then when it goes for the 15,000km service I'll take the dealer/service people for a drive to point out what I mean.. having driven 4 Golf/Jettas with various engines but all DSG, and been in a couple of others in the UK (TDI with DSG), it only seems to be the Passat that has it.. I wonder if it's a consequence of the differing torque characteristics combined with a higher mass needing a bit more action to move..

Here endeth my thoughts..

[3Putt]

The 3.2V6 petrol is a bit jerky off the mark, but nothing that my wife complains about when she's in seat 1A.

V6 has 330Nm. How much does the 125kW TDi have?

Mind you, whatever it has, its bound to be sh*tloads more than my car at 700-1000rpm, the kind of revs you have when starting off in 1st!

I hope the DSG is programmed specifically for that TDi. It would have such a different torque curve to the V6.

It couldn't be that simple could it? They couldn't be that dumb could they? Put a V6 'mapping' into a TDi?

Maybe its a limitation of the DSG. Maybe it can't handle 300Nm at 700rpm!

But then again, I think the RS6 has a bit more than 300Nm...

[richdave]

Well the dealer has done "something" as it is better but not perfect! Problem is that with a weeks driving it is getting a little worse each day. The dealer has stated on the service report that there is a fault requiring follow up. I was verbally told that it may be software or an electronic fault and the issue has been reported to VWA for advice/resolution.

[jmj]

Reading this thread there seems a few people out there experiencing issues with the Passat Turbo lag... I wonder if the MY09 upgrade to CRD will make a difference.... anyone out there with a MY09 Passat have any remarks?... my MY09 arrives in March next year.