It's not rocket-science to realise that DSGs, whatever they're called, are more economical than the traditional torque converter + planetary gears automatic transmission - that's the whole reason they're being introduced.

Internet reports of DSG failures and problems are anecdotal, statistically inaccurate, like all problems that arise which get far more attention than the good ones.

BUT - stories of DSG issues abound, initially VAG dry clutch designs replaced by wet clutch designs for higher torque applications - but now issues with wet clutch DSGs - Ford Powershift has had complaints from drivers, in at least one case with Ford buying the car back.

Now I've used traditional automatics for half of my 4 decades of driving and always laughed at the doomsters who warn that repair costs are so much higher than conventional manual gearboxes - yes they are higher but both types fail so rarely that no-one repairs gearboxes, manual or automatic, on ordinary cars these days so the cost difference is academic.

Given the level of issues we're seeing on DSGs under warranty, will they be seen as a very poor secondhand buy once the original warranty has ended ?

I'm sticking with the devil I know - by the time DSGs, and CVTs come to that, have proved their very long-term reliablity the only vehicle I'll need will be the hea-r-s-e (stupid censor software) !

Edited by RT on 08/06/2013 at 11:02