Hi Diesel Dogg,

I have previously used the DSG in a Passat and an Audi A3.

WRT low speed manouvreing on a slope.. I can't say it's something I do especially often or that I have noticed any major issues.

The only thing I can think you might mean is that if you pull up to some lights on a slope and stop, the car will sometimes drop back a bit when you release the brake to move off.

In that case I use the hand brake. Is that what you mean? I've never had any other issues with the clutch 'disengaging'.

Do not forget there is a new Octavia on the way the Seat is a poor Audi copy if its a company car go for the real thing.

libspero,

I was perhaps not clear in my explanation.

we were parked, facing uphill, on a sloping street ( Captain St in Coleraine) another vehicle then parked a bit close in front of us.

When I attempted to manouver my way out, ( & I have the "hill holder" parking brake), with only my right foot on the throttle, attempting to limit my speed & creep out, the clutch pack disengaged and allowed the car to freely run back. Prior to this the clutch pack had engaged & the car had been moving forward, however briefly.

I then instinivitely braked.

I replicated this behavouir on the roadway once out of the space, on a light throttle opening after forward (or rearward) movement had commenced, the managment unit decides the engine revs are insufficient & disengages the clutch.

I can only presume due to some imperceptible ( to me leastwise) reduction in throttle input.

However there is not the slightest sense of the engine labouring or being ready to stall.

This also happened on the wee slope adjacent to the Portrush Harbour when sitting in a queue of traffic, handbrake applied, handbrake off, attempted to proceed forward, and ran back!!!!!!!!!!!!!, until I braked.

Very frustrating.

Edited by dieseldogg on 15/12/2011 at 10:53

Thanks Avant,

Good to hear from someone who has experience of both. I like the idea of the 170BHP Octavia (comparable economy and a bit more 'poke') but note that it is only available on the vRS model. I guess moving to a sports model might bump up the insurance a bit, plus I wonder whether the stiffened suspension would make regular long journeys a bit uncomfortable.. how do you find yours?

Erm, actually & intended quite civilly, despite what Avent is suggesting above, do NOT rule out the humble 1.6 diesel @105BHP, simply because in my experience over 25,000 miles ( & dispite b****ing about the low speed manouvering issue, which I hope is NOT a "characterstic") this engine is well suited to the DSG, I do mostly travel alone and this area is NOT hilly or steep, except for the odd wee short sharp slope.

Running fully loaded or in the Yorkshire Dales/Pennines it may not be so satisfactory.

Cheers

Marcus

I didn't comment on this thread earlier as i have no personal experience of ownership of automatic VAG cars, though i've driven and delivered hundreds.

The reason i've never owned one is because i rarely buy cars still under makers warranty, or if i do it's nearly out, i wouldn't want an automated manual no matter how may clutches its got, the poor junction and manoeuvering performance of all AM's is a penalty i'm not prepared to pay, nor am i prepared to pay the extortionate costs of repairing the type as they age.

People i know who have owned auto Audi's in particular have had some eye watering bills for repair and overhaul work on their auto boxes, whether the newe DSG boxes will be any better long term i don't know.

The CVT box i'm not sure if i've driven, and i haven't a clue about it's long term durability, is it a stock box previously used by some other name in other VAG cars or is it something new?

I'd be prepared to risk the CVT if its smooth at low speeds, junctions and close manoeuvers, but only if i was certain that i wouldn't own it out of makers warranty.

You couldn't give me a DSG or any other auto clutched manual.

Note by the way how VW group haven't increased their warranties in line with other makers.