a3 on the way to NA

[Louis-Alain_Richard at computerhorizons.com]

> 
>The review states that the DSG shifts for you at redline.
>
>Anyone here drive a DSG ?  Is this true ?  I'd like to be in charge of
>firing whomever decided that a manual gearbox should shift for you when 
you
>don't want it to.


I don't own one but I test drove the TT 3.2 DSG two weeks ago.

Yes, it's true that the transmission will shift by itself if you exceed 
the redline, but only if you stay on the soft cut-off. It's kinda idiot 
proof and doesn't castrate a sporting driver.

Regarding this DSG, I have mixed feelings. I was expecting lightning fast 
gear changes "à la" F1. Sorry, the feeling is very close to a normal 
torque-converter auto trans. So this is very deceiveing.

OTOH, the "throttle blip" feature is very interesting (...what a sound 
this VR6 makes) and gives the driver the aural pleasure of fast driving. 
But I guess most folks will leave the trans in the auto mode because there 
is so little to gain with the manual shifting, both on the fun and speed 
aspects.

I think nothing will ever come close to the feeling of a manually shifted 
transmission on a road car.
Humans are just to precise in what they wants (when driving fast) to let a 
computer do the shifting, even with 100s of parameters in the loop.

There is no electronic gizmos that I can't fault : ESP, ABS, DSG, 
Servotronic, throttle by wire, emergency brake assist, etc. Not that they 
don't have a value, but for fast driving, I prefer a mechanical link 
between my legs/arms/butt and the different systems.

The only system where electronic control is better than me is AC.

Louis-Alain
still driving a "pure" sportscar