DSG? Maybe i would have.

[SimonH]

Was having a spirited drive last night through some cracking B roads, and couldnt help thinking that this car would suit the DSG gearbox.Its probably a little lazy i know, but on a couple of occasions, i wished i could just pull a paddle to change down, and would have made faster progress coming in and out of a couple of corners.After the M5, i thought that the SMG actually added to the acceleration of that car quite a lot, with no drop in power through the shifts, and i think that the RS4 would benefit with this as well.Horses for courses i know, but i think i would have gone DSG if it were available.Only done 759 miles so far, and enjoying the car.Regards, SIMON.

[audijohn]

Was having a spirited drive last night through some cracking B roads, and couldnt help thinking that this car would suit the DSG gearbox.Its probably a little lazy i know, but on a couple of occasions, i wished i could just pull a paddle to change down, and would have made faster progress coming in and out of a couple of corners.After the M5, i thought that the SMG actually added to the acceleration of that car quite a lot, with no drop in power through the shifts, and i think that the RS4 would benefit with this as well.Horses for courses i know, but i think i would have gone DSG if it were available.Only done 759 miles so far, and enjoying the car.Regards, SIMON.

Yes I agree it would have made the car quicker.
I too find it more of a challenge with the gear lever (old age I spose)

[mrdeli]

I agree too. This was one of the reasons that I dropped out of my place on the new M3 - the DSG (ZMT) version of the M3 is not going to be released until 6 months after the September launch. Still the V8 torque makes the RS4 'almost' an auto around town At least with it being the only option it made speccing the car less of a dilemma. I nearly drove myself mad choosing seats - gearbox choice might have finally pushed me over the edge! The DSG version of the R32 golf got a right slating from Evo this month - so who knows maybe we are better with the manual (it's one of their long termers).

[dubbers]

DSG is great in forward gears, but a nightmare in reversing...Never got used to reverse parking in my DSG enabled A3 170...Some comedian VAG gearbox engineer gave it a binary switch and a millimeter of accelerator travel.

[Krammer002]

I've an A3 3.2 DSG as my daily driver and my main comments are:
You can drive it like Play station game with the steering wheel paddles and great fun on windy B roads (Cornish lanes and the like) but when in D mode the box can dither about in certain conditions. Sport mode is down right mad, keeping the revs between 4K and the red line.
I must agree that reversing with DSG is a binary affair without suitable application of the handbrake to smooth things out. I heard a rumour that the new 7 speed DSG uses a different clutch / fluid arrangement providing better control with more finesse.
Given the choice I would stick with my manual RS4 rather than the DSG in the A3.

[alex_123_fra]

I agree too. This was one of the reasons that I dropped out of my place on the new M3 - the DSG (ZMT) version of the M3 is not going to be released until 6 months after the September launch. Still the V8 torque makes the RS4 'almost' an auto around town At least with it being the only option it made speccing the car less of a dilemma. I nearly drove myself mad choosing seats - gearbox choice might have finally pushed me over the edge! The DSG version of the R32 golf got a right slating from Evo this month - so who knows maybe we are better with the manual (it's one of their long termers).

Personally, I now usually hate any form of auto/semi-auto box from any manufacturer. In my M3 (E46), the SMG-II was rubbish even at the most aggressive setting...jerky and not particularly fast on upchanges/downchanges/blipping.

I have to say that the DSG in the R32 and TT 3.2 are VERY VERY good though. Puts the BMW effort to shame. Much faster and more precise. Doesn't judder the transmission to bits every time you change up either.

I'd always miss the satisfaction of having total control over the speed and ferocity of my gearchanges though...hence I don't think I'd ever go with a DSG.

[GardinerG]

What do you expect from someone who drove a go very faster go-cart?!? (sorry Alex, just teasing you about your Noble!)

I like being lazy at time hence enjoy DSGs and the like, I bought the RS6 cuz of the tippy, My AMD 2.7T with chipped TCU was damn good. I got told off for my aggresive gearchanges on the track (550 and lambo)

I am sincerely hoping that the TCU chipped RS6 is as good. Guy at the Audi stealership told me that they couldn't mate the DSG with the RS4 engine for mechanical reasons (he wasn't talking power).

[Lancia]

Had the S4 auto before, not DSG but paddles and yes enjoying the auto on the road, having it on the track SARKED VERY BADLY. Happy to have a manual again. But yes it can be nice to have an auto (DSG) at times,

Note, I havent driven a DSG car though.

[marin]

I have an M3 and like the SMG even though it can be a little jerky at times. I was looking at buying the RS4 but couldnt get one without the DSG box. With all the traffic in London i think i would go mad with a manual and would need to buy a replacement leg. Please please Audi bring out a DSG box for the RS4. I for one am now looking at either the new M3 with M DCT next year when its out or the E60 M5.

[SR71]

I have a DSG A3 and they are fantastically smooth.

Great for in town and cruising but when seeking to make more rapid progress, the gearbox logic still does not allow you total control over which gear you will have engaged in the immediate future.

Like other posters, I find this frustrating sometimes, and prefer my manual RS4....with the traction control switched off.

Being a luddite I like the idea of me being in control of the vehicle not a host micro-processors.

Humour me will you.....<should have bought a TVR no doubt>

[RS4-Junkie]

R-Tronic for the win. DSG in the actual TT ist nice, but you still have the smooth acceleration by gear changes. I'd like to have more direct contact to the engine power to the wheels ...

[fossil]

tried the A3 3.2 DSG for a day, good fun, but I couldn,t live with that kick down, I HATE IT you just can't go planting your foot down, even in S mode without it jerking you around, had to take it back straight away AARGH!

[W8PMC]

TBH, you probably managed a quicker change in the RS4 than you'd manage with DSG.

Don't get me wrong, the Audi DSG is a dream to drive, but it's more Auto box than Manual box, as the SMG is more Manual than Auto. I agree than the changes with the SMG (in the higher settings) were lightning quick & a speed i can't match in the RS4, however the gap is not that great in the real world & the DSG would be a touch slower still (unless you can change in a manual at lightening pace).