It's been asked many times before, so if you use the forum search for "DSG vs manual" you'll find plenty of other posts on the subject.

If you just want opinions then IMO they are good to drive but they do make low-speed manoeuvres slightly more difficult, especially on ramps.

 

Depends on the vehicle. My GF and I both have Golf GTDs. Mine manual, hers 6 speed DSG. I think it's the same box as the T6. Her old 15 plate Q3 TDI was 7 speed DSG - I cant say that felt any different to the Golf so same comments apply.

Manual is smoother and you're always ready for a corner because you have to change down in preparation, the DSG will always come out of a corner in too high a gear so it has to clunk down a couple of cogs and then catch up (you need clever GPS based gear selection which is coming on newer VWs). I always paddle it down a couple on the way into a corner and then a few seconds later it goes back to auto mode.

Manual is easier to do low speed manoeuvring as you can feather the gas/clutch - the Golf 6 speed DSG does nothing and then surges. Particularly tricky when trying to park right up against the garage door or reverse up a slope.

Manual is better for pulling out of a junction. When your foot is on the clutch the stop start will leave the engine running. The older generation DSGs were a nightmare for pulling away, the current one is quite consistent but you have to deactivate the stop start or drop into sport mode to keep the engine ready.

DSG is great in town (Milton Keynes) as you can set the active cruise control and drive right through without touching the pedals at all. Ultra lazy but very slick.

This doesn't apply in the Golfs but in a sports car the paddle change really helps when driving on a twisty road. My old Audi was quite scary having to grab a gear while accelerating out of a long bend. My newer S-Tronic version allows you keep the pedal down and flick another gear through. The Audi S Tronic is also quiet nice to manoeuvre. The Graziano box is very smooth at low speed.

As a country bumpkin camper van driver I wouldn't have DSG in the van as I'm often out on open roads or motorway. If I lived in town and it was a newer van with active cruise then DSG every time...

As clever as DSG is trying to get, it still cant hold a candle to a good old slushbox auto. New BMWs ... I've lost count on how many gears they have and you cant count them when you drive anyway Just too smooth... but I still wouldn't buy a BMW

 

triffic summed it up faster

 

I've just got rid of a DSG Golf GTI and the gearbox was fantastic. Better than the BMW before it and better than the Mini thats replaced it. For some reason I love using the manual in the van though - seems to suit if more.

 

Sorry guys, I did mean Transporter gearboxes. 🤪
Interesting though, guess you like what you like eh?
I’d say my 7 speed DSG is way smoother and more ‘immediate’ than my old M-class Merc.
Definitely more positive than our 12 plate Golf 1.4 (DSG 7sp).
Kinda have to prime the throttle at junctions to get revs just sweet and then toe it! Goes off like a good ‘un. Creeps around in low gears at a slow pace like a prowler and there’s none of that manual gears & clutch effort in London or on long runs to Edinburgh or Snowdon. Spot on out of corners too plus there’s the sport or manual mode that actually work. Ramps - on and off the throttle to brake, etc is a good point but put it in D, set cruise to 70 - sweet. Love it! 😎 Personally I would never go back to a manual unless I bought another R1 bike but that’s a whole other story for another forum lol

 

I vote DSG, it's just easier to drive. it does get it wrong sometimes but i'd rather have it change gear for me all the time and get it right 95% of the time, then 5% of the time have the occasional high revs or bit of lag.
Paddles are essential too IMO, but they are an easy addition you just change the wheel.
compared to my parents cars that I have driven fairly often in the last year, (2010 Merc ML320 & 2015 Astra CDTI) the DSG is just way better

 

Weirdly I've rarely used paddles on a DSG or S-Tronic car but they've generally been petrol turbos so its just a care of having pretty instant acceleration whenever you put the foot down. Polar opposite on my current Mini where I drive with the paddles most of the time in semi-manual mode.

 

Dsg... great in slow traffic (i.e motorways) and if you need it to be ready in corners etc s mode more then ready for down/up shifting on the stick or paddles if you have them... and very smooth at doing so! only down side in standard drive it wants to shift up the gears way to quickly and if you were towing wouldn’t be ideal?? Not that I tow haha

 

Dsg... great in slow traffic (i.e motorways)

😂😂😂