DSG is best experienced with a naturally aspirated engine

Mated with the 3.2 VR6 in my A3 it feels wonderful and leagues ahead of my buddie's SMG.

No upshift at redline for me.

 

OK, I have come to the conclusion that DSG was basically made to replace automatic and not the clutch pedal like the SMG or the F1.

1. Even when I am in the manual mode, DSG creeps forward, SMG does not. In essence, the SMG keeps the clutch open with your foot off the throttle, while the DSG engages the clutch and creeps forward. I would think this creep would really shorten the clutch life.

2. Same with the reverse gear. With SMG cars, the car does not move without throttle input, DSG moves, in all modes.

3. SMG will not upshift until you change gear, DSG will at redline.

4. Because of all these automatic like features, DSG really behaves more like an automatic, and not automated manual like the SMG.

5. In DSG, there's a kick down button that will downshift for you if you happen to press down too hard on the throttle, even in manual mode. SMG does not do this.

In short, it is a less manual like experience than the SMG. When I had the M3, I never drove in the automatic mode, and the car behaved like a manual. DSG cars are basically automatic, since it won't let you control the transmission to the degree that SMG does.

 

I always felt that SMG was overly clunky in both the E46 M3 and E60 M5 when driving at low speeds (i.e. maneuvering a parking lot). However, the raw characteristics made sense when you started driving the car with purpose. S Tronic/DSG is, as you point out, a new direction for automatic transmissions, not a competitor to three pedals.

 

x1 what M5Kid said.

1) Semi-auto - pretty okay during a spirited drive
2) Old school automatic - pretty okay while stuck in traffic
3) Hybrid of both - sucks during spirited drives and clunky in traffic
4) Manual transmission - Awesome always

 

Sorry guise.... the 'double clutch trannies' are here to stay and they WILL phase out both the slush box and the m/t.

You.will.shit.bricks.
when you see it.

 

+1 billion to joxxies point; M/T = tasty awesomeness.

 

there are different versions of the DSG as mine does not upshift at redline in manual mode and will especially never downshift (kickdown)

So before you start a DSG vs SMG debate make sure you are comparing equivalent versions of each.