News: VW has sold a million DSG transmissions

[MetroMPG]

Via ABG:

I had no idea this was so popular. VW has reportedly shipped its millionth "automated manual" double-clutch transmission.



This is somewhat significant news for the North American market because of the lack of willingness of drivers here to choose manual transmissions. An automated manual offers some of the efficiency benefits of manual transmissions without the losses of a typical automatic slushbox's torque converter.

And the speed freaks like them because the dual-clutch design actually allows them to accelerate faster than a normal manual transmission.

See also... VW's 7-speed DSG more efficient than traditional automatics; *also permits gliding*

[Daox]

I guess as long as I can control when the car shifts I'm fine. However, I do like my clutch for winter driving.

[MetroMPG]

Spoken like a true hypermiler. For ultimate efficiency, you need to be able to row your own gears, including declutching whenever you like.

But for the average schmoe who insists on a slushbox, the DSG would be a nice improvement.

[trebuchet03]

I'd totally trade my standard shift for one

I foresee, for those already driving a standard transmission, there's going to be some friction when it comes to converting. Very similar to the ABS "I don't want it thinking for me" argument.... I like ABS because it can pulse faster than I ever could. I see the same argument - "I don't want the transmission thinking for me" - even though it can shift faster than any human can... 8ms per expected shift - holy smokes!

Lucky for N. America (at least the States) - a majority drive automatics

[MetroMPG]

Good analogy about the brakes.... but shift speed isn't where you're going to save fuel. (I know you know that :P)

Unless the DSG type transmission has a hard core hypermiler on the programming staff, I seriously doubt it would be equipped with the type of logic that would let us do the types of things some of us do with a conventional manual tranny.

Bump starting a stopped engine on the fly, for example.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Good analogy about the brakes.... but shift speed isn't where you're going to save fuel. (I know you know that :P)

Unless the DSG type transmission has a hard core hypermiler on the programming staff, I seriously doubt it would be equipped with the type of logic that would let us do the types of things some of us do with a conventional manual tranny.

Bump starting a stopped engine on the fly, for example.

Oh yeah - totally... While writing that, I was thinking of my dad... He drives a stick because he puts down a lot of miles and carries a lot of crap in his car (work stuff). I'm sure there's plenty of other people out there, like my father, that drive a manual for the FE - but don't hypermile.

Bump starting is a very good point though - I didn't initially consider that