Cupra 280 - Confused DSG gearbox

[larrychips]

I thought I'd write about a couple of "issues" I've had with the DSG box on my Cupra 280 to see if anyone had experienced the same. I could be doing something wrong or expecting too much...or there could actually be a fault. I've done just over 6.5k miles in my Cupra now, so getting to know its quirks pretty well...(still absolutely loving it though!)

Issue 1:
In DSG sport mode, I find that the gearbox takes ages to change back up the gears when you take you foot off the accelerator. After over-taking or joining a motorway (or just having a bit of fun!), when I take my foor off the accelerator, the engine just sits at 5.5k - 6k revs for at least 5-10 seconds (with my foot completely off the pedal) before I usually stick it back into "Normal" mode to drop the revs back down again. It seems to take an age to do this automatically...but it eventually does. The other way to clear it (I have found through experimentation) is to just lightly touch the brake pedal.

Sport DSG mode obviously keeps the revs up to keep you in the optimal power-band for "sporty" driving and power on tap when you put your foot down, but it should not just sit near red-line with your foot completely off the throttle...surely?

Issue 2:
Occsasionally (again in DSG sport mode), there is a good half a second to a second hesitation changing up the gears under hard acceleration. With my foot to the floor, usually between 3rd & 4th, it occationally pauses for a brief moment, taking far longer than normal to change gear...causing the car to lurch forward then back again when it eventually finds the gear. I can only recall a hand-full of times when its done this...but it's far from a one-off. This is not after prolonged abuse (so it's not overheating or something)...I never drive it hard for any longer than a few seconds, I value my licence too much!

Anyone else experienced the same, care to share your experiance and/or advice?

Cheers guys!

 

[zondaff]

Hi there, my dads M135i does the same in Sport mode, it is just the gearbox holding the gears as you have set the gearbox to be more ferocious. The second part section about the drop down under acceleration I'm not sure about mate.

 

[Mr_gangrel]

Thats completely normal for sport modes. My 280 DSG and old e92 M3 M-DCT is the same in sport mode. The car is expecting you to accelerate again so holds the gears for longer, it assumes you're driving a bit frisky and makes sure you don't have to wait for it to kick down again before you accelerate.

The second point doesn't sound quite right. If you're under full acceleration when the revs get to the redline it should change very quickly to the next gear in a couple of tenths of a second no lag or hesitation.

If you mean you are accelerating but don't reach the redline because you're lifting a bit it will still hold the gears like the first paragraph.

If not, there might be a problem.

 

[Snah]

This is indeed complete normal behaviour.
That's why it is called Sportsmode and it will keep the gear till the rev-limiter.
Slowing down it stays in that gear till it slowed down that much till it is safe to go down a gear without overrevving.
When slowing down till full stop it will change down through the gears to first gear by itself

 

[simonali]

I have issue 2, but haven't had it looked at. I tried to, twice, but failed. It's like the gearbox forgets to change up leaving you to hit the limiter (and your face on the windscreen!) before it remembers it should have been selecting the next gear.

 

[Ocularis]

Sports mode is the most stupid function of the gearbox, does everything I dont want it to do. Im more surprised how many people use it, i just drive in manual mode (paddle shift)... job done. If im gonna switch into Cupra mode, first thing i do is move over to manual so it doesnt auto shift into crappy Sport mode.

 

[larrychips]

Thanks for your comments guys. Ok, seems "issue" 1 is not an issue at all. I guess it is my inexperience with auto boxes...and sporty ones at that. I've always had manuals in the past, only driven the odd auto hire cars.

As you've mentioned, it's expecting me to keep on accelerating and holding on until it actually reaches redline before it shifts. Taking my foot off the throttle just before it reaches redline confuses it, it takes a while before it realises I've stopped being a loony and goes back to "normal". I just wasn't expecting it to take so long...but glad to hear it's normal behaviour.

On the second point: The hesitation and delay in changing up a gear is while my foot is to the floor. I would understand the hesitation if I lift even slightly, but it's happened probably 4-5 times now in 6.5k miles...each time my foot is matted. It's not a major problem, it doesn't happen often enough to really bother me, just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same.

You guys think it's something I should follow up with the dealer? It's one of those things that I'll struggle to re-create to demonstrate to a mechanic. But if it's a fault, I'd rather get it seen to well within the warranty period.

Cheers!

 

[shutcorea]

It's normal. As people already mentioned, Point 1 is not an issue at all. If you ever take the car to the track you'll love that the DSG holds the gear longer (or drive it in manual hehe)

As far as point number 2, I wouldn't call it a problem. It has happened to me as well in my FR (DSG 7) and you've got to remember that the DSG is a robotic box, it tries to anticipate what you're going to do next and if you suddenly do something the box didn't "think" of....it hesitate for a bit and then respond. My car does it sometimes when changing from 5th to 6th.

With a DSG remap this goes away completely.

 

[larrychips]

As far as point number 2, I wouldn't call it a problem. It has happened to me as well in my FR (DSG 7) and you've got to remember that the DSG is a robotic box, it tries to anticipate what you're going to do next and if you suddenly do something the box didn't "think" of....it hesitate for a bit and then respond. My car does it sometimes when changing from 5th to 6th.

With a DSG remap this goes away completely.

Thanks for the comments, it is reassuring to hear its not something unique to my car. I do find it a little unnerving that when "Issue 2" occurs, it's just bouncing off the limiter for that short time before it shifts down and takes off again. Going back to my original post, I guess I am expecting it to be smarter...at the end of the day, it's just software which likely does not have an answer for every question asked by the driver...but it does a brilliant job the other 98% of the time.

I have been using the paddles more any more recently while driving swiftly, it does give you some of the control and involvement back again, otherwise lost with an auto box. I need to get into the habit of using them alot more often. I really love the burble/pop noise it makes when shifting under load...its addictive!

Living in SW London and commuting in and out via Hammersmith the A4/M4 most days, I encounter alot of traffic...which is where the auto box is really useful. As so many people have said before on this forum, the car has a split personality...its quite happy to pootle around in traffic in Comfort mode and be a real thrill ride on the open road when the mood strikes.