Newbie with a few questions about the Altea 2.0 TDI DSG

[Rob_20vT]

Hi,

I am currently looking at getting a used Altea 2.0 TDI with the DSG gearbox and i have a few questions about the DSG gearbox that hopefully people can help me with.

I have never driven a automatic and only had a brief drive in a Altea with DSG so sorry if these questions sound a bit dumb

When your in automatic mode when do you put it in neutral?

How do you do a hill start in both automatic and semi manual modes?

When you are in semi manual mode and doing the shifts yourself do you lift off the accelerator to change gear or can you just flat shift?

When i first looked a Altea a few months ago the dealer said something about a overboost function on the dash, how does that work?

For people with experience of the SEAT dealers what sort of money should i look at getting knocked off the screen price of a used Altea with the DSG, are big discounts common or am i only likely to get a few hundred off?

I know servicing is every 10k miles or every year but what are servicing costs like?

Any help and advice much appreciated.

Rob

 

[adt]

Answers as I see them Rob:

When auto is selected, only revert to neutral after putting the handbrake on when stopped at junctions where you'll be stationary for more than 4 or 5 seconds. With auto creep on tickover, you'll otherwise need to apply the footbrake and blind the car behind with the brake lights. The creep is good in haevy traffic though, when moving forward very slowly.

Hill starts in either drive mode: hold car on handbrake, apply some gas whilst releasing the handbrake. If the car is holding itself without the handbrake, then just open the throttle.

In 'semi manual' mode, you don't need to come off the throttle changing up. Changing down though you are usually off the throttle anyway. If doing so to overtake, you generally should be in the right gear before starting the overtake.

Afterboost - not a standard feature to my knowledge.

Discount: will vary. Try offering £2K less if no p/ex. Don't be offended by any emotion from the salesman. Only raise your offer in small increments. Be prepared to walk away as you'll find another. Probably settle between £500-£1000 under the screen price, but you may be pleasantly surprised if the dealer wants to move the stock.

Service costs: my first 10K serice cost £200. Look around on the forum as some of the members have shopped around and got different deals. Seems like many Seat dealers are a bit iffy (I've tried 2 and they both are, in the midlands) and let the brand down big time. If you find a good one llok after them! Don't need to go to a Seat dealer to keep the warranty, as long as the garage you use are VAT registered and use all genuine Seat parts.

Hope this helps - just my opinions mind, sure there are other views as well!

Good luck. If you get one, you'll be pleased with it I am sure.

 

[Rob_20vT]

thanks very much mate, very helpful