DSG vs MANUAL, WHICH IS BETTER? | Skoda Octavia VRS & Golf GTI Mk6 Review | 4k

Is the manual Golf GTI still a good choice in 2023? With everything changing in the UK to an automatic especially with the incoming electric cars do people still want to buy and drive a manual?
I have owned my Golf GTI for some time now, chose it because it was a manual and in this video I wanted to talk about why I chose it and why I would always choose it over a DSG.
We are here in Scotland testing out the Golf on the stunning highlands. One of my friends kindly brought his Skoda Octavia VRS DSG with him and this gave me the perfect opportunity to pitch both cars against each other!
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Joe 😊

[@tomnorris1734]

Slightly different but I do about 35,000 miles a year. I used to have a skoda octavia estate with a dsg box. I now have the same car with the manual. The reasons were simple: Cheaper to buy Cheaper to run More reliable More controlled (engine breaking when needed etc) Also, when I'm on the motorway which is about 90% of my time I just stick it in 6th and put the cruise control on anyway, at that point the gearbox becomes irrelevant anyway.

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodCrow]

I am the proud owner of a Mk6 GTI with a DSG gearbox and they are just as fun and engaging as the manual counterpart if you ask me, the DSG is such an awesome gearbox, you have your steering wheel paddles wich are allot of fun to play with and if you want to feel like a semi rallycar driver, the shifter has a up and down in manual mode so it acts like a sequential gearbox. My GTI runs arround 300hp at the moment and it's a great grocery getter but during the weekends it's such a blast to have some fun with in the countryside. I love manual cars but the Mk6 GTI with a DSG deserves some more love.

[@sebbytrial]

funfact, i had the same feeling that you describe here, this video helped me understand I am not the one. I am lucky enough to own an RS3 8P and the Octavia Vrs3 as the one above but the performance version, both DSG. I totally miss the manual engagement and you perfectly describe it here. The RS3 is more raw, you feel more vibration and any gear change actually moves you in the seat (whereas the VRS is a total crap in this sector, once you click the paddle, you hear the engine revving and after some wait you feel also the engaged gear - very artificial compared to the RS3 no where near to an actual manual) with DSG you get the same 5 seconds to 100km/h every time you floor it, despite of manual gearbox. The only situations where you might feel the DSG is right for you, is when you want to make the most of the acceleration (mostly illegal races), you are chasing some sort of seconds in a competition, or you have no idea on how to properly drive a manual.

[@JoeTalksCars]

Nice 2 car garage! I’ve driven the new shape RS3 and that was a DSG. Loved it! Like you said a lot more raw! Love my little manual GTI. The VRS is good but far too comfy and soft.

[@mgdrivesGRY]

If I could not have a manual I at least would like to have padels. For me it adds to the experiance just a bit more than not touching it at all. However yes, it comes no where near selecting gears by yourself with a shifter.

[@s10lucky]

Great video Joe. So well filmed👍. I think if I was to change my 981, i would probably go manual next time. The PDK is fantastic and I enjoy it, but I don’t think you can beat a manual for engagement.

[@JoeTalksCars]

Thank you! Took a lot of time to get this together. I’d like to drive a manual one but I’ve never had the chance, always PDK🤣 so common I guess.

[@bigmoney4685]

That m4 dmo deejay had when he was with llf man like ricky dropping those gears with the padel shift and hearing those pops and bangs now that peeees all over you manuel golf 😂😂😂😂

[@JoeTalksCars]

Never watched either of them. Avoid that sort of thing, I like both gearboxes but for me it depends on the car as to if a manual is better or not.

[@sebbytrial]

​@@JoeTalksCars big money above totally missed your point in this video, don't bother

[@MrRoyck10]

It is not possible to have a fully engaged analog drive with a redundant left foot 🦶 especially if you own a old BoxEngine Porsche , DSG is fast but not engaging or fun to drive, PDK is another computer driving aid.

[@rcampbell4391]

I’ve just found this video, great work, can any of you Mk3 Octavia VRS owners tell me what the ride quality is like in one? I’m tempted to get one however, I currently have a mk7.5 Golf GT estate and it’s no secret that the Golf’s ride comfort/damping is very good and I don’t know if I could put up with a big step down in that respect

[@JoeTalksCars]

I find the VRS to be softer than a GTI so still nice and firm but anything but uncomfortable.