The auto mode on my Golf R is actually just as good if not better than manual mode to be honest. I have driven an M2 with DCT and it was a less automatic-like though, it seems like BMW tunes the clutches to engage at a much higher RPM on those cars, the VW DSG is almost like a regular automatic and never rolls back or anything like that.

 

I think it's all relative. You don't need to know how to drive a manual to be smooth in an auto... Obviously some of the latest DCTs are amazing in how smooth they are.

But in any case, I agree that no DCT I've driven has ever been jerky outside of stop-and-go traffic and even then, you can drive around the problem by being very gentle with your inputs.

 

I've been driving mine around town for a week now or so. Sure, it's not a DCT or as fast as a ZF, but it is comfy in normal mode and responsive enough with the paddles in Sport/Sport S+. The only thing I've noticed is the roughish downshift going into 1st gear when coming to a stop. I really only notice when engine braking to almost a complete stop. Basically rolling from 30-10 mph or so and get a little jerk/bump into 1st. It's still faster shifting than anything I could do in the 6 spd MT car the IS500 replaced.

 

Have only driven a GSF but waiting to drive an IS500 before I decide to buy one - does the car do the "fast" (slightly harsher) upshifts in Normal mode, or are those reserved for Sport / Sport S+ modes?

In the GSF I drove I sometimes wanted to accelerate quickly in traffic situations without experiencing the more aggressive shifts, but it seemed to do it as a function of throttle level rather than mode - but I couldn't really tell for sure as it was a short drive.

 

Maybe I haven't gotten enough seat time either yet, but I would say the shift logic is much less aggressive in normal mode compared to the sport modes. It seems to translate to smoothness too. Seems very smooth to me going from 20-60 or so at a brisk pace in normal auto mode.

From the limited testing I've done, it does hit harder in Sport S+ mode and also holds the gears longer in auto mode. I don't mind a little theater though.

 

Have any of y'all driven a DCT aggressively and have a comparison to the IS 500? My big fear is that I'll really miss my M3's DCT versus the new M3/IS 500 ZF auto.

 

It's not the quite the comparison you're asking for but I've driven my Golf R DSG very hard and the GS F hard, which is said to have the same transmission & tuning as the IS500 (although the tuning part who really knows at this point).

A dual clutch driven aggressively will generally have fairly seamless shifts at high RPMs that can't really be felt. The engine feels like it is just instantly in the next gear with no drama or jerking feeling.

The Lexus 8-speed, on the other hand, shifts quickly and hard but does so by (mildly) slamming the next gear home. It's not harsh, and my wife who was with me in the GSF didn't think anything of it, but coming from a dual-clutch it's very much an old school feeling and I personally want to drive an IS 500 for a longer journey before ditching my precious dual-clutch car.

 

With respect to DCTs being smooth - yes, for the most part they are. A couple of exceptions I noticed were in the Macan Turbo and the GLI. The Macan would give a little bit of a hit during a shift if I was in Sport or Sport Plus and giving it nearly full throttle or more. Same with the GLI - with the transmission in "S" Sport mode, I guess, it would kick just slightly between shifts. But, in all other cases, it was smooth. The DSG in my Mk7 GTi and the Boxster S I drove were seamless all the time with no engineered shift shock.

The RC F I drove definitely had a little kick to its gear changes at high RPM as well.

 

This drives me nuts. It’s really annoying. I’m at least glad I’m not the only one that notices.

It’s so jerky and unrefined….something I typically wouldn’t associate with a luxury car. I guess it’s supposed to act this way?

 

Mine does this too, but I noticed its not going into first gear. I watched the gear indicator and it happens at slow speed, coming to a stop, in 5th gear but the gear indicator doesn't change when I feel it. Almost like the converter is unlocking or the gear indicator is slow.

 

You really don't need to engine brake from 2nd to 1st (and you shouldn't for safety reasons). At that point the downshifts have already done their job to slow you at least 50% down. I'll usually downshift to 2nd and apply the brakes the rest of the short distance starting at 15-20 mph. Smooth all the way.

 

Yeah I guess I assumed it was maybe shifting into first, but the gear indicator doesn't seem fast enough to keep up when you are in D mode. I notice the behavior when in normal D automatic mode coming to stop without brakes.

 

The downshift from 3rd to 2nd seems like a big jump based on feel.

 

Even the 350 behaves like that. Sometimes I wonder if it's fine, but owners have seen this behavior since this 3IS launched with no other issues with the transmissions.

I am curious - with the 500, do owners ever experience any rev flare when the car is cold? I sometimes get a small rev flare when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear on a cold start. The issue goes away after the first time I accelerate.

 

I got some yesterday! They went away after a minute or two of driving. I also randomly had the car hold 2nd gear for like 6-8 seconds before shifting under normal driving. First and only time that happened. I think the computer just needs to learn my driving style still.