I'm on the verge of upgrading my '02 1.8T Coupe but I'm having a hard time deciding between an '09 3.2 V6 Coupe with the manual 6 speed and a brand new '12 2.0 Coupe.  I really like my manual transmission now but I drove a new '12 and enjoyed the paddle shifters.  As I have not been able to find a V6 model close enough for me to drive, I have no way of comparing the two.  Can anyone give me some sort of comparison?  I'm also planning upgrading the CPU and maybe adding an aftermarket turbo kit/exhaust to whichever I get.  Searching online it seems like there are more performance upgrades for the 2.0 and they seem to give you much better performance than a similar upgrade for the V6.  Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks.

The 3.2 car is probably quicker if you are an outstanding driver. The 2.0 car is practically as fast because it's almost impossible to miss a shift with the DRG. My 2012 will be here this month and is very similar to the 2010 it replaces. If you keep the shifter in "S" and use the paddles as necessary, you will find that the 2.0 gives the 3.2 manual a real run for the money. I actually prefer the DRG trannys over the manuals.

The 3.2 has more low rpm torque.

If you can find one with DSG, then its amazing...
( i drive on 05 mk1 with the 3.2 and DSG )

The 2.0 is a turbo, so its a lighter car to get going, and once the turbo really kicks its dang fast- But I still like the 3.2 engine for its timing chain, its deeper exhaust note, and for not being a turbo.

shifter is your choice, NO slush boxes for me though, i like the turbo engines, easy to upgrade and better MPG, my 01 jetta had near 200,000 miles still 20 on the vac-boost guage, be aware the vw-audi direct injected engines are having carbon deposit as are other direct injected engines, its great technology but its an added issue, no problems with the 1.8 though since its not direct injected, you can turbo the 6 but it will be VERY $$$$$ around $10,000 done right

the DSG is Not a 'slush box'. It is a 6 speed, dual clutch, auto-shift transmission. An outgrown of Formula 1 transmission design.
It shifts faster, and more perfectly than any fully manual transmission Can be driven.

And I am not even talking about the computer shifting program when you drive it auto--- I am talking about using the paddle shifters to control shifting just as a stick driver would. Only with much better results... perfect, throttle blipped shifts, every time.

True- it does not allow you to redline the car, nor lug the engine... but then, that is why the engine and transmission on DSG vehicles suffer fewer breakdowns. The DSG system protects the drive train from the driver over-stressing its components. ( i.e. its smarter than the driver about when to shift- squeezing that little extra oomph out of acceleration by sneaking over the redline is how people mess up their drivetrains )

Plus- it gives the driver the option of manual control, or an automatic mode ( great for rush hour stop and go ) without the sacrifice of engine power and fuel economy you get in a torque converter auto.


Largely because of its stellar reliability and dramatic performance, This revolutionary transmission has largely replaced the traditional automatic in Audi and VW vehicles. It is rapidly being adopted as the default transmission option in performance cars and every carmaker who doesn't have one is spending money developing their own version of the dual-clutch autoshift manual.

I have driven slushboxes, and manuals all my life.

Having had a DSG equipped performance car for 4 years now.... I would never even consider buying another gasoline engine car without a dual clutch auto shift transmission. I can drink coffee in stop and go traffic... I can override, instantly, any gear the auto mode chooses, Or I can drive it like a formula 1... and my 3.2 six gets 32 mpg on the highway. Its the best of All worlds.