In my opinion, DSG is soooo much better! Much quicker shifts, and better feeling overall. BMWs Steptronic is comparable to tiptronic... It's still an automatic, where DSG is a manual with auto operation. (we all knew that, I know).

I still think I might opt for manual transmission though with the A3 if I get one. My problem is that I want quattro and the 3.2 V6. I currently have a Jetta GLX and I love that VR6! The 2.0T is nice, but I can only imagine what the performance of the 3.2 will be. Does anyone have an idea of the performance numbers of this car when it arrives? I imagine it will be very close to the VW R32s performance numbers...

Somebody please talk me out of the 2006 BMW 330i MT! I need a car this month and I don't think I can wait for the A3 3.2 DSG. I am also considering an S4, but the A3 is really a better fit for my driving needs.

He hated the SMG in his friend's M3. Then, he couldn't believe how much better the DSG was in my A3 compared to that SMG. World's apart, according to him.

I've never driven the SMG, so I can't really say much, but coming from an enthusiast like him who likes his M3 manual, I think the DSG is really that much better.

I have heard the same thing about SMG. I have not driven one, but from what I read about SMG, it's not very user friendly. I expected not to like DSG (being somewhat similar to SMG), but was pleasantly surprised. It really is a great compromise between manual and automatic.

Smoother and faster. The delay in the M5 arrival is due to the SMG gearbox not holding up to the power of the M5 over the long term. However, all published performance numbers come from SMG equipped cars, since the manual transmission was a last minute addition to the new M5, and is slower than the SMG cars.

Here are the performance figures from the British magazine CAR:

2.0T DSG non-QTR = 0-62 - 7.1 Top speed 146 mph
2.0T QTR manual = 0-62 - 7.0 Top speed 146mph

3.2 DSG/manual = 0-62 - 6.5 Top speed 155 mph

Well in terms of talking you out of a BMW 330i..how about the fact they are Fugly! I can't stand the new "bangled" Bimmers. I owned a 2002 e46 M3 coupe and loved that car. IMHO it was the last nicely designed Bimmer. I also think BMW charges too much money for stuff.

On the Audiusa website, the 2.0T Frontrak DSG is quicker 0-60 than the 2.0T Frontrack manual. It's interesting that a 2.0T QTR manual is quicker than the 2.0T Frontrak DSG.

I never really thought QTR would make a car quicker 0-60.

the extra traction improves acceleration. As you know, FWD really isn't ideal for performance.

V6 produce about the same times.

But I'm hoping that they are using the best 0-60 times that they can get without getting wheelspin at launch.

What stood out to me was that QTR adds weight and drag. Going from a 2.0T frontrak manual to a 2.0T QTR manual would logically say that the QTR will be a tad slower 0-60. But their results are to the contrary.

You have to know how to launch properly. But I was hoping that their numbers were based on zero wheelspin launches. If so, the added traction of QTR is not a factor. Of course, QTR makes it much easier to duplicate perfect launches than FWD.

And quattro will help there. Gearing plays a part too of course.

Although sometimes wheelspin can help 0-60 if done just right.

In a FWD car, that means the weight comes off the front wheels, which kills grip. That weight transfer is also why Porsche 911s are so quick.