Living with the PDK question.

[s_morrison57]

I know this should be on the 997/991 site but I'm figuring that I'll get just as much feedback here.

I'm in the market for a newer Porsche and all the sports cars, Porsche & others, I've owned in the past have had the manual transmission, old school I know but I am old school and this will more than likely be my last P-car and I'm concerned with losing some of the "involved driving experience" that comes with the manual. I drove a buddy's PDK Cayman and I liked the PDK but I didn't had the chance to spend enough time with the car to really get a feel for car/tranny combo to know how I'd feel about the PDK on a long term DD situation. I might put 4-6K miles a year on the car, and being my last Porsche I'm reluctant to look at the PDK cars fearing the "lost involvement".
I realize this is a very abstract question to ask but I'll ask it anyway and its geared to the PDK owners that have spent a year or more with their PDK.

If you were to buy the same car again, would you opt for the PDK again or would you go back to the manual?

Thanks for your input.

Finn

[look 171]

I have had a stick shifts cars all my life (and like automatics too in my truck and SUV) and can't live without one. A die hard fan of all Porsches and sports cars better be a stick kinda guy. Let me tell you this, PDK made me eat my words. I just bought a Used 987.2 S with Chrono package, PDK. If I buy a GT3 today, I would considered a stick, but I would have no issue with buying another PDK car. Its that much fun. Drive one on a twisty mt road and see for yourself.

[RKDinOKC]

It is much easier to do the left foot braking thing with a PDK, ie no double-de-clutch or heal and toe to rev match shift.

[speeder]

I do not have ownership experience w a PDK car but I've driven a few and can say that there would be a learning curve I haven't bothered to pursue yet wrt driving one sportingly.

Anyone can jump in one of those cars and just throw it in auto mode and drive it, even have fun. But it's the paddle-shifting where things really get zesty and I've just never gotten used to doing it. Keep in mind that Ferrari went almost completely 2-pedal way before Porsche. This is the current state of the art in performance cars.

[wildthing]

Is it true that the PDK service is at 60k miles and is something like $5k?

[Deschodt]

At the end of the day, it comes down to this for me: It's not a car I bought because I needed it for transportation or ultimate track time, I bought it because I enjoy driving and I wanted another analog modern car before everything goes electric, automated, computerized and self driven...

So PDK is good, and I would love it... on my commuter... I've borrowed a PDK Macan and it's great. But it's not for my "fun" car. No way.

BTW since you quote 997 and 991, you will probably find out as I did that 997.2s are dangerously overpriced vs a base 991. And the 991 reputation for number steering is vastly exaggerated and more than compensated for by better turn in and less road noise...The 7 speed is "meh" but you can easily forget 7th and drive it like a 6.

Also I've heard of some PDK repair bills. The whole point of 997.2/991 is no more $$$$ issue hanging over your head, I would not add back PDK...

[RKDinOKC]

Not talking about spirited driving and how fast, but about the feel of things. I like a manual transmission.

Talking about driving at the limits to make the fastest lap, PDK. Tiptronic is good, but you still have to fight torque converter lag in the corners. That places manual in 2nd, and Tiptronic 3rd.

The only advantage I see to a manual is you can missmatch the speed and rpm a small amount when letting the clutch out to break the rear loose and start the rear end rotating if you enter a corner too fast. Haven't tried to do that on a PDK car yet.

When I was a much more avid F1 fan I got a map of one of the tracks. It showed the speed, braking, accelerator, shifts etc of both Schumacher and Barrichello. I know the cars were basically the same Butt... Barrichello drove like he had a clutch, even though he didn't. It was obvious by the logs he was not applying accelerator and brakes at the same time. Schumacher on the other hand drove like he had a PDK, obviously applying brakes and gas at the same time. There were a few place were Barrichello was faster, but more often than not Schumacher went deeper into corners, carried more speed and powered out sooner. In the place Barrichello was faster it looked like Schumacher was dragging the brakes transitioning into the corner exits compared to Barrichello but by the exit Schumacher was around the corner farther because he went deeper and carried more speed thru the corner.

That is why I made my braking comment with no need to heel and toe with PDK earlier.

[DanielDudley]

When I was serious about riding mountain bikes, Click shifting came in. I thought it would take away from the experience, but instead, I used my experience to make click shifting a tool. I grew to love it. I still had to do my job as the rider, and I still had to anticipate and react, but I could do things fluidly.

I think a lot of people think PDK will take away from them as a driver. That is not my experience.

It takes a really well set up stick with great gear ratios to equal a PDK car. Some people hate them anyway - in their mind.

[JeremyD]

I have instructed more than a few times at the track in a PDK equipped car(s) a few Caymans - a few 911's and even a turbo s. My experience is that PDK is like witchcraft. The harder you drive, the harder it shifts and downshifts.

Sure it's a little less engaging than stirring a stick - but I don't think it takes away from the overall experience... (especially if you commute)

[Nickshu]

I have always been a manual guy but having driven a few PDKs I would say it would be a very hard decision if I were buying a new Porsche and I would likely go PDK.

As a side note the newer Porsche manuals all have auto-blip, so the heel toe throttle blip mentioned above is no longer necessary. Makes left foot braking easier in a manual if you are so inclined.

[look 171]

I drove a Lexus 350 something with their version of PDK. Its slow, much slower then my Cayman. People tell me that about BMW too, but I hear they are getting faster and better. I like PDK. Jeremy is correct, its got a brain of its own. Don't worry about lag in the corners, its already done for you in the right gear way before you get out of the corners before you feel it. Jam on the gas and go. I have older 911 that I can wiggle the stick with if I want to feel like good old speed racer.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

When I was serious about riding mountain bikes, Click shifting came in. I thought it would take away from the experience, but instead, I used my experience to make click shifting a tool. I grew to love it. I still had to do my job as the rider, and I still had to anticipate and react, but I could do things fluidly.

I think a lot of people think PDK will take away from them as a driver. That is not my experience.

It takes a really well set up stick with great gear ratios to equal a PDK car. Some people hate them anyway - in their mind.

You should try electronic shifting. Its PDK X10. Good stuff.

[GH85Carrera]

One of the things I learned this weekend is that the new Porsches even the manuals have hill hold. The exit from the hotel I was leaving has a VERY steep hill. The traffic backed up and I had to stop on the steepest and in the worst spot for a 32 year old 911 with a 5 speed. I have been driving a 5 speed for over 40 years but it was a challenge to let off the brakes, give it some gas and let out the clutch to not roll backwards and not get a drag strip launch. I pulled it off with just a little more clutch slip than I would prefer. Overall I was not embarrassed. Some lady in similar car tried it and dumped the clutch at 3,500 RPM and got the axle hop clutch burning launch. One of my friends in a new Cayman said it is easy for him. The automatic hill hold held the car until the clutch was engaged and he rolled forward. A PDK would be easy for a beginner driver.

[look 171]

I found the PDK really shines going into and out of a turn because its always in the right gear. The harder you drive it, the harder and faster it thinks and select the correct for you at the apex. It even more fun if the panel shifter is used. Its in gear and ready to go faster I can say shift. Literally.

[look 171]

I haven't driven it in a few months but I finally got into my 930 this weekend and decided to burn off the last 1/4 tank of gas so it doesn't sit. Huge difference stirring that stick in that 930 box. Its still fun, I would never be without a stick shift car just I can keep busy.

[Rodsrsr]

I recently purchased a 997.2 with a PDK sport chrono package and was a little unsure at first, because like many here I've been a manual guy my entire life. After living with the PDK I am 1000% hooked. Its an amazing gearbox. The car goes from being a subtle driver to race car mode with the touch of a button. The PDK shifts so hard and so fast it literally throws the car forward with each shift. Sometimes it will even chirp the tires going into 2nd, while leaving it in auto mode is just like driving a normal car (a normal car that still sounds cool!) IMO a manual gearbox has zero advantage over a PDK with launch control and it actually isn't even a fair comparison.

[Deschodt]

These PDK posts always go the same way... Nobody will crap on their choice ;-)

PDK is amazingly good, it is pretty reliable, it is faster. It is also quite expensive when it breaks which is thankfully rare.

Stick is more involving, slightly slower, but requires skill some folks take pride in, it will likely only cost you a clutch every 100K mi or whatever. Think 991R or the return of the GT3 manual. Ultimate performance is not end all be all.

I have heard of some folks getting PDK and going back to manual with 991 and 997s. It happens. I have also heard of folks switching to PDK because that's all you can find anyway, and being very happy (and surprised). 90%+ of cars at the dealer are now PDK.

Again it comes down to your personal reasons. Pure commuter in traffic, easy choice (PDK). Wanna be faster on track or gain 0.2 sec 0-60? Pdk... Want the car as a toy simply to enjoy the driving experience? Like rev matching with your foot ? *I* need a clutch and a stick , your mileage may vary. I can see myself with a stick Cayman/911 and a PDK Macan for commuting, money no object. No wrong answer.

The only truth here is both are geared way to tall... Imagine each gear shorter with a top speed of 150 mph instead if the current 200. Yowsa !

[look 171]

Op was asking if we were buying another car, would it be PDK. I think many of us who own a PDK car answered yes, myself included. The driving involvement is still there, IMO. One thing I like about the PDK transmission is the 7th gear, making that a "short" box if you will = fun.

Those cars are made for their hwy so 200 mph is part of that bragging rights. I wish many of them top out at 150 also, with that, we will be shifting all the time. The general public do not want that. they didn't buy a Porsche to have a lower top speed then a Toyota

[Tervuren]

I put 100 miles on a 2015 PDK 991.

I liked it. It isn't the old slushbox vs manual choice that used to be your options.

I don't really think that any of us can answer this for you; go for a drive and find what you like.

[JeremyD]

There have been some longevity issues with the PDK in the south - especially tracked. They don't like the heat. I know of two that have had some expensive issues in the past year. Many of the local shops are recommending a external cooler if you track the car to keep transmission temps down.