End of an era: 991 GT3 only available with PDK - no more manual

[Wiese]

Further to my earlier post, I think it is sad, particularly for a track focused car such as the GT3. I enjoy double clutching, rev matching, heel-toeing, left foot braking, etc. All that will be lost. The only good news is that I can't afford a new 991 anyways, but maybe in 10 years, it would be nice to pick one up with a manual, but I guess it will be hard to find. Nevertheless, this is what the new Porsche buyer wants.

On another note, this may not make the 997 or 996 GT3 come down in prices as quickly as some may have hoped, since those will be the only real choices for a manual.

[patssle]

Face it, Porsche is no longer a sports brand to the masses - it's a luxury brand. Most people don't buy these cars for tracks/racing/high performance driving - they buy them for status, comfort, and a little for performance.

[Hodgey]

Don't diss technology.....to those that say Porsche have become a luxury car, have you driven one? Have you owned one with PDK???....well have you?....I was always a stick guy,,,,always. Tiptronic?? Pah....automatic?? Shove it where the sun don't shine.

Along with my '87 air cooled, I am now on my 2nd PDK......an '09 C4S.......and let me tell you, in regular, Sport or Sport Plus, it rocks.

You can shift at the stick in sequential mode, you can shift on the steering wheel in button mode...or you can let the PDK Gods do it for you......

Oh yeah....for the luxury masses hung?....Talk to the PROFESSIONAL drivers at the Porsche Sport Driving School here at Barber's....they improve 2 seconds PER LAP of the track....2 seconds.......in their world this is an eternity....in yours, it probably get's you to the Office a little quicker...

[Matt Monson]

Anyone know if or how homologation requirements will factor in? Does Porsche have a racing version of the PDK?

Homologation is irrelevant. They make enough cup cars and rsrs to homologate themselves. The gt3 street car hasn't mattered for quite some time.

[fasteddie99]

How did R.E.M. put it?

Oh, yeah: "it's the end of the world as we know it..."

[intakexhaust]

Sad in a way and more character of the model lost. Onto what this brute is about, I do get it and the fact that the PDK is proven, significant lighter really is amazing.

Ps. Once again going way back in the time machine... funny I actually liked the Sportomatic... go ahead and waff. Bring the topic up of the Sportomatic with Vic Elford and he'll probably agree.

[fitchesbass]

Originally Posted by Trog

Well that settles that! I won't be buying one!!

Haha I'm with this guy... oh damn I don't have anywhere near those types of funds.

Really though.... not too surprising.

[Kidasters]

Originally Posted by Pasophisto

there are no manual transmission Ferraris any more.

I don't think it's NONE. But, it's the minority option. I think on the new 512, you can only get the flappy paddle gearbox.

I think it's sad that they all want to go to flappy paddles. I'm not a F1 driver. I'm not worried about 2 seconds of lap time. I just enjoy driving - and shifting.

[Lukesportsman]

Car and Driver just ranked the Carrera S with PDK as the BEST driver car of the year. You could read that in their hearts they kind of missed the stick too, but had to admit that the PDK was stunning and down right excellent.

So I'm more against this philosophically, than on an engineering question of going soft. They ranked the, in their words ordinary, Porsche over the GTR, Lambo, and McClaren. This will sell more cars than a few of us knuckle head hardcore guys who still have passion for oil scented air cooled cars So I have to agree with those above who have owned "new" 911's, that Porsche still builds an excellent "sports car". Plus, has anyone been out in an MG or 356 at over a ton lately.....there is a reason we don't build them that way any longer. (Yep, I'm on both side of the fence)

[speednme1]

As far as technology goes PDK might be the best in the bunch but it stops there. These are suppose to be "sports cars". As time moves forward the sports car market is becoming numb. Character is giving way to technology. Sure you can get to 60mph 1-2 seconds faster but at the cost of losing what? There is a reason F1 uses this tranny...they race for money! Most of us don't! We live in a time where a journey is no longer appreciated. Everything has to be in the now. Fun factors are short lived.

For now I will stick with my short geared 4 speeder. If I ever decide to move in the gt3 direction...I will get a used manual one and clutch my way to happiness

[MrBonus]

Progress and technology will continue to surpass our nostalgia. The traditional manual transmission hasn't been long for this world as sequential dual-clutch manual transmissions become more reliable and intuitive.

I love the feel of true manual steering, brakes, shifting, and the lack of electronic nannies and gadgets but I understand that isn't the future of cars nor should it be. The current generation of new drivers learned their love from cars from a Playstation controller and these cars (GTR, GTi, new Ferraris, and now the 911) all represent a format of driving where computer technology is fully integrated into the experience.

[patssle]

Sure you can get to 60mph 1-2 minutes faster

Hey, we're talking about the 911 here, not the 914. Seconds, not minutes!

[speednme1]

Originally Posted by patssle

Hey, we're talking about the 911 here, not the 914. Seconds, not minutes!

lol...fixed it..

[gt3racerich]

I would bet that Porsche makes a manual trans as a "no cost option".
Rich

[304065]

LOL, first they got rid of the perfect 901 shift pattern in 1972, and now this.

[Fixer]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

Au contraire , says Mad Max

That will keep them from passing,

PDK only, hang onto your old 911s.

[G450X]

Originally Posted by Wiese

Further to my earlier post, I think it is sad, particularly for a track focused car such as the GT3. I enjoy double clutching, rev matching, heel-toeing, left foot braking, etc. All that will be lost. The only good news is that I can't afford a new 991 anyways, but maybe in 10 years, it would be nice to pick one up with a manual, but I guess it will be hard to find. Nevertheless, this is what the new Porsche buyer wants.

On another note, this may not make the 997 or 996 GT3 come down in prices as quickly as some may have hoped, since those will be the only real choices for a manual.

Very well put. Every painful contribution to my Roth IRA was always a bit easier since I had earmarked a 997.2 GT3 for a future purchase. I now have to hope the old manual GT3's won't start to appreciate too much and overtake my IRA funds! Ferrari's went off my bucket list when they went gizmo.

As Chris Harris once commented in a 997 GT3 versus 458 test... the Ferrari, brilliant a road car that it is, left him a bit cold through lack of driver involvement skewed by all the techno gizmos...

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Pasophisto

there are no manual transmission Ferraris any more.

Well, I won't be buying one of those, either.

[oliver88]

PDK is awesome...ask any of the guys racing them in ALMS...get over it...you can still buy plenty of old 915 equipped 911's and shift yourself silly.

[mrm930]

Test drove the new 991 with the PDK. F'n Awesome. Faster shifts than you can do manually.

From what I understand, the GT3-RS will be manual, with a PDK as an option.

So we will see.