[DARISC]

My 915 equipped, '82 SC ROW w/SSI's & Dansk 2 in, 2 out, makes probably 220 hp. The 915 was rebuilt by the previous owner's mech at 68k miles. The odo just turned 200k and, while 1 to 2 shifts now require a bit of "finesse", the trans works just fine and I drive the car HARD, NEVER shifting below 3k and running up to redline once at least every 2nd or 3rd time I drive it.

An SC has a cable operated clutch and has a totally different feel than a G50 Carrera, which is hydraulically operated and spongy feeling. There is just no question that the SC is visceral and raw, all aspects of its character connecting the driver much more directly to the machine than a G50 Carrera, which has more the feel of a Grand Tourer than a pure sports car.

915's are criticized by less than adept drivers as "vague" because the shift lever gives no feedback as to where it is relative to the gear you want to move it into. That's very true and one must "learn" the transmission, perhaps analogous to developing muscle memory learning the frets on a guitar, to learn where the gears are - and they are always in EXACTLY the same place.

915's don't use conventional synchro rings and if the trans is bang shifted its life will be very short. SC's are not meant for drag racing and don't suffer ham fisted drivers lightly. One must develop the feel, when up against the synchros, for when to move the lever.

My SC is my first and only Porsche. I was shopping for an SC or Carrera until I drove both and got seduced by the raw, visceral character of the SC. However, I wanted a no nonsense, basic sports car, not a comfy grand tourer, so am quite happy with the Bilstein Sports, bigger torsion bar ride and the fact that I can set off car alarms at will. Others prefer a civilized Carrera.

BTW, and I've had to prove this to several other 915 drivers, the 915 can be shifted, absolutely seamlessly and super smoothly, without one snick, up and down, through all the gears, all day long, without even using the clutch.