pdk versus manual
 

Has anyone sold a manual, to go with a pdk, and regretted it? I have my share of air cooled, but I'm considering selling my manual 997 to go pdk gt3, which is all they offered in the 2014-2017 model line up with the 991. I know the 991.2 is manual, but I'm not that fond of the interior. Thoughts??

I have spoken to a few GT3 owners on the PDK vs manual question and most seem to enjoy the manual more on the road and the PDK more on the track. The PDK seems to be well suited for track work, so no surprise there.

I’m interested as well since a manual 997 GT3 is kind of a bucket list car for me.

Prices have held pretty high for manual 997 GT3’s, I had hoped the re-introduction of the manual GT3’s in the 991’s would help my cause...

pdk versus manual
 

The 997 RS’s took a beat down on the reintroduction of the manual. But that was last year. They may have rebounded.
The last owner of mine sent me an email testing the waters. I think he wants it back.

My buddy is a BMW guy, M3s, and does a lot more track days than I do. He loves the paddle shift. He says he would never go back.

I would own a GT4 with it and not complain.

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After running around in my paddle shiftCayman for a while now I can't imagine how anyone likes a shifter on the tunnel more. Not taking your hands of the wheel is huge.

I was a die hard manual guy until I drove a GT3 with pdk. It’s simply perfect and shifts better than me. All the reasons for hating automatic don’t apply. Now I think you’d be crazy for going for manual if pdk is available for the same car.

You don't know until you drive one. The PDK is a paradigm shift (no pun intended). MT's are simply dinosaurs thereafter.

This coming from a die hard MT fan.

If you just drive Porsches on video games, you can save a lot on gas, tires and insurance. And garage space. If you make a mistake, you just hit "reset".
Or you can buy one of those nifty electric cars- full torque at 0 RPM and no need to shift at all!

I’ve been thinking about getting a gt4 with pdk, i’m tired of shifting.

Sounds great to me, I want everyone to hate shifting so I can afford a manual 997.2 GT3 some day.

This discussion reminds me of an old Twilight Zone episode where some people are deemed “obsolete.” I like people to have choices. I realize some day that it may not be financially viable to produce a manual transmission and/or a naturally aspirated engine, but I’m glad we’re not there yet.

I’m just a normal “road enthusiast,” but I think I represent a stubborn group of enthusiasts who enjoy relaxed street and backroads driving. I hope to be able to enjoy these simple pleasures until my legs and arms no longer function well enough to shift. I will pay a premium for a manual, but I have financial limits.

Since a manual is still available on most newer Porsche sports cars, at least we shouldn’t see the crazy Ferrari effect where people are paying an absurd premium for old models with manuals since they are now unobtanium...

Because lateral Gs, threshold braking, and breakneck acceleration are boring. The only fun part of driving a car is shifting gears.

No question manual shift, ...most PDK’s are like a living room chair (Lazy Boy ��)
Supply and demand makes PDK too common. Try to buy a MT GT3 or 997 MT. Good luck.��

I've asked if one would buy a golf club that guaranteed a hole in one?

It's amazing what the software engineers have done to remove driver skill from the hobby of sports car driving.
Also amazing so many so called performance drivers embrace the technology that has taken control of the car away from them.
Thanks to software engineers all the guys that never learned to left foot brake or heal toe downshift can feel like Mario Andretti.
A buddy drives a GT3, after a short time with PDK he now is no longer proficient at driving a manual.
Can't coordinate shifting, match revving downshifts no left braking or left foot sensitivity.
Today at the new car dealership you are basically picking between fast sleek computers.

I’d also be interested in a longer-term maintenance cost comparison between MT and PDK.

PDK eliminates the catastrophic money shift when you mechanically over rev your engine. That is a relief to weak shifting drivers.
But agree is the cost of a major service/rebuild on the manual and PDK even close?
How many miles before a PDK needs to be rebuilt?

I looked for over a year for a manual Targa GTS and only found stripped down versions. Guess manual minded buyers don’t want any extra weight like heated seats or LCA. Even expanded my search to the Targa 4s. I have always owned manual shift cars and didn’t want to be deprived of the involvement. Finally found a 2019 Targa GTS with everything I wanted but with a PDK. Love it. It’s amazing for AX and it up and downshifts like it’s reading my mind ( Sport mode). One thing I don’t like is being required to place my hands at the 3 and 9 position. I like my hands a bit further up like 2 and 10. Wish the paddles were adjustable like almost everything else in the car. I still have 2 other P cars to get my shifting exercise in, so I’m not worried about losing my touch. I think the PDK is akin to the Boxster. Folks tend to bad mouth them without ever having lived with one.
EDIT: if I were to have only one Porsche, it would be a manual.

The PDK has proven to be very reliable and long lasting in the GT4 Clubsport MR Cayman racecars. In fact the logic in using it wasn't just to make the car more gentleman racer friendly, but to help keep it pocketbook friendly too.

They don't rebuild them. They just replace them. It's $18k core exchange versus the usual rebuild $25-40k bill the Cup Car sequential runs. Having a mass produced street car gearbox in them have been a great success.

Thanks for the input. I've considered the 997 gt3rs, but they all are pretty low mileage selling at a real premium. And I believe they're rated around 415 hp, where the 991 gt3 has 500 hp, and in most cases less money. I rode with a buddy in his pdk 991.2 gt3 on the track, clearly the way to go, if lap times important to you. But, on curvy back roads, I'm afraid of missing the mt.

When we're all electric we're not going to have gears at all any more, so get it while the getting is good.

"Because lateral Gs, threshold braking, and breakneck acceleration are boring. The only fun part of driving a car is shifting gears."

1) Lateral G's were actually exciting before PASM
2) Threshold braking was an art that took skill and nerve before ABS
3) Breakneck acceleration took a skilled balance of clutch, throttle and tire grip before Launch
Control, PASM and PDK.
I'd rather drive a 200 HP analog car with my skill set than "ride along" with a set of digital Nannies making my decisions for me. Just my 2 cents.

The thought of all electric makes me lose my lunch, but that’s just me!