718 Cayman Manual or PDK ?

[The Mean Machine]

Has anyone driven the manual Boxster or Boxster S? I have been trying to get a drive in one without success. All the dealers only seem to have PDK versions.Most of the press cars seem to be manual and the reviews on the manual box are all very good. Before locking down the order I wanted to test drive one for comparison especially to see how heavy the clutch was ,have driven a PDK Boxster S and can see the advantages but am not sure if the manual would be a more involving drive ?
From a resale point of view the PDK I presume would be easier to sell on. I was thinking of going for the sport chrono and the PDK seems to do more with the SC.

[cowboyengineer]

Swindon has a demo manual boxster. But they are taking it off their fleet soon so perhaps you could try them. After driving it I've ordered the manual

[andyman_2006]

The Mean Machine said:

Has anyone driven the manual Boxster or Boxster S? I have been trying to get a drive in one without success. All the dealers only seem to have PDK versions.Most of the press cars seem to be manual and the reviews on the manual box are all very good. Before locking down the order I wanted to test drive one for comparison especially to see how heavy the clutch was ,have driven a PDK Boxster S and can see the advantages but am not sure if the manual would be a more involving drive ?
From a resale point of view the PDK I presume would be easier to sell on. I was thinking of going for the sport chrono and the PDK seems to do more with the SC.

---

I've driven one last weekend, 718 2.0 300hp, and must say the manual was very good, i'm not sure the gearbox choice will be your worry for me the sound was very marmite, in fact it sounded very Subaru WRX.....which is a shame, although sound aside it was a very quick car and even for the 2.0 was sharp and lag free.

Porsche centre Sheffield have just put on demo their new white manual 718, sure they would be happy for you to drive.

As for clutch weight, they said it now has a multi-plate clutch and it was very light not at all heavy, very easy to use, slick shifting clutch and gearbox setup, it would be my choice over PDK as its simply more involving.

[DJMC]

I drove a courtesy 981 base Boxster while my PDK was serviced a while ago.

I noticed the VERY heavy clutch in comparison to any other manual car I have driven (lots) in almost 40 years.

Last week drove a 718S manual. Didn't notice the clutch at all. Discussed with Porsche technician before the drive who said "I think you'll find it's a lot lighter." He was absolutely correct. No issues at all. Can't comment on the base 718 clutch though.

I would still have PDK any day though. Forget Sport Chrono unless tracking the car. Waste of time, as is Sport Plus. My extended 981 test drive car had it and it's useless on the road imo.

[nickfrog]

The Mean Machine said:

From a resale point of view the PDK I presume would be easier to sell on.

Not even sure : if manuals are so rare, it might not matter how small the demand is as the balance between supply and demand might favour the manual.

Also, it's cheaper to start with.

[Davel]

Have had PDK gearboxes on a 996 C4S, a 997 C4 and now my Boxster.

Very pleased with them personally and look for them when buying.

Edited by Davel on Thursday 28th July 14:36

[stebbo]

DJMC said:

I drove a courtesy 981 base Boxster while my PDK was serviced a while ago.

I noticed the VERY heavy clutch in comparison to any other manual car I have driven (lots) in almost 40 years.

Last week drove a 718S manual. Didn't notice the clutch at all. Discussed with Porsche technician before the drive who said "I think you'll find it's a lot lighter." He was absolutely correct. No issues at all. Can't comment on the base 718 clutch though.

I would still have PDK any day though. Forget Sport Chrono unless tracking the car. Waste of time, as is Sport Plus. My extended 981 test drive car had it and it's useless on the road imo.

I bought my 981 when it was about 18 months old. It has Sport Crono, and like you I never use it. I would have preferred PASM. But that is the risk you take buying "Pre Loved".

[bcr5784]

I think you will find turbo lag much less of an issue with pdk because changes are much faster and Because pdk will Change down at low revs where lag would be an issue. I found lag a big issue on 2.0 718 when using pdk in manual mode. It would be worse with a manual box.

[DJMC]

I have PASM. SC isn't worth 100th of the enjoyment of a comfy ride.
Tick PASM.
Forget SC.

[Magic919]

Davel said:

Have had PDK gearboxes on a 996 C4S

Unique modification.

[ONtheROCS]

My local OPC has a manual 718 Boxster and a PDK 718 Boxster S. I am looking at the Cayman for my next car and would more than likely go for manual but will be open to try the PDK. I've driven DSG/S-Tronic on the road and PDK on a track and wasn't enamoured with them, I can kind of see the point in them if you're stuck in traffic or track a car but for normal use, give me a manual any day.

Evo (Stuart Gallagher) slated the base 718 in PDK form yet reckoned the manual is the one to go for and is better suited. Make of that what you will.

Edited by ONtheROCS on Thursday 28th July 21:11

[Davel]

Magic919 said:

Unique modification.

You got me doh - it was an auto not PDK

[The Mean Machine]

ONtheROCS said:

My local OPC has a manual 718 Boxster and a PDK 718 Boxster S. I am looking at the Cayman for my next car and would more than likely go for manual but will be open to try the PDK. I've driven DSG/S-Tronic on the road and PDK on a track and wasn't enamoured with them, I can kind of see the point in them if you're stuck in traffic or track a car but for normal use, give me a manual any day.

Evo (Stuart Gallagher) slated the base 718 in PDK form yet reckoned the manual is the one to go for and is better suited. Make of that what you will.

Edited by ONtheROCS on Thursday 28th July 21:11

Which OPC is this ?

[ONtheROCS]

Aberdeen. If you go to Porsche UK's approved car locator you can select 718 Boxster, just tick the box for demonstrators. I know that there are other cars out there that aren't listed as Aberdeen have a third Boxster (S) on their forecourt. The last time I looked there were 4 manuals listed, all base Boxsters.

Edited by ONtheROCS on Friday 29th July 16:28

[The Mean Machine]

Thanks for the tip I have e-mailed my dealer to see if they can arrange a test drive with another dealer who has a manual.

[bcr5784]

ONtheROCS said:

My local OPC has a manual 718 Boxster and a PDK 718 Boxster S. I am looking at the Cayman for my next car and would more than likely go for manual but will be open to try the PDK. I've driven DSG/S-Tronic on the road and PDK on a track and wasn't enamoured with them, I can kind of see the point in them if you're stuck in traffic or track a car but for normal use, give me a manual any day.

Evo (Stuart Gallagher) slated the base 718 in PDK form yet reckoned the manual is the one to go for and is better suited. Make of that what you will.

Edited by ONtheROCS on Thursday 28th July 21:11

Driven a few DSGs (not the very latest so it may be better now) but PDK much better - wouldn't choose DSG over manual on the basis of my experience, but did choose PDK.

Re Evo comments - I simply find that very hard to understand for the reasons I gave above. Of course, if you don't like PDK anyway I can't see the 718 changing you mind.

[Ozzie Osmond]

The Mean Machine said:

Has anyone driven the manual Boxster or Boxster S? I have been trying to get a drive in one without success.

My local OPC says 95% of the cars are being bought with PDK.

In my opinion the new engine and PDK may well make a happier pairing than the manual box. Put simply, I suspect PDK can help mask the off-boost engine characteristics.

[ONtheROCS]

I wonder which percentage of them ever use manual mode? Friends of mine who drive dsg equipped cars, even with more performance orientated cars never bother with manual mode.

[bcr5784]

ONtheROCS said:

I wonder which percentage of them ever use manual mode? Friends of mine who drive dsg equipped cars, even with more performance orientated cars never bother with manual mode.

From the comments on here there are a fair few of us who do regularly use PDK in manual mode.

[undred orse]

I've got a 718 boxster s and have driven it only in manual mode. I was very anti pdk/dsg and especially the mess that is the Aston Martin sport shift which was simply appalling.Having tried a pdk boxster I decided to give it a go and I'm certainly not disappointed and I agree with the comments above about it suiting the engine.