Steering wheel choice... thoughts

Steering wheel choice... thoughts

Author
Discussion

Ed from Cyprus

Original Poster:

54 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Hello,

Finally about to place an order on Cayman. The specs are finalised in all respects but the steering wheel.
The car will be with PDK - duties here depends on CO2 so the difference between CO2 in manual and PDK makes PDK actually cheaper to buy... Though I really wanted a manual and a car will be a keeper..

I like the look of Sport Design Wheel, but like convenience of multy-function wheel and really use all these multifunctions on my DD.

SO the question is - if I go for a multy, will I be able to replace to a new one which is now fitted to Macan and 918 and is really the best of all of them? In terms of wiring etc? If I go sportdesign I'm sure retrofitting of a new multy will not be possible.

May be there are some rumours that this new one at some point will become an option on Caymans as well soon?

BTW, what it may cost at all this new MF wheel for retrofitting?

Edited by Ed from Cyprus on Wednesday 10th September 09:10

klootzak

622 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
I was surprised how much I didn't miss MF buttons on the wheel when I went from my old BMW to the Cayman. And equally, how much I do find the Cayman's backwards shift buttons for the PDK an utter mindfk.

If it were my choice, I'd go with the Sportdesign wheel and proper paddles every time. You won't need the stereo anyway smile

k

SkinnyP

1,411 posts

148 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Paddles every time. With manual I'd go multifunction.

Ed from Cyprus

Original Poster:

54 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Well

I don't argue about paddles. And they are part of this new MF.
SO if retrofit instead of current MF it should be still working I guess... it's just a matter of connecting wires.
At least I hope so... Which is the question..

Porsche should have really made it available to all the cars instantly after launch, at least as an option and not to bother people... Which is another my question - is it going to be available on Cayman any time soon or no chance till face-lift which is 2-3 years away I guess..

Edited by Ed from Cyprus on Wednesday 10th September 10:31

Moog72

1,598 posts

176 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
When I asked the folks at the PEC Silverstone about availability of the multi-wheel with paddles as fitted to the Macan / 918 on other models they said "wouldn't surprise me" but had zero knowledge of when that might happen

Given the choice now with PDK I'd take the Sport Design wheel every time - I just don't like those shift buttons and I've not missed the extra controls on the wheel either (although mine is manual, still went with the Sport Design wheel)

Ed from Cyprus

Original Poster:

54 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Just checked Tequipment catalogue about steering wheels.
Sportdesign replacement is 764 GBP (opposed to 146 when optioning new car) .
Did not find current MF.
Nothing for Macan in the catalogue, and for 918 are only 3 sets of suitcases.

So new MF would be at least 1000 as a replacement guess.

Would stick with Sportdesign which was my original choice anyway.

klootzak

622 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all

You could always get the MF wheel and a Techart paddle kit ... http://www.sharkwerks.com/products.php?pid=274

A bit pricey, but probably less than getting the Macan wheel later.

k

Ed from Cyprus

Original Poster:

54 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks, klootzak

I saw this one.
The issue with the current MF is it looks, rather than buttons vs paddles.
As it's going to be my first Porsche and my DD is manual I have no any personal opinion on buttons vs paddles and think could get used to any of them. Test drived both but did not make any opinion on this. Was quite happy with full auto mode and not bothered shift gears manually.
And actually till the last moment was going to get manual. But the price and taxes makes PDK cheaper...so hard to reject this.

But the look... sportdesign is so much nicer. And the new MF is even better.. at least on pictures.

SO though about ordering current MF just to replace to a new one. Though getting it might be a real problem as well.

paralla

3,528 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Multifunction wheel looks terrible, sport design wheel is much nicer.

I think its a bit of a stretch to order a MF wheel now with the hope of changing it for a Macan/918 style one later on. Even if it is compatible its going to cost you an arm and a leg.

engineermk

96 posts

126 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
I switched from a BMW with a multifunction wheel to a Cayman six months ago.

I optioned for PDK and sports steering wheel and voice control. The voice control allow you overcome some of the issues losing a MFSW causes (reaching round the gear selector for track up/down on the CD/ipod is a pain in the a##e).

Like you I'd like to be able to add a Macan type MF sport SW.

paralla

3,528 posts

134 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
engineermk said:
(reaching round the gear selector for track up/down on the CD/ipod is a pain in the a##e).
I don't know about CD's but you can skip forward and back through tracks on an iPhone/iPod using the small stalk behind the steering wheel if you are on the audio page of the multi function display.

findtomdotcom

688 posts

239 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
I have MF on my PDK 911. I prefer the paddles and the style of the Sports Design but I like the MF quite a lot..... I agree, when the new GTS 991 comes out at the end of the year I suspect it will have the same wheel as the 918/Macan and I would also bet that if they do it for 991 then it will fit cars that are already fitted for MF. (All guess work by the way).

So if it was me and I wanted MF with paddles (which I do), then I would order the car with the MF wheel and wait until a kit is produced that will allow you to fit the newer wheel to your car. While the buttons are not as good as the paddles they are "OK" and acceptable until the new wheel comes out. Of course if you really don’t get on the buttons you can always swap the wheel for a flappy one (which you could sell once the 918/Macan one is available). That way you will have the wiring and module already installed and the choice of which wheel you want….


SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
the Macan s/w will require a new air bag as well which will add to the costs .. assuming control units are compatible

981Greg

112 posts

143 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Another vote for the Sports Design wheel. The audio controls are plenty easy enough to get to, and I find that although I'm normally in full auto, I do still use the paddles sometimes.

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
^^^
What he said!! X100!!

You're ordering your dream car, but choosing a gearbox you don't want. EVERY time you see a manual one you'll be thinking "I wanted one of those" - why do that to yourself?!

EricE

1,945 posts

128 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
The multifunction wheel is really useful but I wouldn’t spec it in a 981/991 because of the looks and feel.
It is a good choice for something like a Cayenne Diesel where you won’t ever miss the paddles because the functionality is great, but with a sportier car I’d say Sport Design with paddles all the way.
The newer 918 style wheel will be the best of both worlds but that won’t be available until next year or at worst until the facelift.

In your position I would get the manual with the Sports Design wheel.

Ed from Cyprus

Original Poster:

54 posts

134 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
Confirmed today the specs with SD. Waiting for the final quotation.

Spent some time sitting in Macan. The wheel is beautiful, but apart from audio controls design is close to SD.
Macan itself is a tempting proposition, even cheaper than Cayman, but not my cup of tea for sure. Will keep my DD for family trips.

Will get another test drive tomorrow on one with SD wheel and will try to focus on paddles and feeling related to them.

As to manual vs PDK - definitely would buy manual if it was cheaper but in our case it's vice verse. You have to pay extra for manual due to taxes. And to sell used manual car is almost impossible here as well. And I don't mind to have one autobox car especially as it is so highly praised. Again, will confirm my feelings one a test drive.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
EricE said:
The multifunction wheel is really useful but I wouldn’t spec it in a 981/991 because of the looks and feel.
That's what I decided, although it's particularly annoying that in right hand drive cars the gear lever gets in the way of reaching the radio volume knob.

.... but nothing like as annoying as the god-awful electric parking brake!

rosino

1,346 posts

171 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
Had sport design in my 991 s and looks aside (million times better looking) I wanted paddles.

Didn't miss the radio controls one bit. Cabin is so compact am sure you can manage with reaching for the volume button. Telephone can be operated from the stalk behind the wheel. Same for radio stations.

AndrewIC

557 posts

167 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
quotequote all
I went for multi function, having the majority of controls you need on the wheel is far better than the stalk behind, and the paddle button system they have is fine once you get used to it IMO. I chose it with the forward thought of the 918 becoming available for retro fit, at which point I think I may change.