Any converts from Manual to pdk here?

Any converts from Manual to pdk here?

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Discussion

MJ911

Original Poster:

130 posts

110 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
As per the title, interested to hear if any die-hard manual shift drivers have converted to pdk and actually enjoy it as much as or more than a manual old school shift, which to me has always been part of the fast-motoring experience.
I am on the hunt for an 'R' but the better spec or colours tend to be on the PDK versions and read some previous comments about the PDK being quicker anyway.
I know I really need to try one myself but they always tend to be 100+ miles away.

Your thoughts?...

dreamcar

1,067 posts

110 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
MJ911 said:
As per the title, interested to hear if any die-hard manual shift drivers have converted to pdk and actually enjoy it as much as or more than a manual old school shift, which to me has always been part of the fast-motoring experience.
I am on the hunt for an 'R' but the better spec or colours tend to be on the PDK versions and read some previous comments about the PDK being quicker anyway.
I know I really need to try one myself but they always tend to be 100+ miles away.

Your thoughts?...
Me for one!! My first two Boxsters were manual, the second one had the short shift linkage, great shifts, especially the second one. Third Porsche was a 987/2 Cayman S which I had PDK primarily because SWMBO preferred driving autos as we thought the Cayman would be our second car ( that didn't work out - but another long story). The good side of the Cayman debacle was getting PDK, really loved it, so fast! Then went to a pre-owned Carrera S with PDK and I've now recently taken delivery of a Boxster GTS. The transmission on the latest generation cars is even better than in the first and I honestly would not consider going back to manual. It's both faster and more economical. Yes I did initially is the more involved interaction with the manual and clutch pedal, but no longer!!

Radish

167 posts

127 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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Here we go again.............

Sandy59

2,706 posts

210 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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I like both, but for me the whole driving experience with PDKs is more fun. Some may disagree but that's fine by me.

tyrrell

1,670 posts

207 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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As an Ex Manual Cayman S owner, having driven a new Cayman S with PDK, no contest for me, PDK wins hands down, but each to his own and all that smile

Richie200

2,011 posts

208 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Ok I'll buck the trend here. I see Porsche (well the sportier versions at least) primarily as fun/sports cars and as such rev matching, H&T are an essential ingredients in the process of having fun whilst driving. If the car is multi-functional (Daily drive, Mrs use...) then I can see why PDK may swing you. It sounds from your question though that you are buying the car for the former reason and therefore I think you may find it a little tricky parting with the third pedal.

Trotmant

385 posts

113 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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I have owned manual and PDK now, I never thought I would come away from manual; but the PDK box in the 981 (GTS) is just so good and fast, for me at least using the paddles in manual mode makes the power, gearshift and performance so accessible.

On the 981 there is also lots of comment on the gear ratios being too long, the PDK tightens this feel in the real world driving. I spend several good hours driving both the manual and PDK as was so unsure about changing away from a manual as I swore you could not enjoy driving without one, in the end my PDK ownership probebrly shows that I truly believe that PDK is just so much better in terms of performance.

The added bonus of living near London also offers the auto mode when stuck in traffic it's daily. The only real criticisms I can honestly say with the latest box are;

1. Unlike the GT3, the PDK box has "creep" I'm not sure I like this, would rather it didn't.

2. I don't understand the relevance of the "kick down" feature in auto mode, I think this must be for the most lazy of people that suddenly want to mash from a high gear to a low gear at moments notice. I always drive in manual mode and enjoy retaining control of the gears (unless on motorway for MPG)

however the pros are just so much better than even a short shift manual IMO

1. Lighten fast gear changes, making all the performance so accessible even for a ham fisted driver like me. Ha! And more importantly offers protection against over revs

2. The throttle blipping is taken care for you, in a 981 GTS combined with PSE, it's an addictive experience that you will just want to repeat again and again, it makes me feel like I'm driving a race car and can't stop smiling.

3. Auto mode this there when required for just a to b drives, with an easy 35mpg possible. In my manual I could never it into the 30's. Maybe that's the absence of the 7th gear or just the natural nature of my driving style, which the PDK balances better for me.

hope you find this post useful


XGT

95 posts

128 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Richie200 said:
Ok I'll buck the trend here. I see Porsche (well the sportier versions at least) primarily as fun/sports cars and as such rev matching, H&T are an essential ingredients in the process of having fun whilst driving. If the car is multi-functional (Daily drive, Mrs use...) then I can see why PDK may swing you. It sounds from your question though that you are buying the car for the former reason and therefore I think you may find it a little tricky parting with the third pedal.
+1
I would say it also depends on driving ability / driving style and how you get your enjoyment from driving. Some will have a weekend/sports car and not be interested in the extra effort of engaging via H&T and may get their enjoyment from being in the car rather than driving the car if that makes sense. For others the challenge of mastering the 3 pedals will be a significant part of the driving experience.

P.s. Added to say in answer to the question, it's a No. For a daily drive though I can see why pdk has its appeal.

Edited by XGT on Monday 27th April 15:31

MJ911

Original Poster:

130 posts

110 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Great answers all, thanks a lot. Definite food for thought.

Useage would be predominantly daily use on good rural A-roads with about 5 trackdays a year and some euro-touring. I have been driving air cooled 911's for the last 10 years hence my apprehension at converting to a PDK car! but I am not averse to newer technology as long as it doesn't dilute the driving experience too much.

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
XGT said:
+1
I would say it also depends on driving ability / driving style and how you get your enjoyment from driving. Some will have a weekend/sports car and not be interested in the extra effort of engaging via H&T and may get their enjoyment from being in the car rather than driving the car if that makes sense. For others the challenge of mastering the 3 pedals will be a significant part of the driving experience.

P.s. Added to say in answer to the question, it's a No. For a daily drive though I can see why pdk has its appeal.

Edited by XGT on Monday 27th April 15:31
And for others there is certainly a desire to own a car for weekend use to enjoy the overall driving experience which does not necessarily also require a manual gearbox!
biggrin

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Any converts from Manual to pdk here?


not a chance, esp on the R you want to buy.

quote 2
"better spec or colours tend to be on the PDK versions "

that's because the seller are board stless of them and sell them on after a short while, always a PDK R or Spyder for sale, not many manual cars, says it all really.

JeffC

1,685 posts

211 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
MJ911 said:
As per the title, interested to hear if any die-hard manual shift drivers have converted to pdk and actually enjoy it as much as or more than a manual old school shift, which to me has always been part of the fast-motoring experience.
I am on the hunt for an 'R' but the better spec or colours tend to be on the PDK versions and read some previous comments about the PDK being quicker anyway.
I know I really need to try one myself but they always tend to be 100+ miles away.

Your thoughts?...
YES ME.

Well I previously had 2 manual Porsches, then I bought a PDK , the box as an auto is as good as I have driven and in sport it does pretty much everything you would do if it was a manual,HOWEVER after 10 months in Pdk my conclusion is this , the PDK for 80% of the time is fine but on a spirited drive I really missed the manual, I also found myself driving the pdk car like an old man just pottering around in it I even got 42mpg one day .

3 weeks ago I went out and bought a 981 3.4S and I hung on til I found a manual (they are nearly all pdk for sale) I wasn't sure at first as it feels slower compared to the pdk due to the gearing but have now done 1500 miles in it and so far I don't miss the PDK at all , I don't find it a chore driving the manual in traffic and I'm enjoying driving this car much more than the auto, I find myself driving this harder, a lot of it is driver involvement having to think about gear selection and heeling and toeing with sports exhaust on is addictive , the auto to me doesn't lend itself as well to the sports exhaust unless in sports plus mode.

I don't think there is a right and a wrong here, I was getting sick of trying to find a speccy manual and was considering a couple of pdks but in my heart I knew it wasnt what i wanted and I am so pleased I hung on for the manual and the way I feel about the two gearboxes is buy a Manual car if you want to drive the car, an Auto if you want to be driven.

Edited by JeffC on Monday 27th April 17:26

SkinnyPete

1,411 posts

148 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Sometimes I would like PDK when stuck in traffic during the 9-5 etc., but then all's it takes is a few miles of empty tarmac and I think "WOW WOW WOW! This is amazing, WOW", followed by "why would anyone buy an automatic when they can have a manual!

MANUWELL FOR LIFE!

koorby

175 posts

145 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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BGTS is my first Porsche, with my first PDK.

Absolutely brilliant gearbox, lightning quick changes and close to the rev limit with PSE the sound becomes an addiction. Easily the best dual clutch gearbox I've used.

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
here.

Loving PDK on my 981 S. Very much converted.

I guess if it was just a weekend car (it isnt) it might be different, but I love being able to use it like an auto when the traffic is st, and the speed of changes when I am havig fun.

Budweiser

1,069 posts

183 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
My CGTS has PDK and that was one of the best decisions I made. It beats manual in every way. Manual is old slow and a PITA IMO.

My OPC has told me around 90% of new cars are PDK. That says it all really.


Budweiser

1,069 posts

183 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
My CGTS has PDK and that was one of the best decisions I made. It beats manual in every way. Manual is old slow and a PITA IMO.

My OPC has told me around 90% of new cars are PDK. That says it all really.


norscot

92 posts

173 months

Monday 27th April 2015
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went pdk because initially really impressed when I first drove one, then back to manual for my next one because I just got a bit bored with it after a while.

Richie200

2,011 posts

208 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Budweiser said:
My CGTS has PDK and that was one of the best decisions I made. It beats manual in every way. Manual is old slow and a PITA IMO.

My OPC has told me around 90% of new cars are PDK. That says it all really.
That tells me only 10% of Porsche buyers today want to be involved as much as possible in the whole driving experience (well what's left of it after you consider: Electric handbrake, E-PAS, PTV, TC...). The majority couldn't give a toss.


SkinnyPete

1,411 posts

148 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Do people really care about the speed of the gear changes? What tangible difference does it make?

Not once have I changed gear in my cayman and wished it was faster.