PDK question on temporary downshifting

[GuitarPlayer63]

I have a 997.2 C2 with PDK and have a question on the temporary downshift you can force by blipping the throttle.

How do you know which gear it's going to go to? I just cannot seem to get / predict it reliably, sometimes when I only really want it to drop a couple of gears it goes down 4, and other times it drops 1 or two instead of the 4 I want.

Is there some technique to apply to make it consistent?

I've tried searching for it, but cannot seem to find a specific criteria of how to know where it will go to.
Thanks

[stevod]

AFAIK it depends on how far you push the throttle, as well as how quickly you push the throttle. The way it responds will also be different in Sport, Sport Plus etc. Chosen gear to drop to will also depend on current speed of course.

S

[GuitarPlayer63]

thanks - thats what I would have thought, but if I'm doing 50 I can conceivably go into any gear from 2nd to 6th - I've tried prodding the accelerator with all different types of force / time etc and just cannot predict what it will do....

[tuffer]

I just pull the paddle a couple of times, that blip thing is a bit random.

[stevod]

Either:

a) does it matter?...if you still need more then just push further;

b) time for a manual!

S

[Ian_UK1]

GuitarPlayer63 said:

thanks - thats what I would have thought, but if I'm doing 50 I can conceivably go into any gear from 2nd to 6th - I've tried prodding the accelerator with all different types of force / time etc and just cannot predict what it will do....

Exactly the same with my 997S.2!

This is one of the reasons I find PDK absolutely infuriating and why it will NEVER be a suitable replacement for a proper manual gearbox. It can make you look such a pr*ck when it decides - for no discernable reason - to drop 4 gears and revs the nuts off the motor. Horrible!!!

[Diesel130]

Maybe, in years to come, Porsche will invent a kind of lever, which you can move left-right and fwd-backwards, that will allow you to go directly from the current gear to any chosen gear, with total driver control of the selection.

[mollytherocker]

Diesel130 said:

Maybe, in years to come, Porsche will invent a kind of lever, which you can move left-right and fwd-backwards, that will allow you to go directly from the current gear to any chosen gear, with total driver control of the selection.

Wow, that sounds incredible! Perhaps they could have some sort of pedal to control the engagement of the gearbox to drive too?

Now, that would be fun.

[graemel]

Diesel130 said:

Maybe, in years to come, Porsche will invent a kind of lever, which you can move left-right and fwd-backwards, that will allow you to go directly from the current gear to any chosen gear, with total driver control of the selection.

[Moosh]

mollytherocker said:

Diesel130 said:

Maybe, in years to come, Porsche will invent a kind of lever, which you can move left-right and fwd-backwards, that will allow you to go directly from the current gear to any chosen gear, with total driver control of the selection.

Wow, that sounds incredible! Perhaps they could have some sort of pedal to control the engagement of the gearbox to drive too?

Now, that would be fun.

Are but according to some drivers (no names mentioned) a car with a lever and pedal would be impossible to drive and control as you would have to take your hand of the steering wheel to do so.

[BertBert]

Never driven one, but doesn't PDK have an "I choose" mode? Hesitated about saying "manual" there

So the flappy paddles let you go down the number of gears you want? Or am I just being daft?

[mollytherocker]

BertBert said:

Never driven one, but doesn't PDK have an "I choose" mode? Hesitated about saying "manual" there

So the flappy paddles let you go down the number of gears you want? Or am I just being daft?

What, you mean move your fingers about an inch and pull? That sounds like hard work to me, and anyways, computers are faster than humans, right.

If only they could do the steering too. Oh hang on.....

[wilkos]

I find pdk perfectly predictable, and can pick any gear at any speed at will with no use of the paddles. The long throttle travel makes it particularly easy. Much mare predictable than the wife's dsg, which isn't bad.
I've been driving auto for years, and its about speed of application, and distance the throttle is pressed.
You don't need the stab to pre shift. It shifts so quick, it doesn't matter. If you can't master it, use the buttons. Hardly rocket science.

[BertBert]

so the buttons do do it then?

[mollytherocker]

BertBert said:

so the buttons do do it then?

Yes , as long as the computer likes your choice. He is the master, you are the bh.

[BertBert]

mollytherocker said:

Yes , as long as the computer likes your choice. He is the master, you are the bh.

I'm getting a bit of a vibe here.
You should have a go in a Radical SR3RS with flappy paddles. That seems ok

[mollytherocker]

BertBert said:

mollytherocker said:

Yes , as long as the computer likes your choice. He is the master, you are the bh.

I'm getting a bit of a vibe here.
You should have a go in a Radical SR3RS with flappy paddles. That seems ok

I am not suggesting that there is no place for such a gearbox, indeed it did ok in the 956.

And it has been around since the 1930s.

I personally don't want it in a 911, it's just my view. Especially, with all of its nannying programming.

[Magic919]

BertBert said:

so the buttons do do it then?

One common complaint with PDK is that it will drop down a gear or more if you push the throttle hard enough, even in pseudo-manual mode.

[wilkos]

458 Italia said:

It does do this, but only if you are so lead footed that you push beyond the normal spring loading into the kick down position. To be honest, it's not really an issue.

It's also pretty useful if you misjudge your gear for an overtake, and suddenly need full thrust, as you just push the kickdown switch, and it' go to the lowest gear possible, quicker than anyone could change gear,

[BnB]

wilkos said:

It's also pretty useful if you misjudge your gear for an overtake, and suddenly need full thrust, as you just push the kickdown switch, and it' go to the lowest gear possible, quicker than anyone could change gear,

Yes, very helpful feature, despite the regular grumbles on here by non-PDK owners. Virtually impossible to trigger accidentally, unless you have lead feet. And, combatting the torque offered up by modern turbo diesels, it's pretty much essential for overtaking the more ego-driven rep mobile.