981 Boxster S PDK - paddles or buttons?

[mhh]

My wife is keen on a Boxster S - well, actually she's keen on a Boxster with the only requirement that it be yellow but I might want to use it too so...

Anyway, she's likely to want a PDK and I'm wondering whether to order the multi-function steering wheel or the sports wheel with paddles. She's unlikely to use manual mode but I might. I know the pros and cons of the sports wheel as I have one on my 997 Turbo S, but I'd be interested to hear what others have ordered on their Boxsters.

[Porkupine]

Guess you should ask her if she wants the mf wheel. No way of getting both? Should have been possible really. Unfortunate.

[Raitzi]

Sports wheel and paddles is the only way with PDK. Wheel choice actually also makes difference in resale prices.

[Old Trout]

Buttons are awful - I was driving along and gears were changing!!!

[OggyDJ]

Buttons are counter-intuitive...push for change up and pull for change down (should be other way around IMO). Also, is easy to accidentally catch the buttons with your hands on the wheel resulting in unwanted gear change. Given the choice, I would go with the paddles which are much more logical and nicer to use (again, IMO).

Or even better, especially if you will also be driving it....get one with a gear stick and a clutch pedal

[anonymous-user]

Paddles every time. The sport design wheel looks lovely

[David W.]

OggyDJ said:

Buttons are counter-intuitive...push for change up and pull for change down (should be other way around IMO).

The stick is push to go up and pull to come down which I like, and is fairly universal, except to my knowledge BMW M5 and race cars.
dw

[Raitzi]

David W. said:

The stick is push to go up and pull to come down which I like, and is fairly universal, except to my knowledge BMW M5 and race cars.
dw

No it is not universal. Most sequentials go down when pushing stick forward and backwards for shifting up. It is natural for your hand to move forward in braking and backwards when accelerating.

[anonymous-user]

Raitzi said:

No it is not universal. Most sequentials go down when pushing stick forward and backwards for shifting up. It is natural for your hand to move forward in braking and backwards when accelerating.

Agree with this.

[Ady128]

I had the same dilemma with my 991. I originally wanted the paddles but went for the multi function as I use that more than the paddles. I like to turn the stereo up and down and answer the phone etc and I rarely use the buttons anyway (just use my right foot). BUT the paddles DO look better. So, the question is: which would you use more?

[petop]

Paddles all the way. Buttons on a Boxster i drove were a pain in the arse so ended up just keeping it in Auto which is just plain Jesse!

[Fire_2]

Had mine a few weeks with the buttons, got used to it finally but hated it changing up mid corner when mid lock.

Upgraded the wheel and paddles and so much happier now! Car feels much better

[BMCG]

Buttons vs Paddles....question of personal preference...me thinks.

Once you've got muscle memoried (that is you actually want to learn them) the buttons are surprisingly efficient....as either hand can shift up and down.

Can't do that with paddles...

On the other hand if you're hasty/inelegant/clumsy...yup you can trigger an inadvertent shift on the buttons.

That said, Paddles are aesthetically more pleasing...and afford an easier learning curve..and will likely be spec'd on my next car.

[GuitarPlayer63]

I'd suggest she / you drive both and work out what feels right.

That said, if you learn how to blip the throttle properly (not kick down), then you wont use either, because it beats both... (in my opinion anyway - and I'm still learning how to get it right).

[anonymous-user]

Buttons are terrible. You will not use them. They have the most awful movement and the ergonomics are terrible.

I would recommend the sport design wheel with alcantara lining.

[Ady128]

That said, if you learn how to blip the throttle properly (not kick down), then you wont use either, because it beats both... (in my opinion anyway - and I'm still learning how to get it right).
[/quote]
Correct.

[mhh]

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I'm leaning towards paddles. I've got other cars (including a Porsche) with paddles and it is too hard to switch easily between them if one has a different gear change system. What's really needed of course is a
MF wheel with paddles...

[DS240]

Go for the paddles as they work best with PDK, don't bother with the multifunction - I find having to lift my arm and then move my arm over to the left all of 30 cms is not to much of a hassle to adjust the radio volume.

[Carl_Docklands]

I have been fortunate to have all the wheel types now.

I have the paddle sport design wheel at the moment, it looks pretty but the paddles are pretty redundant on a turbo.

If i had the choice again I would go with buttons, heated with multi-function.

Paddles are ok but the actual wheel they are attached to is limited and a pain in the back side.

[mhh]

With my current car, my dealer recommended ordering Voice Control due to the Sport Design wheel's lack of functionality. It does help somewhat - for hands-free use of the phone and satnav. I've done long distances in Avis Porsches with buttons and just can't bond with the bloody things!

Edited by mhh on Tuesday 25th December 11:18