PDK vs DCT Silly Question

[dufflecoat]

Having test driven both, in a Cayman GTS and M3 respectively, I may have missed something.

Does PDK, in the right mode, have the artificial "kick" on full throttle up changes? I felt it in the DCT, but not the PDK. Did I have a setting wrong or is the PDK always totally seamless and smooth?

[PaulStephens911]

In a Cayman, in normal mode you will find that the gear changes are very smooth and seamless, but as you work your way up to sport plus, the gear changes will become more aggressive. But DCT is more aggressive anyway I think.

[Ian_UK1]

dufflecoat said:

Having test driven both, in a Cayman GTS and M3 respectively, I may have missed something.

Does PDK, in the right mode, have the artificial "kick" on full throttle up changes? I felt it in the DCT, but not the PDK. Did I have a setting wrong or is the PDK always totally seamless and smooth?

In Sport Plus, the changes in kickdown give you a noticeable kick in the back as they happen (due to flywheel inertia effect). It's also noticeable in Sport mode. In Normal mode, the changes are smooth, but slower.

Interestingly, even in Sport Plus and kickdown, the changes are smooth if you have some steering angle on. This is clever programming of the PDK as the kick-in-the-back change you get in a straight line could seriously unbalance the car in a turn.

[hondansx]

It's pretty silly really... it's all programmed to feel more 'sporty'. I suppose better that than making it feel like you've got a CVT gearbox

[PorscheGT4]

I really like the DCT box as it has 6 modes over Porsches 3 plus M mode which you can program to do what you want with all the other toys.

Press the M button and it changes 3 things to be just how you like them to be.

I think PDK is a bit basic. then you have sports and PSM and PSE etc too many buttons and no modes !

for my daily run I would set DCT to change about 4.5k revs, which was quite nice. PDK is all or nothing.

I wish the auto boxes would have a rev range change dial which when you turn the dial it changes gear at that rpm, be a cool and easy thing to do.

[DMC2]

Having jumped out of an M4 really quickly (piece of crap) into a Cayman GTS all I'll say is there is no comparison between DCT and PDK. The Porsche box is better in every way.

[Ian_UK1]

hondansx said:

It's pretty silly really... it's all programmed to feel more 'sporty'. I suppose better that than making it feel like you've got a CVT gearbox

All the electronic fakery just serves to remind how simple, effective, enjoyable and involving a proper manual 'box can be!

[rosino]

I had an M3 V8 DCT and the main difference was that the auto mode was utterly rubbish. Like really really bad. Not sure if the latter cats were any better as my software had been updated many times.

Porsche one is just so much more sophisticated and intelligent.

In manual mode was closer but the M3 most extreme modes were all but unusable even on track as they would upset rear end too much delivering massive jolts at 8k rpm and felt like the transmission wouldn't last more than 200miles in that mode...

Manual Downshifts were equally impressive. And perfectly executed in glorious blip of throttle in both.

[V8A*ndy]

What's the PDK like changing from forward to reverse and back?

My DCT in the Z4 is painfully slow making manoeuvres such as a 3 point turn a real chore. Bloody marvellous on the go though.

[Zyp]

DCT can be as smooth as you like if you stay away from sport / sport+ mode.

DMC2 said:

Having jumped out of an M4 really quickly (piece of crap) into a Cayman GTS all I'll say is there is no comparison between DCT and PDK. The Porsche box is better in every way.

I read elsewhere that you didn't like yours.
Our M3 has been faultless so far, no rattles, nothing fallen off, comfy and I've finally sussed out how to keep traction.

That said, I'm not on the whole massively enamoured by it.
Thankfully, the mrs drives it more than me.

[DMC2]

Zyp said:

I read elsewhere that you didn't like yours.
Our M3 has been faultless so far, no rattles, nothing fallen off, comfy and I've finally sussed out how to keep traction.

That said, I'm not on the whole massively enamoured by it.
Thankfully, the mrs drives it more than me.

Maybe mine was an early production dog!

[mhh]

I've got an 2012 M5 with DCT and it's the cars worst feature - slow and dimwitted in auto mode . The PDK in my Boxster S kills it. I've persevered with the BMW only because it is a fantastic high speed tourer.

Edited by mhh on Tuesday 10th February 20:06