991 7-speed Manual - Is it Really that Bad ?
Discussion
Yes I’m sad to say that it really is dreadful! I had a 24 hour test drive and was bamboozled by never really being 100% sure of what gear I was in (especially 2nd vs 4th and 3rd vs 5th). Too many gears and they are all too close together.
The manual box doesn’t really work with the electric handbrake either. I found myself fussing round with my left hand selecting 1st gear (OK sometimes 3rd...) at junctions and then fussing round with my right hand (and leaning forward in the seat) to release the hand break (which is located by your right knee under the dashboard).
Not what I expected with an eighty grand car, bought a used Turbo instead
The manual box doesn’t really work with the electric handbrake either. I found myself fussing round with my left hand selecting 1st gear (OK sometimes 3rd...) at junctions and then fussing round with my right hand (and leaning forward in the seat) to release the hand break (which is located by your right knee under the dashboard).
Not what I expected with an eighty grand car, bought a used Turbo instead
Its not a great unit. My thoughts:
"It has to be said, Porsche's gearboxes are functional things on the whole, quietly going about their business without adding greatly to the driving experience in the way a gated Ferrari shift, a snickety Alfa change or even (heaven forbid) an old Ford rocket 'box does. The seven speed unit in the 991 is no different. Its nicely positioned, falling (in that great roadtest tradition) 'easily to hand' as it sits high on the centre console. The knob is a chunky affair, well matched to the surprisingly high levels of effort needed to select a gear - especially when the gearbox is cold - or press the clutch pedal to the floor
As I flogged my way across crowded home-county commuter routes to the quieter motorways of my own bit of the country, the gearbox continued to occupy my mind. The ratios are arranged in 4 planes; 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7, with springing biased towards 3rd/4th. That makes perfect sense in the 6 speeder, assisting the driver to slip out of 5th or 6th into one of the lower two ratios. However, in the 991, anyone cruising along in 7th and balked by slower traffic would benefit from a dose of 5th to regain speed, a gear that's located somewhere between 7th out on its limb and the spring assisted 3rd. I have to admit to picking the wrong one several times, not helped by the otherwise handy gear indicator in the rev counter that displays a blank until the clutch is fully home. That same indicator also contained a further sop to the eurocrats; a small arrow that suggests when the driver should select a higher ratio. On the level it would illuminate in 6th at not much over 45mph, although the effect of such nudging on fuel usage is not dramatic - I saw consumption figures no better than the mid-twenties in my six days. "
SS7
"It has to be said, Porsche's gearboxes are functional things on the whole, quietly going about their business without adding greatly to the driving experience in the way a gated Ferrari shift, a snickety Alfa change or even (heaven forbid) an old Ford rocket 'box does. The seven speed unit in the 991 is no different. Its nicely positioned, falling (in that great roadtest tradition) 'easily to hand' as it sits high on the centre console. The knob is a chunky affair, well matched to the surprisingly high levels of effort needed to select a gear - especially when the gearbox is cold - or press the clutch pedal to the floor
As I flogged my way across crowded home-county commuter routes to the quieter motorways of my own bit of the country, the gearbox continued to occupy my mind. The ratios are arranged in 4 planes; 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7, with springing biased towards 3rd/4th. That makes perfect sense in the 6 speeder, assisting the driver to slip out of 5th or 6th into one of the lower two ratios. However, in the 991, anyone cruising along in 7th and balked by slower traffic would benefit from a dose of 5th to regain speed, a gear that's located somewhere between 7th out on its limb and the spring assisted 3rd. I have to admit to picking the wrong one several times, not helped by the otherwise handy gear indicator in the rev counter that displays a blank until the clutch is fully home. That same indicator also contained a further sop to the eurocrats; a small arrow that suggests when the driver should select a higher ratio. On the level it would illuminate in 6th at not much over 45mph, although the effect of such nudging on fuel usage is not dramatic - I saw consumption figures no better than the mid-twenties in my six days. "
SS7
shoestring7 said:
Its not a great unit. My thoughts:
"It has to be said, Porsche's gearboxes are functional things on the whole, quietly going about their business without adding greatly to the driving experience in the way a gated Ferrari shift, a snickety Alfa change or even (heaven forbid) an old Ford rocket 'box does.
Nicely thought out comments. When buying my 997.2 I tried both PDK and manual, then spent some time looking for a manual with the sport shift kit. I find that this makes the manual box feel a great deal more positive and engaging, usefully more so than the standard manual shift. The only downside is having to make slower and deliberate changes whilst the box is warming up, otherwise they can baulk."It has to be said, Porsche's gearboxes are functional things on the whole, quietly going about their business without adding greatly to the driving experience in the way a gated Ferrari shift, a snickety Alfa change or even (heaven forbid) an old Ford rocket 'box does.
Martian O said:
Maybe Porsche deliberately made the 'box confusing/notchy so that you spent the extra ~£2K on the PDK option! 
Closer to reality that you probably think. I understand both cars use the same 'box in effect and the manual is an adaptation from the PDK - and hence probably an element of compromise as a result. The 991 was without a doubt designed around a PDK 'box.
I took a manual 991 for a pootle, and found it to be surprisingly intuitive for around town driving. It involved a lot of traffic lights, and speeds of only up to eg 45mph on A roads. The clutch didn't demand my full body weight and was easy to use. Is the experience so different at high speeds when changing gears etc?
For me it was the shift quality - it lacked that degree of "positivity" that the 997 has and felt slightly "light". Whilst I don't think I had the same issue with not being able to find the right gear that others had, it did remove the desire to slam home the changes! Mind you when 6 speed boxes were introduced (and probably 5 speeders too) - I seem to remember lots of people criticising them for the number of gears being "confusing"!
Output Flange said:
What I really don't like is that you can't go into 7th without going through either 5th or 6th first. Daft idea.
I like a decent manual box, but that isn't one.
Does anyone else make a 7 speed 'box with an H pattern? I can't think of any, and I suspect I know why...
Is the 991 manual box a brand new design box made by Porsche, or eg a legacy box from elsewhere, or from VW group?I like a decent manual box, but that isn't one.
Does anyone else make a 7 speed 'box with an H pattern? I can't think of any, and I suspect I know why...
markiii said:
and yet the 6 speed in the 981 Cayman is a gem
That it is! Nothing wrong with it at all.I'd echo the other point above about the electric handbrake being poorly positioned. There's loads of space on the centre console where it would be intuitive. Under the ignition is just a daft place to put it.
Edited by juansolo on Thursday 23 May 21:47
As it is, I'd feel compelled to go with the PDK over the 7-speeder even though I'd normally prefer a manual- it's that floawed. I actually thinking locking out 7th until you hit 5th/6th is good as it prevents you going from 4th to 7th in spirited driving. But trying to go down from 6th to 5th is a real problem. Regularly found 3rd or 7th when I tried it.
The idea of a 7th gear/overdrive for economoy with 6 close ratios is good though. Would it have been possible to have the old Jag/Triumph set up of the overdrive being on a electric swtich? Then you'd have the rest of the ratios in a standard double-H that works fine.
The idea of a 7th gear/overdrive for economoy with 6 close ratios is good though. Would it have been possible to have the old Jag/Triumph set up of the overdrive being on a electric swtich? Then you'd have the rest of the ratios in a standard double-H that works fine.
RB_987s said:
The manual box doesn’t really work with the electric handbrake either. I found myself fussing round with my left hand selecting 1st gear (OK sometimes 3rd...) at junctions and then fussing round with my right hand (and leaning forward in the seat) to release the hand break (which is located by your right knee under the dashboard).
You don't need to release the handbrake when pulling away, just pull away and it will automaticly release. Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff