rch314

I have had 4 manual Porsches: 2001 Boxster, 2001 996, 2012 Cayenne and 2008 997 and have loved driving stick shift since 1989 (starting with a VW GTI 16V). However, I am thinking about getting a 991 and I am finally thinking that rowing 7 gears is too much and am thinking about getting a PDK. Are there other manual stick-shift lovers that have successfully gotten used to the PDK?

coupedncal

Could you elaborate on your experience of owning a manual tranny Cayenne? I have often wondered what it would be like to drive a stick shift Cayenne.

drcollie

I love what the PDK and Dual Clutch cars can do. If you want to maximize speed and take-off from a stoplight, you can't beat them. Also there is the very real benefit of not being able to do a 'money-shift' and catch the wrong shift gate at speed to blow the engine to smithereens (been there, done that). I had the Dual Clutch in my BMW 135i which is an identical transmission to the PDK. It did everything as advertised and I was shifting like a madman with the paddles for about the first two weeks of ownership, then I'd just put it in "D" after that and it was effectively an automatic, and a bore.

My 991S is a three-pedal car, because its more fun. The gearbox is a delight, very crisp and positive shifts and the only time you are going to go to 6th and 7th is out on the highway for fuel mileage savings. Its the best transmission I've ever had in a Porsche (this one is # 5). But I'd not going to win any drag races against a modern PDK or even automatic car, that's for sure. At the end of the day, its what you want to do with the car. Stoplight racer or heavy traffic commuter? PDK. Windy country road and control over the car? Manual. No bad choice, either way.

jumper5836

Sounds like you go through a lot of cars and a 991 isn't going to be a keeper. Why not just try pdk out for this one. It will also be a lot easier when you go to sell since there is a bigger market out there that can only drive automatics.

I'd be interested in hearing what you would choose for your next car after time spend with a pdk car.

BradB

My 991S is PDK. My past Porsches, Boxster S, Cayman S were manual. My other current Porsche, a 993 4S is manual. These cars have all been great fun.

That said, my PDK is just amazing. Anyone that says it's boring obviously doesn't own one. I manually shift it all the time. I love the lightning quick shifts. And double and triple shifts. I love playing with Sport and Sport Plus modes. So much variety. You feel VERY connected to the car. You also feel more talented than you probably really are! And when I let PDK do it's own thing you realize that this high tech system is absolutely incredible. I enjoy it on the back roads, on the track and in traffic around town. Anything but boring!

I extensively test drove both manual and PDK before I made my decision. You should, too. I would have been perfectly happy with the manual. It's buttery smooth and precise. A real joy. But the PDK, for me, was the way to go

Good luck!

NVRANUF

Having owned 4 MT 911 Porsche's over the past 17 years and now just received #5... a new PDK.

Been there, done it and really enjoyed the experience with a MT over the years, but now I'm quite happy to embrace the future with a PDK driven Porsche.

My money, my choice.. and to others, please do as you wish with yours and be happy Porsche still gives us choices!

991999R

get the PDK. or rent one for a brief period of time...better than buying one and taking the depreciation hit

chuckbdc

After 40 years of driving manual transmission Porsches I went for PDK in my 991S. I have as much fun and control over shifting as ever, be it deciding not to when commuting in traffic or on long trips or deciding to using the manual control action the stick or the fingertip action of the (damned buttons-get paddles) on the track or a country road. To me the primary difference is the clutch pedal and "just-so" enjoyment a well coordinated hand-foot gear change can bring versus the snap-pop instant-continuous power shift action of the PDK. You can't go wrong either way.

neanicu

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/6748...-with-pdk.html



https://rennlist.com/forums/991/7910...-2014-c2s.html



https://rennlist.com/forums/991/7836...the-911-a.html



https://rennlist.com/forums/991/7843...nual-rant.html




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I could go on but it never ends....

maxpowers

The MT really makes driving the sports car fun for me. I don't think you show view the 7 gears as a deterrent to get the MT. You don't have to use those extra gears. They're just there b/c of the new fuel economy regulations. In most normal driving you probably won't use more than 5 gears.

I tried to PDK in both a test drive and the race track. To me it just ruined the experience of driving the car and I found it extremely boring. If you enjoy the manual get the manual car and find something fun to do with the $4,000 savings

Bacura

My 4th new 911. 2 PDK/2 MT. I don't track anymore. For me, only PDK from now on but everyone is different. Choose wisely. I 100% do NOT miss shifting in traffic.

Nicoli35

like sands in the hourglass, these...are the days of our lives.

StudGarden

IMHO both are equally good, just different. It sounds like you are leaning on wanting to get the PDK for your next one, but are concerned you might not like it as much. With that in mind, I'd recommend getting it and opting for the sport steering wheel to get the better paddles and consider the SC package.

You will get:

better all around performance in every category
better MPG
the option of an automatic for heavy traffic
better resale-ability
yet you can still control the shifting if you want to.

The 7MT is awesome and you will love it. But so is the PDK, and its the best auto/semi-auto they've ever put in a 911.

You can't go wrong though.

991999R

can we merge all of the PDK and 7MT threads into one and make it a sticky? and then if a non-member asks a question, we can give them a stonecutter paddling ceremony?

Nicoli35

We're going to need more cat memes. Somebody call the internet!!!!