Redhot2474

I got a chance to drive my clients 997.2 s with Manual. I know there are tons of people on here who would never think of owning anything but a manual - just curious , have most who prefer manual ever driven the PDK? I found the exact opposite to be true, the manual felt very slow and kind of boring , while PDK with sport mode "felt" much more exciting and engaging to drive...I respect wanting to "drive" a car but I find the PDK so awesome on the Porsche. Anyone pick PDK after they had heart set on a manual ?

Own Goal

Novel idea for a thread. Never considered this topic before. That said, last P was a Cayman S 6 speed. Loved it. Current is a 997.2 PDK. Enjoyed both. With a bit of arthritis I enjoy the PDK more these days. It's also smarter and quicker than I am and doesn't miss shifts and over rev. Clutch is still there, I just don't have to bother with it when stuck in traffic.

LesField

Always been a stick shift fan, but after test driving a PDK, I'm sold.

On my 5th 911 and the first one with PDK, can't imagine going back to manual again.

Iceter

The car I had before my '09 PDK was a Honda S2000. It had a six speed manual. Frankly, in a daily driver, I found six speeds to be tiresome (and you needed all six speeds in that car since it was lacking in the torque department).

I love manual transmissions, but I don't miss self-shifting my car. And yes, I have driven a 997 with a manual.

ChristianR

the PDK is superior over a manual all day long IMO

fazeShift

I had never driven an automatic until my first pickup truck 7-ish years ago. Soon after, I went on a "supercar experience" trip where I got to pilot a Gallardo, Murcielago, F430, 599, and SLR north of Seattle. I decided then that flappy paddles are not that bad!

Now, after years in both Los Angeles and Dallas traffic, I fully appreciate a good push-button or no-thinking transmission... but I still wanted a stick in my 997. I love how engaging it is and the experience has made me fall in love with driving all over again!

I like both, but this time I picked stick!

usafakid09

I drove an STi before I bought my 911. PDK is superior to any manual any day of the week from a technical perspective (in my opinion). I also got sick of the driving experience in the Boston stop and go traffic.

Craft

I'm in my first 997 and it's a manual. I've driven a PDK and liked it, but I'm enjoying the manual quite a bit. Super connected to the car and I like the involvement. It's fun. It's what I learned on. My '76 Ford truck is a 3 on-the-tree and no power steering, it's work...and it's great.

IMO, Porsche awesomeness is more visceral with a manual. I think a manual Porsche has to be on your list. Having said all that, I know some day I'll own a 911 with PDK and will love the hell out of it, too.

tcsracing1

I enjoy the stick in my 2008 turbo. But i hate it in rush hour traffic. Next turbo will be PDK as my city car.

My GT4CS is PDK and i love it. Wouldnt want a stick in my race car.

My GT3RS is a stick and i wouldnt want it anyother way. Weekend hot rod.

Bottom line, it depends on the car and the intended use.

golftime

To say one is better than the other is foolhardy. It is apples and oranges. They are both outstanding but obviously very different, and it really is a matter of personal taste based on any number of factors including how congested traffic is where you live, whether you plan to track it, how much you desire to row those gears, etc. Drive both and buy what you like.

ocgarza

Exactly. I love the PDK in the c4s I own, but love the 6MT in my 987. They are completely different driving vehicles, and I much prefer the PDK in the c4s. But the manual in the 987Cs really brings the car alive to me. I would not want a manual in the c4s, but that is just me.

F308gt4

Old (vintage or classic) car: Manual
New(er) car: PDK (or whatever the manufacturer wants to call it).

Newer cars were built with these transmissions in mind, and I think are more "in character" with the car. So, in a modern Porsche, PDK all the way.

On a vintage car, give me the 5 speed manual. Again, it goes with the character of the car.

Interestingly, I just bought a 2016 Ford Focus for my daughter. It has the power shift transmission, which is a dual clutch transmission. Not as nice as the Porsche version, and Ford had issues with the early ones (hopefully fixed now), but still very cool.

starvational

I think the manual can be more engaging since you're rowing the gears yourself and get the feeling of being more connected to the car. Having said that, I went from wanting a manual to a PDK and so far I'm loving the duality of it: great for stop and go traffic (it's my DD) and amazing for when the roads clear (sport mode + paddles = race car ). I also love that you can shift faster and have launch control with the PDK.

TommyV44

I'd only get a manual for any sports car I owned especially a 911........Never PDK! Again just personal choice.

Tom

goofballdeluxe

I, for one, welcome our computer overlords

Seriously, it's an easy question: do you wanna do the shifting, or let the computer?

I, for one, prefer to drive a sports car myself. I don't need every last second shaved off a lap time, nor do I care if I'm slightly slower to 60, so I don't need the computer to shift for me.

For those track rats, old men with bad knees, or anyone else who prefers to let the car shift for you, have at it.

Different strokes for different folks