mrstep

Obviously if you enjoy driving, you'll get the MT.

Helpful facts like that aside, I love my MT - ~6500 miles, always a pleasure.

For commuting it's a tougher call, but I'll also admit to not commuting in mine because it's my fun car for wineries and twisty back roads more than the highway. For that, I wouldn't take an auto in any case.

Huh, this post still isn't really helpful.

Noah Fect

I know what you mean. I bought a manual in my Porsche because the GM automatic in my mom's '82 Caprice sucked.

Oh, wait, no, I didn't, because that is a completely different gearbox. You can't judge the PDK by whatever hunk of junk BMW is shipping in the modified taxicabs they call "sports cars."

(Edit: That comment sounds harsher than I really meant it to, but I'll let it stand because you're something like the third person in the thread who has argued for the manual because they were bored or otherwise disappointed with another manufacturer's DCT. There is a reason why the PDK is literally the standard of the world. When a manufacturer designs a new sports car, they don't have their engineers order a BMW and take it apart with a screwdriver.)

drcollie

You don't know BMW's. And you don't know Porsches. Because the PDK came out in 2009 in the 997.2, so it wasn't a 'new' sports car. It's a Dual Clutch design exactly like BMW offers in their top tier cars. If you drive them back to back the BMW is more aggressive with a harder shift, the Porsche smoother and more like an automatic - both are excellent gearboxes. I've owned many BMW's and many Porsches....don't think for a minute a well driven M3 won't wax a 991's *** on a track. It can.

Now the above post may sound a bit harsh but I'll let it stand because - well - you're just flat out wrong.

StudGarden

I'm not so sure about that anymore.

There was a (very long) time manuals were faster, more efficient, more reliable and cheaper to work on. Now 2 out of those 4 have definitely been reversed and the other two are probably pretty close to a toss up. If the 7MT really shares 80% with the PDK I don't see how it'll be much of any cheaper to work on or more reliable.

And a clutch is a clutch. There's a few people than can drive one hard for 100+k mikes and never need a replacement, but in think its unrealistic to think that hardware wise it's really tougher than the pack in the PDK. It's highly reasonable to assume the average MT will need a clutch (or two) long before the average PDK fails. And many causes of failures for the PDK would also be failures in a MT due to mass hardware overlap in the first place.

As for collectibility, I think he next gen (991.2/992 whatever) will offer the 7MT into the next decade.

Bottom line: they are both awesome, get the one you want. But trying to guess future depreciation (or appreciation! LOL) and reliability based on transmission choice at this point is pretty futile IMO.

jmirandes

I had never owned an automatic or semiautomatic car until my 911-50th ( basically, a GTS). My DD is a '08 RS4 and also have a '04 MCS MC40, both manual as you may now. I am extremely happy with the PDK and just enjoyed 2 days at Sebring which were a blast. Do I miss the clutch when in the 911?, no. Do i still enjoy my manual in the RS, yes. Would i get the 911 in manual after experiencing PDK? I have to say NO.

You will not go wrong either way, but after 35 years of manual-only cars, i love PDK, specially on-track. I still have a manual to enjoy, but if it were me, PDK again.

Jmirandes
'14 911-50th graphite grey
'08 audi Rs4
'04 MCS MC 40

Noah Fect

Sorry, I must have missed the part where the OP was asking about a 2009 GTS rather than a 2015 one.

Maverick1

You're definitely not crazy.
All sports cars should come with a manual....period.
Now this is funny.

mrsmitty

I chose a manual because I find automatics boring. I enjoy rowing my own gears. My first two cars I owned were autos. When I purchased a Honda Prelude years ago with a manual I was hooked. I swore never again would I ever buy a automatic unless it simply wasn't available anymore.

I have used the PDK on the track with a C2S. I know I could never row gears well enough to keep up. Despite being slightly slower I still love the feeling of the car with a manual transmission, it is something that is just hard to describe how it feels but it is much more enjoyable to me.

chuck911

That was before the goodie room.

96redLT4

Actually I think a lot of people who have tried both think the DCT is at least as good or better than the PDK, at least the one in the regular Carrera. I can say now owning a M4 w the DCT, my C2S with the manual tranny is much more fun and engaging to drive though probably much slower.
Jim

Noah Fect

A brand-new M4 is one thing. But is it reasonable to cite your experience in a 135i to criticize the transmission in a 2015 GTS? Sorry, maybe I "don't know BMW" and am "flat out wrong," but that argument doesn't work for me.

I'm not actually trying to insult anyone's car, and I'm not saying that that there is no hope that BMW will return to their "Ultimate driving machine" roots. (Well, OK, I'm insulting the '82 Caprice. Not much hope for that one.) Just saying that lumping everything with two pedals into the same "automatic" category might lead the OP to make an expensive mistake.

kaution321

PDK and blonde

NateOZ

I'm not a fan of the 7 speed MT - I think it never should have been made.

If you want a MT get a Gated R8 (get the V8 not the V10) while you can.

If you want a 911, get PDK.

96redLT4

Actually I agree with your main point Noah....BMW does need to 'return to its roots' with the M cars and its diluting of the M brand. I am a little disappointed so far, but hope that will change after the break in miles are completed

Jim

Scottish Pete

I have always been a manual transmission fan . . . always having a 911 since 1971. My desire for a clutch began to crumble after having the GM 700-R4 automatic transmission in my '91 Chevy pickup "beefed" up with shift kit and higher speed torque converter. With the Comp cam, roller rockers, headers, and computer chip pumping up the 350 V-8 engine with a 4.10:1 positraction; the snap shifts are a kick and makes the automatic great fun to drive.
So I am at a Porsche Club dinner last year seated across from a BMW driver who had returned to the Porsche fold with a new Boxter after a 15 year absence in the BMW club . . . explaining why I was considering a manual seven-speed in my new 991 Carrera S I planned to order. The BMW driver took on the challenge pointing out the PDK is not the Tiptronic and launching into its merits. Started me thinking about entering the 21st century after driving my current '74 911 for almost 40 years with a 5-speed manual transmission.
This group sealed my fate along with seeing 85% to 90% of new Porsche sales ordering PDK since they can't be that wrong. So my 2015 Carrera S on the boat right now approaching the Panama Canal has PDK and paddle shifters behind the good looking Sport Design wheel.
Of course I will keep my '74 911 with 5-speed manual for awhile in case I am totally wrong about a car with "Drive" position on the console . . . .