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Hey guys. I know there's been a few people wondering how the 7-speed manual feels in the new GTS, so even though I've only had the car home for a day and a half, I thought I'd give some input on this if anyone is interested.
First and foremost, guys, it is one SWEET-shifting transmission. I love and appreciate a great manual, and this is probably the best I've owned up to this point. The shifts are smooth and clean and easy, yet precise and defined with no errors so far. I did take an early build 991 out for a spin, and I found the shifting pretty nice in that car too, but this, to me at least, feels better.
My previous car, a 997.2 C4S, had a Porsche short-shift kit installed. According to my measurements, this looks to be exactly the same... roughly three inches from the top of the gate to the bottom. The movement is smooth and easy, and the clutch travel is really sweet as well. I went up through the gears to 7th just to see what it felt like, and then downshifted out of 7th several times just to see if it would give me any trouble, but it just falls down nicely into 6th and up into 5th. There's really no issue that I could see, especially since if you're tracking the car you're probably never going to be shifting into 7th under those circumstances. The "lock-out" gate that keeps you from going from 4th to 7th works perfectly also... I could not get into 7th unless I was already in 5th or 6th.
So anyway, according to my admittedly early observations, this appears to be real peach of a transmission/shifter/clutch setup. I'll post more once the snow melts a little more. I was on the freeways mostly today, which at least were dry.
Very useful review of the gts stick shift. I drove one in 991 C2S and was disappointed. Liked rev matching though ..I've got PDK though (of course with rev matching..)
Does anyone know if this upgrade for the GTS is simply a shift kit? Something that could be retrofitted to an earlier 991?
I can't say for sure, but I think it's a heavily reworked version of the current system. From the Total 911 Review:
"Porsche has acted on criticism from both customers and within the company to improve the seven-speeder's shift quality, extensively altering the weighting and friction of the lever through its gat. It's revelatory: the gearstick moves through its gate with slicker precision, retaining some mechanical feel but without any of the obstructive imprecision that sometime blights the seven-speeder."
It goes on to say that it's not quite as good as the 997 six speed.
It goes on to say that it's not quite as good as the 997 six speed.
I completely disagree with this comment. I think it's leaps and bounds better than the gear shifter in the 997. The way it was designed. It's essentially a 6 speed with and alternative overdrive. aka 7th gear. It's the best I have ever driven. I have made some negative comments as to the height of the gear shifter itself. Having driven it for a couple of hundred miles, I have to say it is a really growing on me. Everything seems perfect. Clutch engagement seems spot on and than the gates. Did I mention the gates? Perfection! is all I have to say.
I completely disagree with this comment. I think it's leaps and bounds better than the gear shifter in the 997. The way it was designed. It's essentially a 6 speed with and alternative overdrive. aka 7th gear. It's the best I have ever driven. I have made some negative comments as to the height of the gear shifter itself. Having driven it for a couple of hundred miles, I have to say it is a really growing on me. Everything seems perfect. Clutch engagement seems spot on and than the gates. Did I mention the gates? Perfection! is all I have to say.
I've never driven the 997. To your point Top Gear called the GTS manual the best they've ever driven.
Would be interesting to see if they did offer it as a short shift kit to other generations of 991s. I have to imagine it was just the shift linkage and not something more extensive (like a transmission redo) as that would not make financial sense.
Would also go along with the whole ethos of the GTS - everything it has is available as an option on the regular car (for the most part).
01-24-2015, 09:29 PM
Early impressions of my GTS Manual Tranny
