Turning down an RS? Am I a weirdo because of the PDK?
09-12-2024 | 05:25 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 678
From: Washington State
I kept my GT4 6MT when I got my SRS specifically because I wanted to keep a manual sports car. The SRS is a different kind of fun, but I couldn't go without having a manual available as it's a very different driving experience (sorry, paddles is NOT anywhere close to a proper manual). I'd say let someone else have the allocation (even if they end up with ADM).
The following users liked this post:
Larry Cable (09-13-2024)
The following users liked this post:
Mike981S (09-13-2024)
09-12-2024 | 06:09 PM
#19
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 145
From: Toronto
Just my own opinion, but; The PDK is pretty damn good, and definitely the faster and more efficient gearbox, it's the right choice for an RS car.
I sold my (manual) '84 911 that I had for 12 years to clear garage space for my SRS, and have barely missed it. Bought a Bronco 2 door with manual to street park, so I could have a daily and stir my own gears, that thing is surprisingly good, but absurdly slow compared to my last 30 years of manual cars, but I don't care, I love both of them.
I sold my (manual) '84 911 that I had for 12 years to clear garage space for my SRS, and have barely missed it. Bought a Bronco 2 door with manual to street park, so I could have a daily and stir my own gears, that thing is surprisingly good, but absurdly slow compared to my last 30 years of manual cars, but I don't care, I love both of them.
The following users liked this post:
dnimi123 (09-12-2024)
09-12-2024 | 11:24 PM
#21
Basic Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 690
From: Brooklyn, NY
Not weird at all, I turned down an 4RS at MSRP multiple times and gave the allocations to my friends.
Not taking away from the 4RS / Spyder RS, just am super smitten with my GT4 that an extra $60k in MSRP didn’t feel needed.
Not taking away from the 4RS / Spyder RS, just am super smitten with my GT4 that an extra $60k in MSRP didn’t feel needed.
__________________
My 718 GT4 Euro Delivery Thread
Contact me for the best pricing on Quality Parts
- alex@lepetitgarage.us
LePetitGarage.us // @_lepetitgarage on Instagram
My 718 GT4 Euro Delivery Thread
Contact me for the best pricing on Quality Parts
- alex@lepetitgarage.us
LePetitGarage.us // @_lepetitgarage on Instagram
The following 5 users liked this post by Le Petit Garage:
AndyE1976 (09-16-2024),
clutchplate (09-12-2024),
daaa nope (09-13-2024),
ISPYA718 (09-14-2024),
Larry Cable (09-13-2024)
09-12-2024 | 11:25 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 652
Likes: 176
From: Toronto
Just my own opinion, but; The PDK is pretty damn good, and definitely the faster and more efficient gearbox, it's the right choice for an RS car.
I sold my (manual) '84 911 that I had for 12 years to clear garage space for my SRS, and have barely missed it. Bought a Bronco 2 door with manual to street park, so I could have a daily and stir my own gears, that thing is surprisingly good, but absurdly slow compared to my last 30 years of manual cars, but I don't care, I love both of them.
I sold my (manual) '84 911 that I had for 12 years to clear garage space for my SRS, and have barely missed it. Bought a Bronco 2 door with manual to street park, so I could have a daily and stir my own gears, that thing is surprisingly good, but absurdly slow compared to my last 30 years of manual cars, but I don't care, I love both of them.
Thx!
09-12-2024 | 11:34 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,936
Likes: 5,616
From: Canada
The following 3 users liked this post by UncleDude:
09-12-2024 | 11:37 PM
#24
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 1,126
I tell myself and others the reason why I didn't buy an RS is I wanted to keep the manual. The actual truth is they are a bit out of my price range, but having no manual option helps me feel better about it.
Last edited by Reedy; 09-12-2024 at 11:57 PM.
The following 2 users liked this post by Reedy:
Jeff113 (09-13-2024),
Larry Cable (09-13-2024)
09-13-2024 | 01:55 AM
#25
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 9,291
Likes: 4,800
From: Victoria, BC, Canada
So I learned that I **might** have an opportunity at an allocation for a Spyder RS.... and I think I'm gonna bail on it, mostly due to the PDK.
I currently have a 718 Spyder. Actually my 2nd one (long story). Love it to death - between this one and my first one I've put 40k miles on them. Most of the good options, including the manual trans. Added a Soul muffler to it for a little bit of sound, nice set of wheels for a little upgrade in the looks department. GT pedigree, gooder GT4 suspension (so I can put an actual functional alignment on it for autocross use), etc. I enjoy cruising around town with it, autocrossing it, taking it into the mountains... it's just the perfect car.
Then the SRS came out. More aggressive looks, GT3 motor, RS pedigree... but... PDK. What a bummer IMO. I was still interested but figured I'd never get an alloc.
Then my dealer buddy called me. Known him for years - my car buying relationship (11? purchases and easily another 15 referrals that were actual sales) over the years turned into an actual friendship... nowadays almost all of our conversations have nothing to do with cars. But he said he was told that PCNA might be sending him an unexpected, extra SRS alloc - and he'd put my name on it if I wanted it. I immediately sent him a build code. Not super thrilled about PDK but it's an MSRP deal and I figured, worst case, I sell it back to him in a year, get all my money back and then some, and go find another pleb 718 Spyder. (Note at the time of his phone call, usual ADMs on these were $50k+)
(Before you go asking "What dealer?!?"... he's doing MSRP because of (a) aformentioned relationship and (b) he knows I'd buy it to drive it, not flip it, and if I ever sold it, I'd sell it back to him. That deal would not be extended to anybody else he doesn't already know.)
Now I see ADMs are coming down. I think I saw 2 here on RL in the last couple weeks in the $20k range. That starts to change my opinion and enthusiasm for the deal. Especially since, to feel comfortable doing it - I'd trade in both my Spyder and my Macan (which I also love) and would go find a little Honda CRV or something to daily. The value is starting to evaporate to me... in a way, I kinda am at "peak garage" status haha.
Local friend of mine owns a 4RS (and a regular Spyder... and two DeMan GT4's). He let me spend a few hours with the RS a few weeks ago, as after talking to him about my dilemma - even HE couldn't really give me a clear answer. Once I got used to the RS... my initial concerns seemed confirmed. 9000rpm = awesome, although it does not seem to have the midrange grunt the standard 4.0 has. The PDK is an amazing piece of tech. Lighting fast shifts. WOT upshifts, the way it cracks them off... and the instant downshifts... amazing. Addicting. BUT... just driving around town? It's an automatic. Pull away from a stop sign and it's in 4th gear before I clear the intersection. If I drove around in "manual mode" that... helped... I suppose? But then I just felt like a poser, like when I see your usual "Infiniti G37 bro" driving his automatic like a manual.
I think I'm just gonna stick with my regular Spyder. It's not that I think the RS "isn't worth it" - I think the RS is a KILLER car. It's more that I think the "regular" Spyder is just SO GOOD. I think the regular one is undervalued compared to the RS. I could argue the RS is "better" but not $60k+ "better" than the base Spyder. In the end it just felt like the same car, but with a slightly different engine and an automatic.
Am I weird?
I currently have a 718 Spyder. Actually my 2nd one (long story). Love it to death - between this one and my first one I've put 40k miles on them. Most of the good options, including the manual trans. Added a Soul muffler to it for a little bit of sound, nice set of wheels for a little upgrade in the looks department. GT pedigree, gooder GT4 suspension (so I can put an actual functional alignment on it for autocross use), etc. I enjoy cruising around town with it, autocrossing it, taking it into the mountains... it's just the perfect car.
Then the SRS came out. More aggressive looks, GT3 motor, RS pedigree... but... PDK. What a bummer IMO. I was still interested but figured I'd never get an alloc.
Then my dealer buddy called me. Known him for years - my car buying relationship (11? purchases and easily another 15 referrals that were actual sales) over the years turned into an actual friendship... nowadays almost all of our conversations have nothing to do with cars. But he said he was told that PCNA might be sending him an unexpected, extra SRS alloc - and he'd put my name on it if I wanted it. I immediately sent him a build code. Not super thrilled about PDK but it's an MSRP deal and I figured, worst case, I sell it back to him in a year, get all my money back and then some, and go find another pleb 718 Spyder. (Note at the time of his phone call, usual ADMs on these were $50k+)
(Before you go asking "What dealer?!?"... he's doing MSRP because of (a) aformentioned relationship and (b) he knows I'd buy it to drive it, not flip it, and if I ever sold it, I'd sell it back to him. That deal would not be extended to anybody else he doesn't already know.)
Now I see ADMs are coming down. I think I saw 2 here on RL in the last couple weeks in the $20k range. That starts to change my opinion and enthusiasm for the deal. Especially since, to feel comfortable doing it - I'd trade in both my Spyder and my Macan (which I also love) and would go find a little Honda CRV or something to daily. The value is starting to evaporate to me... in a way, I kinda am at "peak garage" status haha.
Local friend of mine owns a 4RS (and a regular Spyder... and two DeMan GT4's). He let me spend a few hours with the RS a few weeks ago, as after talking to him about my dilemma - even HE couldn't really give me a clear answer. Once I got used to the RS... my initial concerns seemed confirmed. 9000rpm = awesome, although it does not seem to have the midrange grunt the standard 4.0 has. The PDK is an amazing piece of tech. Lighting fast shifts. WOT upshifts, the way it cracks them off... and the instant downshifts... amazing. Addicting. BUT... just driving around town? It's an automatic. Pull away from a stop sign and it's in 4th gear before I clear the intersection. If I drove around in "manual mode" that... helped... I suppose? But then I just felt like a poser, like when I see your usual "Infiniti G37 bro" driving his automatic like a manual.
I think I'm just gonna stick with my regular Spyder. It's not that I think the RS "isn't worth it" - I think the RS is a KILLER car. It's more that I think the "regular" Spyder is just SO GOOD. I think the regular one is undervalued compared to the RS. I could argue the RS is "better" but not $60k+ "better" than the base Spyder. In the end it just felt like the same car, but with a slightly different engine and an automatic.
Am I weird?
The reason I quoted you as opposed to just replying to this thread was... have we met, I have been to Georgia, and I feel the exact same way!
I turned down not one but two opportunities to order a SRS, and like you the PDK was just too big a hurdle to overcome, I love the GT3 engine, the aggressive looks and packaging of the SRS, but after any real time in a PDK car they all felt like automatics, kinda sucked the spirit of driving right out of me.
I too am sticking with my Spyder MT, and the Macan S!
09-13-2024 | 02:20 AM
#26
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 171
From: Hollywood, Los Angeles
I don't care what type of car it is, Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani, as soon as I look into the window of a sports car and see that it isn't a manual, I lose my chubby like I jumped in an ice cold pool.
To me the excitement of a sports car has always been associated with a manual gear box. Anything else is nice. Excellent even. But for somebody else.
To me the excitement of a sports car has always been associated with a manual gear box. Anything else is nice. Excellent even. But for somebody else.
The following 6 users liked this post by B-Line:
fasteddie99 (09-13-2024),
Hummus (09-13-2024),
Larry Cable (09-13-2024),
MOGI (09-17-2024),
theEnd (09-13-2024),
and 1 others liked this post.
09-13-2024 | 04:14 AM
#29
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 29
Likes: 13
From: Austin, TX
Ha! I was in your exact position not too long ago. Loved everything about the RS, can easily afford it, and have an allocation via friend of a friend, but then drove 6MT Spyder and said no thanks to the RS. To me it's such a raw purist sports car and it's just SO MUCH FUN that I cannot imagine ever having a PDK on it. I'm never selling mine, unless it's for a fresher one. I think you're making the right decision. Manuals are so rare right now, and who knows how much longer we'll have them. Enjoy it while you can before we're all forced into those batteries on wheels that'll be controlled by voice only.
The following users liked this post:
Larry Cable (09-13-2024)
