Thicc911Turbo

Since getting my license way back in 1983 I've only ever owned manuals. Back in those days -- and for much of the ensuing years -- cars with automatics were notably slower than manuals and the transmissions were often only 3- or 4-speeds (the Powerglide in the family 1966 Chevelle had but two forward speeds...), were mushier, were power and efficiency saps, slower to kick down and generally dim-witted. The pejorative "slushbox" was truly deserved. Of course the enthusiast was going to choose the more engaging manual, especially for a smaller, sporty car. I never really entertained the idea of driving a "slushbox" car unless I was grudgingly ferrying my father-in-law's Buick Regal for him.

A lot has changed since then; most torque-converter autos now have more forward speeds than what manuals are still available, are able to snick off rapid, mush-free shifts and are faster in most measures of acceleration. Lots of gears means close-ratios and so the engine spends more time near its power peak when demanded.

The advent of viable dual-clutch transmissions was a game changer, sort of the best of both worlds and then some.

I still enjoy shifting for myself for the driver engagement but the 911's PDK is just so much better at so many aspects than I could muster slinging a lever; for example, nearly instantaneous responsiveness to the paddles and completing a shift about as fast as I can get via the quick-shifter on my Tuono 1100... The combination of the 3.8L TT engine the PDK is nigh on perfect.

2fcknfst

I have a 996tt for just that need....

Foosh

I'd say the Turbo S is the first car I'd rather have a PDK in. I've had many large displacement NA-engine V8s where I still preferred the manual, but the big turbos spool the engine to redline so damned fast that on a WOT launch in manual mode, it's all you can do to pull the paddle quick enough to avoid hitting the rev-limiter. If it were a manual, I'd have to be up-shifting much sooner.

Dennis C

I agree with you. My 997 turbo had a manual transmission and it was not always ideal. That car reached redline in first gear in less than 1 second when launching the car. I couldn’t shift fast enough.

Kyrosnick

Came from a 1120rwhp corvette with manual. Don't miss it AT ALL. Rowing gears and dealing with a clutch once you get past 500hp just sucks.

Foosh

Yep, I think 500HP, and over 400 ft/lbs of torque is probably the ceiling.

worf928

Depends upon how many gears are in the box, the gear ratios, max rpm etc.

With only 5 forward speeds ~500 hp and 400+ ft-lbs doesn’t make a manual completely uselss.

With a super-short 1st gear, then yup.

K996

I didnt have an automatic transmission in a vehicle until I was almost 40yrs old and I still keep a manual car around for the fun of it, but I agree that the times I"ve been in the tts, in sport plus and manually paddle shifting.... yeah I missed the shift, then anticipated too early, etc. I could probably get used to it but no real reason. It's very hard to keep up in the lower gears and letting it shift itself is the way to go unless I'm just cruising around having fun with it.

Also noticed when watching on some of those Auto Glory videos when there's a turbo vs a tesla, there is just zero visible speed drop off when the porsche is shifting. It's just continuously on boost and pulling, pretty wild after growing up with torque converter autos and <200hp manuals.

Later in life I've learned that variety is also great, get both.

B Russ

Last one I had was a 2011 Nissan 350z, went to a 2014 Panamera 4s PDK and said no more shifting for me. 4 PDKs later and have no desire for 3 peddles

2fcknfst

That was exactly the problem with the 996 six speed, adding the gt2 RS first through third gears and an LSD fixed that. 75lb clutch, 580hp, maybe 550ft/lbs now, rwd, could not ever imagine being without it.

For winter use, a 2004 STI with 460/400 with a 3.9 final drive makes for short gearing, and an excellent city car with three LSD diffs, lighter clutch, also would have a hard time not having it.

The pdk is far and away the best auto box I've ever driven, but, it takes away a lot of driver involvement as it always nails the shift, with the exception of downhill bends, where I am able to confuse it.

Nailing the up/downshift on a manual is one of the most satisfying things that I have ever experienced.

2swoosh

cheapest way to get your manual desires with redline galore is on an S2K compared to a fragile and expensive GT-3

2fcknfst

Don't think I would consider a GT3 as 'fragile'... an S2000 is not as visceral as say a B18C5R.

2swoosh

my ex S2k during my crazy younger days InlinePro motor with BW 400 hairdryer 925 whp (2800 lbs) not sure of anything visceral than this in my lifetime, now just contended with my 2010 Cayman S 4.0

2fcknfst

Oh, neat!

I get my ridiculous power from diesels....

Penn4S

Always loved the S2K.