Catharpin

To be fair, the PDK I rented was a base model as that was what I was looking to buy. I would definitely reevaluate if I was stepping up to a higher power level and try it out again. I still think the base and lower powered cars go better with a manual, even if it is slower, but that's just my personal preference. For really HUGE power the MT has been dead for a long long time.

Scorponok

As others have said already, it’s a personal decision but for me - I will stick with a manual until I can no longer do so. The PDK is an amazing piece of engineering however.

I owned a 997 base in PDK and at first I loved it and then very quickly became bored. It’s not for me.

The only exception would be tracking - mostly to protect the car from myself! I suppose another exception would be a GTx car with the PDK-S transmission, which isn’t available on other models. The “boring” aspect (for me) would be offset by a high revving engine. But I still would prefer a manual ultimately.

Big Swole

It's only money. Buy one of each!!





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AdamSanta85

I don't regret it. I have only had manual sports cars prior. PDK is a great transmission, and can still be very rewarding, particularly in sport/sport+. Also sometimes it's nice to just put it in drive and relax, especially in traffic. Next car could be a manual or a PDK depending on the particular car/deal etc, that is how it worked out with the current. It was the right car, color, options, I left the transmission up to fate.

It also bothered me that the "better" cars got a 6 speed, and the lesser cars got a dorky 7 speed.

Bob Z.

If Porsche stopped making manuals by next sports car will be the new rear wheel drive Huracan.

AdamSanta85

Make sure you have one on the front so PDK owners can read it.

shammerman

Love PDK. Works great everywhere! I typically use the paddles in manual Sport mode as my daily driving shifting option. On more spirited country drives (with Porsche Club) I at times go Sport+, still in manual mode. On long highway trips and sometimes in city driving I let PDK **** itself in the Sport mode. The non-sport auto mode really does not get any use with me at all. I don't think I would ever buy a manual Porsche again. Now, I am fortunate to have also the Z8 so when I feel like three pedaling, I just jump into it and funny as it seems as I so much like PDK, I could not imagine it being an automatic so an Alpina (even if I could afford one, which I can't) would never be in my garage.

OldNGray

Like others have said it’s really a personal decision. Sometimes its not what you want to have but what you’ll drive.
You said your retired so your health or physical condition may play a roll in your decision.
I had a 2016 Corvette Z06 it was a 7 speed manual. I bought the manual because all of my previous sport cars were manual plus my wife has been driving manuals since her 1st BMW in 1984.
I have knee issues though. 3 surgeries on both knees and I knew when I bought the Corvette I was pressing my luck but the auto in the 2016 Corvette was just awful IMO.
So I went with manual. Over the next couple of years I found more and more that A) either my wife was driving me in it or B) I just didn’t feel like driving it.
Now with the PDK I drive the car it gets used more. Thats the point right. Get what will get driven.

rockrdude

I love the PDK, it's the best of both worlds really. You do lose some engagement because obviously you're not using more of your body to shift.

Positives

- My girlfriend can drive it
- I can let my friends try it out without the fear of them grinding gears or burning the clutch
- I have the option of putting it in automatic and sipping a coffee in traffic
- it is faster
- it is slightly better on gas consumption
- it IS fun to shift with paddles, I get to feel a bit like Shumi for a minute or two. I wish they were a bit bigger though

Negatives

- slightly less engaging. Although in a tight car like the 911 with the noise and the vibration, it's not as much as you'd think.
- it happens that I fantasize about having a second 911 like a T with a manual, but I also fantasize about living in Monaco on a yacht and dating a 28 year old **** star. Then I wake up and realize I actually like my life the way it is :-). the second 911 could still happen tho.

my recommendation: go try one. renting it for a weekend would be even better. Make sure you drive a 911 PDK that is similar to the one you want. For all it's worth I don't regret it.

Jack F

Only solution is to have both a manual and PDK car.

garfunkle

Here is some slightly different perspective.

PDK isn't just about shifting fast. It is also about always being in the right gear at the right rev range at the right time. This is the nirvana of getting the most out of [especially an NA engine] your 911. In the mountains on a technical drive it is perfect. I love it and it is exciting. When I am on a drive with PCA runs the PDK equalizes my pedestrian 911 to the GT cars and more experienced drivers. I can focus on my lines and braking and I always have power; including plentiful toque, because I'm in the right gear at the right rev range.

Where the PDK isn't as exciting is when you just want to have fun running to the store or really anything shy of technical spirited or track driving. For this rowing the gears in my 987 is way more fun. For mundane commuting a manual is definitely more engaging and "fun."

I don't regret my PDK choice and am confident it was the right one for me. But I'm also glad I have the option.

Keadog

I did. Cost me a lot of money to get out of it. Never again. Oddly, I’m perfectly happy driving my S550 4matic and do use the paddle shifters on it to downshift. Of course, it’s a bloated (but pretty fast) floating sofa.

Nin Din Din

I’ve had a Boxster S and a 997S, both manual. Both were a joy to drive. I now have two 991s. Both are PDK and I haven’t looked back. There’s no bad choice here.


As others have said, for the best PDK involvement, keep it in manual mode and shift yourself. If that’s not enough, pump your left leg each time you grab a gear.

2010panny4S

Had PDK on my 2010 Panamera 4S..... didn't use much of the manual as even on sport mode or sport plus switching gears in was "NO REPLACEMENT" for 6-7 spd manual. I felt like it was FAKE manual shifting without a real left foot/clutch. I don't drive my car in the race track everytime so there is no use to the (100 Milliseconds ) shaved on shifting

Wife the whole time had a Cayman R 6-spd... can you imagine my jealousy every time I had to drive her car......... with that in mind, I put the boot to the Panny and got a Manual 7spd 991.1S, haven't looked back since. I grin every day I drive it.

Klepper

I had PDK on my 2012 Cayman R. I got bored of it very quickly. I tried again on a 2018 718 GTS, and got bored quickly as well. My GT4 is 6MT and my new to me 911T is a 7MT. I just love rowing my own gears!

I know someone else said with PDK it is always in the right gear at the right rev range at the right time, but to me that's the fun part of a manual. You get to hone your skills and try to be in the right gear at the right time, not have a computer do that for you. It's that engagement and challenge that I truly love!