Felt a big difference between a MT and PDK 2014 C2S
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 253
From: The Villages, FL
Wow. My wife has a 2013 S4 with DCT and I really like it for the type of car it is. We always, always both drive it in sport mode, then it's lots of fun. I like the blips it does and it always seems ready to play. I think the Porsche PDK is better, but only by a bit. In the S4 I'm spoilt by the low-mid range torque. I'm sure once the 991 revs a bit more it's quicker, but for regular street driving the S4 can dive into a gap or overtake much faster and is much more stealthy than a 991. In the S4 I never really feel the need to use the paddles (likely because of the torque), but in the 991, I find myself using the paddles a lot, even in sport mode, just to keep the revs up above 3,000.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 31
From: Scottsdale & Stuttgart
'57 Yugo - almost a Fiat
'63 Trabant - plastic lightweight
'70 Skoda - scary fast
'76 DAF - fastest in reverse
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 488
From: Ny
I'm clearly impaired by my miserable life driving underpowered cars through the mud in underdeveloped socialistic countries. You have opened my eyes to the only truth. '57 Yugo - almost a Fiat '63 Trabant - plastic lightweight '70 Skoda - scary fast '76 DAF - fastest in reverse
The comment wasn't intended to you personally,but you did use some of those " arguments "...
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 399
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From: ca
Actually the ratios are not the same. (although only 3rd and 7th are different ratios)
3rd and 4th are closer together in the manual which make that shift seem sweeter to me. (I had a 2013 C2S PDK Coupe and now have a 2013 C4S manual cabrio)
1st 3.91 (3.91) 3.91 (3.91)
2nd 2.29 (2.29) 2.29 (2.29)
3rd 1.55 (1.65) 1.55 (1.65)
4th 1.30 (1.30) 1.30 (1.30)
5th 1.08 (1.08) 1.08 (1.08)
6th 0.88 (0.88) 0.88 (0.88)
7th 0.71 (0.62) 0.71 (0.62)
Reverse 3.55 (3.55) 3.55 (3.55)
Final Drive Ratio 3.44:1 (3.44:1) 3.44:1 (3.44:1)
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
I would agree. You pick it, do not let either side convince you one is better than the other. I drove manual cars for 20 years before I drove my first automatic ... I hated it. Then I got my 3'rd BMW M3 (E46) with SMG, yes it's was rough, jerky and brutal ... but I was sold. Then I got an M3 E92 DCT-M, now that's the first priority form me picking a car ... must ... have ... DCG/DCT/DSG/PDK/... speed, acceleration, fuel economy, track work, canyon carving, traffic, city, hill starts, commuting ... it does all brilliantly. Then again I'm more into sporty/luxury than rough/racing ... but that's why I have an MC 
(which is really more a DCT than manual ... as I don't use the clutch). If you are NOTsure I would say go PDK, if you are sure (then you already know, and you will pick manual or pdk).
(which is really more a DCT than manual ... as I don't use the clutch). If you are NOTsure I would say go PDK, if you are sure (then you already know, and you will pick manual or pdk).
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 886
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From: North East
before i bought my c2s i was determined to get a manual after suffering with the slush box in an AMG, drove the manual and pdk back to back and to me at least the pdk was the way to go. its a shame porsche won't continue to give us the option.
Addict
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,131
Likes: 21
From: Boston
Over the past 24 years, I've owned and daily driven two 911SCs, three 3.2 Carreras, one 930 (twice), seven 993s, two 996s, one 997, and one Boxster ... all manuals. The only ones I didn't love were the 996s. Driven them in snow, in rain, in horrible Boston traffic. (Try that with a 4-speed 930.) I can count on one hand the months I was without a Porsche in my garage.
Now i have a 991 with a PDK. Shifts like lightning. Works for me.
Hell, even Ferrari gave up on the manuals.
Now i have a 991 with a PDK. Shifts like lightning. Works for me.
Hell, even Ferrari gave up on the manuals.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 11
It's like I have said repeatedly. The majority of those that have given PDK a chance love it. Majority----not all. Those that purchased a MT without giving PDK a chance (meaning more than a test drive) love their MT. They have a good reason to love their MT. It's fun and a great MT. It's just that the PDK makes me a better/faster/safer driver. When I ordered my first PDK on my 997.2 I agonized over the decision. How could I not get a MT 911? My salesman had driven the PDK at their training session and convinced me. No looking back. Nothing wrong with MT but for me and my needs as a DD it's PDK all the way. I'm sure the 5K cost is a deterrent as well. Some people like the nostalgia of a MT(which I'll bet will be all but gone in 10 years), but I am crazy about the latest technology and that is what ultimately made me choose the PDK. I have a friend with a 2008 GT2 that I love (MT). He just recently bought a totally restored 1968 Camaro. Cool to look at and brings back memories but that old technology doesn't excite me at all. To each their own.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2013
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I not only test drove the PDK, but went to the racetrack and drove 2 PDK equipped cars before purchasing my MT.
I felt a big difference between the transmissions. With the PDK I was wondering who took the gearshift and was completely bored. Going from changing gears with a real MT to flipping paddles felt like going from playing an instrument to a computerized toy version. I was thinking to myself "is it really fun for people to have the car shift for them or to have floppy paddles?" Why are you buying a "drivers car" if you don't want to drive?
Taking away the MT is a major problem and is almost like someone replacing the pedals and steering wheel with a videogame controller. I grew up with videogames and like them, but don't want my car to feel like one.
Do you really get more satisfaction over having 2/10th of a sec 0-60 on a theoretical spec sheet than the fun of driving the car yourself? When I was mashing the gas pedal and watching the tachometer change as the car or paddles shifted sequentially I was bored out of my mind and didn't think it was fun at all. Are you in constant drag races, trying to set world record times or in situations where that extra 2/10 of a sec are going to make your life better?
Actually revving the engine and using all 3 pedals is enjoyable. I'm not some kind of Vulcan or computer that only cares about efficiency. The other thing is I skip gears upshifting and downshifting all the time. With the PDK you can't do that.
If you want the $4k PDK so your wife can drive the car, go ahead, people should have choices. Don't take away the MT on the turbo and other high end sports cars for people like me who actually care about having fun driving the car.
I felt a big difference between the transmissions. With the PDK I was wondering who took the gearshift and was completely bored. Going from changing gears with a real MT to flipping paddles felt like going from playing an instrument to a computerized toy version. I was thinking to myself "is it really fun for people to have the car shift for them or to have floppy paddles?" Why are you buying a "drivers car" if you don't want to drive?
Taking away the MT is a major problem and is almost like someone replacing the pedals and steering wheel with a videogame controller. I grew up with videogames and like them, but don't want my car to feel like one.
Do you really get more satisfaction over having 2/10th of a sec 0-60 on a theoretical spec sheet than the fun of driving the car yourself? When I was mashing the gas pedal and watching the tachometer change as the car or paddles shifted sequentially I was bored out of my mind and didn't think it was fun at all. Are you in constant drag races, trying to set world record times or in situations where that extra 2/10 of a sec are going to make your life better?
Actually revving the engine and using all 3 pedals is enjoyable. I'm not some kind of Vulcan or computer that only cares about efficiency. The other thing is I skip gears upshifting and downshifting all the time. With the PDK you can't do that.
If you want the $4k PDK so your wife can drive the car, go ahead, people should have choices. Don't take away the MT on the turbo and other high end sports cars for people like me who actually care about having fun driving the car.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 11
It always happens. You have taken personal offense that I prefer PDK. Enjoy your MT. I'm not a vulcan and I don't drag race. However, I do sit in traffic a lot and din't enjoy a clutch anymore. I was giving the OP my perspective so lighten up.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 674
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From: canada
even after reading through all the "versus" threads...i still don't know what i want. sometimes i want to be lazy and sometimes i don't. i feel if you get PDK and you're on the fence about the type of transmission, then you need to get SC as well to maximize the "latest and greatest" technology decision. its spending an additional $7000 for something you're not quite sure of. my local dealer doesn't have any MT so i've only ever driven the PDK. i think i need to find a way to get my hands on one. my neighbor just picked up a 997.1 C2S that is a MT. does anyone know if they are comparable (997 vs 991)?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 45
From: Europe
... GET THE PDK !
If you feel lazy, put it in normal mode and auto mode and just coast along in full comfort like you would in any other automatic.
If you feel like ripping through the streets or track, put it in sports mode and manual mode to use the paddles or stick and feel the car come to life and talk to you.
PDK is best of both worlds.
MT can never be that lazy and comfortable on one hand. MT can never be that fast, performant and aggressive on the other hand.
And don't let the MT guys trick you with the old and untrue adage of "involvement". Your involvement and connection with the car stems largely from proper seating position, steering feel and so on. MT actually has less involvement because you get disconnected from the car when declutching !
I respect people getting a MT if they like to row the gears themselves, enjoy their heel & toe, that's fine, that's a perfectly good reason to get one. But please don't let them pull the involvement card on you because that's just utter crap !
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,941
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Some guys like automatics.
Some guys prefer manuals.
Personally, I prefer a manual and would never buy a sporting car with an automatic transmission, but that's just my preference. It doesn't need to be yours.
To each his own and get what works best for you
Some guys prefer manuals.
Personally, I prefer a manual and would never buy a sporting car with an automatic transmission, but that's just my preference. It doesn't need to be yours.
To each his own and get what works best for you
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 11
Absolutely. Get whats best for YOU. We give our reasons for one or the other. Both are good in their own way. Ultimately your choice. I always loved MT on clear roads on the weekend but hated it in traffic so use as a DD was important for me....maybe not for you. I drive 75% of the time in traffic.