OK, this is NOT a PDK v MT thread. I have been discussing trading my '13 981S for a 991 C4S for a variety of reasons not pertinent to the topic. I can't afford to have both, or I would.
I just came back from driving a 991C4S MT cab (interesting car, the order locked when "no one was looking" and it has NO (ZERO!) options. Black/black/black (All it has on the window sticker is the color) and a loaded up PDK coupe.
That manual transmission seemed "klunky" compared to my 981 6 speed. It was almost unpleasant (if a 991 could ever be unpleasant). The Boxster has the smoothest gearbox I have ever used, but the 7 speed MT seemed primitive by comparison. Anyone who has also driven both care to chime in? Please.
The PDK was very impressive but really not what I want in a fun car. It also had the MFSW and I knew I didn't like those little clicker things, as I had driven those before.
Please let me have some other opinions.
Anyone looking for a zero option C4S cab in triple black, it's at Byers...

 

The manual transmission is a bit different feeling than any I have ever driven. It's taken a bit of getting used to. I probably have 1,500 miles on the car ( driven by me ) it came with about 14,000 miles. I am still figuring it out.

With that being said, it's the best shifting transmission I have ever driven. It's super smooth, extremely precise and everything you'd expect from a Porsche 911. They got it right! But again, it's a bit different feeling. Takes some getting used to. I also think it has to do with the way the car feels in general. The feelings are tied together.

I came from a 997.2 6 speed that was a solid, raw noisy and vibrating machine! Lots of fun and when you got the revs up, you knew it!!!

The 991 is very different. It's a lot less raw, less. Vibration, less noise...and the transmission is a part of that.

Spend more time driving the 991 stick and really see and feel the gestalt of it all. Then decide...

Good luck!

Steve

 

Being a multiple S2000 former owner, I'm always comparing manual transmissions to the best ever built. It's like I'm always comparing my athletic self to the 22 year-old version of me. I really, really like my 7MT in my 991. It does have a more mechanical feel than the 981. Personally, I much prefer it to a "smoother" option like on a BMW.

 

Mine took about 3000 miles to lose the clunk.
Now it's quite smooth..

 

I've been driving my C2 with 7MT for over 30K miles now, and have also had a 981 Boxster with 6MT as a loaner. Both feel pretty balky when new but with some miles the shifter itself will loosen up. I wouldn't say the 7MT is the best I've ever had, but it's certainly good. Gear ratios are good, covering both intown drudgery, high speed fun, and freeway cruising. It gets smoother with more miles, don't let a 10 mile test drive on a new car form your opinion.

 

Same here! At about 3000 miles it really smoothed out. Now it's like butter.

 

Thanks, guys. Their test drive loop is completely inadequate, IMO, but nothing I can do about that. The break in process comments are interesting, as my 981 felt the same shifting from 12 miles on the odometer on the way home from the dealer as it did today at 4600 miles.
Your comments make it sound less hopeless than it seemed but my wife thought it was unacceptable in a $100K+ car, especially since the Boxster is so well done.
I wanted to switch to a 9-10 month car instead of a 5-6 month one, but now I'm not sure.

 

Other than getting used to the 6-5 downshift, 5 can be awkward to hit at first, I love it.

 

Complete PDK fan here. But the 7 speed once you and it are broken in is superb. You will have no regrets.

 

The man speaks the truth...

 

My wife says "join the modern era" and I'm afraid I'll be bored in a few months and pining for the (fabulous) 981S I took a bath on.
Tough call.

 

So you want the manual and she wants the PDK. Tough choice. Get the PDK and you'll always be questioning yourself. Get the manual and you'll be happy. Best of luck on this one!

 

She doesn't care - she just noticed that the 1 year old $82K car seemed a lot smoother than the brand new $117k car and was puzzled, as was I.
As nice as the PDK is, I just don't think I can do it. If we lived in an area with significant traffic, it would be a no brainer. But we don't. So, I'm either keeping the 981 another season or getting a manual 991 if the numbers aren't too punishing.
Thanks to all!

 

Avatar of the year!
J

 

I've only had my new 991 for about 190 miles, so I can't speak to the break-in changes quite yet. I was going to buy a 981 but after my last test drive, the Mrs. really didn't care for the ride nor the droning exhaust. So we went out in a 991S and she said "meh" and I said "I really like this better" so I ordered one. And she said "what is it with you and Porsches?" but that's for another thread...

OK, so that said, I've had a 964, 993, 996, 997 and a whole bunch of BMWs and recently an Audi S5. The Audi tranny was surprisingly good, but the clutch sucked. Now I've got this new 991 with the extra top gear, and the first six ratios are close, reminding me a bit of a Z06, and it feels like more of a short shifter than the older 911s. And the clutch take-up is very short, which is taking some getting used to. All things being equal, which they're not, I prefered the Cayman in this regard, I will admit.

But the more I drive it, the more I'm getting used to the clutch and (to me) the slightly weird positioning of fourth and sixth in the gate. It does have more of a mechanical feel, as some described, which I would call more of a direct connection feel than I got in early editions of the car.

I think another test drive is in order for you. You will be taking a financial bath on the 981S, no question about that, so it's certainly something that you should take your time with. That stripper black car is going to be a hard sell for them, so I doubt that they'll mind if you put another 50 miles on it if there's a good chance that you may buy it.

Best of luck. Let us know what you decide!