Wife unsisted on auto, so I set my scope on that...... people were bashing the 997.1 for the tiptronic and ims, and a new era was taking life in the form of PDK failures.

So I set my goals on 997.1 with tiptronic. After test driving 3 of them, it was confirmed what the guys here say... The tip is not a good match for the 911, all 3 fealth as if I was pulling/dragging something... actually, I was pulling a trailer with my jeep yesterday and can confirm the feeling... pulling a trailer!!!

So, I started considering manuals... 997.2 are way too rare (at the time around here anyway) and the few manual 997.2 were a good 15-20k more than the equivalent 997.1.

So this brought me to my last brainstorming.... Do I wanna risk a low percentage possible IMS failure and save 15-20K or buy a PDK and avoid the possible failure.

But then, while searching, the new PDK failure "wave" was becoming a real thing, and within no time, I realized that the PDK failure was much more important than the ims failure on 2006-2008 models (a survey here, comes confirm what I thought I was discovering).

So, I ended up with a 6 speed manual 997.1 and must say I am happy with my choice. In heavy traffic however, an auto would make it easier to just follow along without shifting endlessly.

 

If a (potential) PDK replacement is about $14k how is that more costly than an initial extra cost $15-20k manual?

And please do not spread the notion of a 'wave' of PDK failures, which is not reality. Everything fails, even a manual transmission (and they do fail).

 

A MT costs 15 - 20K more than a similarly equipped PDK? I'd like to see the data to support that assertion. In my area there are very few MT cars for sale, but the few I see are advertised at a slightly lower price than PDK cars. I believe that PDK is one of the few options that doesn't depreciate drastically. Most options seem to add little to nothing to the resale price.

 

997.2 C4S manual here

 

I say both of "mine", which they are from a maintenance perspective, but my wife drives the pink pearl one. I usually only drive it if I'm troubleshooting an issue or taking it for tires or an alignment.

 

Your logic is faulty. You can get a drive train warranty in the unlikely event you will have a problem with a PDK. You WILL replace the clutch on a manual transmission car for far more than a drive train warranty costs.

 

'10 C2 Manual

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/46577037@N08/, on Flickr

 

997.1 MT ... then again, 3 of the 4 cars I have are manual transmission. The wifey car is automatic, but she can drive a mean stick shifter too

 

997.2 4s Targa pdk

 

997.1 w/ MT

 

I originally wanted a manual....but finally decided that since I have a manual on my 69S, I would go with a PDK on my 997.2

 

Maybe Porsche will be the exception. Lamborghini's CEO is on record saying that orders for manuals had dropped to near zero % of the total number of cars ordered while the number that keeps coming up for Porsche is 80/20 PDK/manual. That's still a pretty healthy demand for manuals. And didn't Porsche bring back the manual option for the GT3 after only offering GT3's with PDK in the first 991 edition?

 

I sure hope so. I do recall hearing a Porsche exec saying that they will continue to offer manuals as long as the demand is there and so far it is. Driving a manual is easier than ever now too, cause the newer Porsches have that hill hold function and auto rev matching which negates the need to heel and toe. I just think that eventually, it will all go away (manual and PDK), cause electric will take over one day.

It’s interesting that on this poll, it looks like we’re about even between 991.2 manual vs PDK, and if you compare all 997, it’s about 2 to 1 in favor of manual (albeit maybe biased cause of the disdain for the Tiptronic).

 

How did that work out for you? You glad you got the PDK? Had you driven a 997.2 manual prior to deciding on the PDK?

 

Correct.