Switch from 6MT to PDK without regrets?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 2,093
From: Southern California
Switch from 6MT to PDK without regrets?
Got an 06 C2S Cab with 6 speed MT that I absolutely love. It’s in near perfect shape and truly a joy as a weekend driver; most of the time that is. The exception is stop and go Los Angeles freeway traffic. I see brake lights ahead and that joy turns to dread. Particularly since the knucklehead in front of me is constantly slamming on breaks to keep a huge buffer in front of him so he can play with his smart phone and not watch the road. If they ever restart capital punishment here it should be for this.
I’d like to drive the car to work sometimes but the commute is one hour each way in that same stop and go traffic. That clutching and shifting which is so much fun on the canyon roads turns into a huge PITA. By the time I get to work it feels like my left leg has been on a weight machine.
On the plus side my wife can’t drive a stick so I don’t have to share.
Despite that I’m considering a switch to a 997.2 with PDK. Looking at something around 2011-12, perhaps a GTS. Plus I prefer the updated styling and PCM, and would like to put IMS bearing worries behind me.
I’m greedy and want the best of both worlds. Am I delusional? Is there no turning back? Will I be constantly pushing an imaginary clutch with a poignant sense of despair? Anyone made the switch to PDK without regrets?
I’d like to drive the car to work sometimes but the commute is one hour each way in that same stop and go traffic. That clutching and shifting which is so much fun on the canyon roads turns into a huge PITA. By the time I get to work it feels like my left leg has been on a weight machine.
On the plus side my wife can’t drive a stick so I don’t have to share.
Despite that I’m considering a switch to a 997.2 with PDK. Looking at something around 2011-12, perhaps a GTS. Plus I prefer the updated styling and PCM, and would like to put IMS bearing worries behind me.
I’m greedy and want the best of both worlds. Am I delusional? Is there no turning back? Will I be constantly pushing an imaginary clutch with a poignant sense of despair? Anyone made the switch to PDK without regrets?
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 25
From: San Diego, CA
This is one of those situations where you just can't have it all. The three pedal is more fun to canyon carve on the weekends and the PDK is better for the daily commute. What is your purpose for owning the car? Is it a weekend fun car or is it a daily driver commuter? You gotta sacrifice somewhere... unless you drive a PDK and find out you're a "PDK guy" and then I guess you can have it all. Maybe rent a PDK car for a weekend and see how you like it?
I have a 997.2 C2S manual in San Diego and while our traffic isn't as bad as LA rush hour is still not much fun. I just hang back and keep a constant speed in 1st or 2nd gear like truckers do in traffic jams. Makes for less clutching. I would not trade for a PDK. It's a "quality miles" vs "quantity miles" thing for me. I'd rather drive it less (i.e. rarely to work) and enjoy my manual on the weekends than own a PDK just so I can sit in traffic jams comfortably.
I have a 997.2 C2S manual in San Diego and while our traffic isn't as bad as LA rush hour is still not much fun. I just hang back and keep a constant speed in 1st or 2nd gear like truckers do in traffic jams. Makes for less clutching. I would not trade for a PDK. It's a "quality miles" vs "quantity miles" thing for me. I'd rather drive it less (i.e. rarely to work) and enjoy my manual on the weekends than own a PDK just so I can sit in traffic jams comfortably.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 2,093
From: Southern California
Thanks for the comments guys, good feedback. I like the idea of trying out a rental for few days.
The car is a weekend car but with LA traffic even weekends usually turn into stop and go. We're in Palos Verdes which has fun windy roads but leaving PV to go anywhere else means fighting traffic on the 405 San Diego Freeway. The canyon roads of Malibu or East Orange County are 40 miles through that traffic.
I'm going to need to make a decision one way or the other here soon enough. My daily driver is a 2007 Saab 9-3 V6 twin turbo (AT) which is fun to drive. It's reliable now but is getting up there in the miles. I can spring for a new car and keep the paid off 2006 C2S. Or I can hold off on the new car and upgrade my 911 to something like a late 997.2 GTS. But if I do that I may need to drive the 911 to work for a while if the Saab goes down for repairs. The former is the practical thing to do but I want to do the latter. No way I can get my wife to let me do both.
The car is a weekend car but with LA traffic even weekends usually turn into stop and go. We're in Palos Verdes which has fun windy roads but leaving PV to go anywhere else means fighting traffic on the 405 San Diego Freeway. The canyon roads of Malibu or East Orange County are 40 miles through that traffic.
I'm going to need to make a decision one way or the other here soon enough. My daily driver is a 2007 Saab 9-3 V6 twin turbo (AT) which is fun to drive. It's reliable now but is getting up there in the miles. I can spring for a new car and keep the paid off 2006 C2S. Or I can hold off on the new car and upgrade my 911 to something like a late 997.2 GTS. But if I do that I may need to drive the 911 to work for a while if the Saab goes down for repairs. The former is the practical thing to do but I want to do the latter. No way I can get my wife to let me do both.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8,586
Likes: 1,123
From: Florida
On my second 997 PDK now after a 6sp -06 C4S. No regrets. Going by their comments, a lot of people who trash talk the PDK do so for two reasons:
1. They bought or drove a PDK without sport chrono which I agree is a depressing experience.
2. They don't know how to fully utilize the PDK to get the most out of it. They stay in auto mode at all times. Auto in normal mode is just as miserable as not having sport chrono. Some with sport chrono who venture into manual mode seem hesitant to do so in sport and forget about sport +. Manual mode/sport + is a blast. Spend all my time there as soon as the oil is warmed up.
1. They bought or drove a PDK without sport chrono which I agree is a depressing experience.
2. They don't know how to fully utilize the PDK to get the most out of it. They stay in auto mode at all times. Auto in normal mode is just as miserable as not having sport chrono. Some with sport chrono who venture into manual mode seem hesitant to do so in sport and forget about sport +. Manual mode/sport + is a blast. Spend all my time there as soon as the oil is warmed up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 172
From: Menomonee Falls, WI.
My BMW has a 6 speed manual, which I enjoy. But it sacrifices too much performance and control. I will never go back. Driving the back roads with both hands on the wheel and your left foot on the dead pedal beats the hell out of all the shifting activity.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 234
From: ABQ NM
I switched from a dual clutch to a manual and had regrets.
Then I switched from a manual to a dual clutch and had no regrets.
I had a DSG (dual clutch) Audi TTS. Loved that car.. but it was gone and I thought I missed a manual. So when I got a TTRS right afterwards I got a manual. I didn't like the manual in that car, and felt the car was too quick for a manual to be good in it. I then switched to a 997 GTS with PDK. No regrets. For me, it suits the car and my use of the car. Has nothing to do with stop and go traffic.
Slower cars I prefer with a manual, quicker cars I prefer with a dual clutch.
Then I switched from a manual to a dual clutch and had no regrets.
I had a DSG (dual clutch) Audi TTS. Loved that car.. but it was gone and I thought I missed a manual. So when I got a TTRS right afterwards I got a manual. I didn't like the manual in that car, and felt the car was too quick for a manual to be good in it. I then switched to a 997 GTS with PDK. No regrets. For me, it suits the car and my use of the car. Has nothing to do with stop and go traffic.
Slower cars I prefer with a manual, quicker cars I prefer with a dual clutch.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 188
I own a sports car with a DCT and have four other cars with manual (ranging in HP from 200 to 500). The DCT car is still a blast to drive but it is very lightweight (1,000 lbs less than my C4S) and has a manual steering rack. The manual rack and light weight make the car quite lively already with tons of excitement so driving it is still an activity. I think my 4S is kinda at the edge of where a car is still exciting with a DCT... but I think it is clearly MORE exciting with a 6MT. I agree that if you are driving a PDK system you have to make sure it has sport chrono and you are setting to sport mode in order to make it comparable. Edge still goes to manual for me... for these kinda of cars. I daily drive a manual as well but thankfully dont deal with long lines of traffic too frequently or I would probably rather have a PDK in that situation.
If I was a track rat I also think PDK makes sense there too ... depending on how competitive you are.
Can’t really go wrong but make sure you get sport chrono...
If I was a track rat I also think PDK makes sense there too ... depending on how competitive you are.
Can’t really go wrong but make sure you get sport chrono...
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28,695
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From: Clemson, SC
There's no answer to this question. On the days you come up on traffic, you'll be like "I'm so glad I go the PDK" and on the days you're carving back roads by yourself, you'll miss the involvement of the manual transmission. Also keep in mind with the PDK there will be days when you now no longer have the choice as your wife is going to have taken your car. Do more squats and calf-raises at the gym to tone up that left leg for the traffic situation and keep the manual or get the PDK and enjoy the convenience and lightning quick shifting for a while until you get bored with it, but by then, you're wife won't let you go back so you'll be stuck.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 872
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From: South Eastern Canada
I totally share your dislike in bumper to bumper traffic with a stick. I am lucky enough to be in a 3 week's schedule that has me in such traffic only one week out of three. So on that week, I take the Q5 to avoid the never ending shifting.
However, you end your opening post with the mention of wanting to put ims worries behind you. Haven't you read on here that the PDK failures is much worst, or at least as bad as ims????? I think you need to search some more. Some might say that the polls on here are biased and/or don't reflect reality. Well, I know of 3 owners of 997.2 with PDK and 2 out of 3 failed and get this..... One of them failed twice. They were lucky enough to have a replacements by the dealer. The third guy never had a replacement but had to have adjustment made at the dealer due to hiccups like he called it.
So in the end, for reliability without a stick, the perfect car would be a 997.2 with a tiptronic transmission. However, the tip sucks in the 997. It feels like you are pulling something. And you have a choice of ims with reliable auto tranny, or no ims with unreliable auto tranny. But you can't have the best of both worlds.
However, you end your opening post with the mention of wanting to put ims worries behind you. Haven't you read on here that the PDK failures is much worst, or at least as bad as ims????? I think you need to search some more. Some might say that the polls on here are biased and/or don't reflect reality. Well, I know of 3 owners of 997.2 with PDK and 2 out of 3 failed and get this..... One of them failed twice. They were lucky enough to have a replacements by the dealer. The third guy never had a replacement but had to have adjustment made at the dealer due to hiccups like he called it.
So in the end, for reliability without a stick, the perfect car would be a 997.2 with a tiptronic transmission. However, the tip sucks in the 997. It feels like you are pulling something. And you have a choice of ims with reliable auto tranny, or no ims with unreliable auto tranny. But you can't have the best of both worlds.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 123
Likes: 41
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I feel your pain! Every once in a while I do drive my 997.2 from OC to my office in the South Bay and so glad I have PDK gearbox. I'd highly recommend switching to PDK car to ensure enjoyment and get the stress off that left leg. Make sure your 997.2 is equipped with Sports Chrono or have one installed by dealer. Its pretty much a required option for PDK, otherwise it will feel dull and unresponsive (especially coming out of manual Carrera).
The reality of heavy traffic congestion and increased density in major urban areas has taken the fun out of manual cars. I drive my Porsches so driveability is a must. One thing to consider is the new generation of P cars (718 GT4 and manual 992) that have auto rev-matching and no lift-shift that practically close the gap between manual and PDK. I see myself switching to a manual that has these features in the future but for now completely satisfied with my PDK.
The reality of heavy traffic congestion and increased density in major urban areas has taken the fun out of manual cars. I drive my Porsches so driveability is a must. One thing to consider is the new generation of P cars (718 GT4 and manual 992) that have auto rev-matching and no lift-shift that practically close the gap between manual and PDK. I see myself switching to a manual that has these features in the future but for now completely satisfied with my PDK.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 1,969
127K miles on my C4S PDK with no problems. From what I've seen, read, and heard the PDK is extremely reliable. As with any complex component things can fail. The PDK's Achilles' Heel is electronic. Keep your battery on good shape. I wouldn't stress beyond that.
I drive my PDK as if it were a MT. But that pesky thing about having only a bit of feeling in my left leg doesn't crop up as a problem anymore.
Re-read Sandwedge's words ... They ring true!!!
I drive my PDK as if it were a MT. But that pesky thing about having only a bit of feeling in my left leg doesn't crop up as a problem anymore.
Re-read Sandwedge's words ... They ring true!!!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 257
Likes: 67
From: Oklahoma
My first two new Porsches were manuals, my next two new Porsches were PDK as will be my 982 Spyder once Porsche adds that option. No regrets, PDK is superior to manual, faster, zero overrevs, zero possibility of a money shift. In manual mode PDK is like the best manual transmission you ever drove without the need to push in a clutch. Love paddle shifting.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 2,093
From: Southern California
Petza's comment about my wife taking the car actually scares me more than a PDK failure. Haha. Nah, she's great actually, I don't know how she puts up with this stuff.
Last edited by PV997; Sep 27, 2019 at 01:19 AM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 96
From: NJ
Although Porsche and VW make the best dual clutch transmissions on the market, in my opinion, these devices are not as trouble free as a manual transmission ( and require more service) or a traditional automatic. DCTs are superior in performance, particularly on the track, but they tend not to be a smooth in stop and go traffic but it should make driving in such traffic easier. I guess it come down to how much you drive in heavy traffic, how much it bothers you and how satisfied you are, overall, with your current car. Any replacement car can bring other unknown issues.
