9INE97

Haha😂

Wayne Smith

Going back to an old joke about prisoners shouting out numbers in the dining hall, maybe just assign a number. Anytime 23 shows up that's code for ...

Only sissy men drive automatics and to be a real Porsche (driven by real men) it must have a manual and if it doesn't have a manual then it is impossible to have a real driving experience.

I defer to Groove to refine the words to his preference.

sandwedge

Sorry. Should have been more precise. Ferrari stopped offering manuals 2016 based on this story: https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...anual-gearbox/

And looks like Lambo did it 2015: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...ions-are-dead/

So sure....no problem getting a manual Ferrari or Lambo 1979 or earlier and up to around 2015 and 2016.

sandwedge

I assume your mother's car is a PDK. My -09 C4S PDK shifted very smoothly in normal mode. Just like a regular automatic. In sport and especially sport + mode though, different story. Some would call it rough, jerky or whatever. I would call it microsecond thrilling shifts in sport + mode and I don't think you can get that kind of performance while expecting automatic like smoothness.

I think a lot of PDK drivers are just used to leaving it in auto mode so they never get to experience sport + since it's not suitable or practical for anything but track use, holding the gears to redline in auto mode. Me, I'm always in sport + manual once the oil is up to temperature. I don't find it boring at all but to each their own.

One more thing that makes a difference imo. I use the gear lever to shift in manual mode rather than the paddles that for my taste have too long of a throw. The gear lever feels quicker, snappier or whatever you want to call it. Porsche could learn something from Benz here. Great feel to the Benz paddles. Just a tiny little click instead of the clunk like feel of the Porsche paddles.

ohmyggg

Porsche fixed it in later years. My 2018 Macan GTS has much snappier paddles with a shorter throw and better tactile feel. Night and day difference compared to my 2009 steering wheel, although I still prefer the paddles on my ’09 Sport Design wheel about 1000fold more than my previous original wheel with the button shifters.

jbkusa

I like to be in Sport mode 95% if time… after warm up. Normal mode(economy mode ) for highway.

jbkusa

I prefer manual over PDK but my PDK has been flawless. (2009 C4S with 81.5k miles)
I am out of warranty now so there is always that little fear in the back of my head that if it breaks… it might be a dramatic event for my wallet! Preventive maintenance is my insurance now. Gotta pay to play!

PDK shifts feel like a F1 car. So fast and no lag… just keeps pulling! I drove my friends new Mercedes C43 and the shift were slightly slower and I feel the exhaust note is over compensating for lack of power. Nice car though.

Patrick E

Amazing how much they’re in demand now. Huge price differences in manual versions of cars that offered both (e.g. F430, Murcielago).

Petza914

The demand comes from the secondary market. The new car buyer doesn't want a manual, but the used car buyer does. This drastically reduced the supply of manual cars in the used market and drives the prices through the roof with $20-$30k difference on otherwise comparable models (like a 997TT coupe).

63mercedes

I guess we can add your not only buying the car but the previous owner/owners statement. I'm sure one that has been rode hard and put up wet with track use could be a bigger problem vs. one that was cared for with proper maintenance. I can swing a 3k clutch job tomorrow, a 14-20k pdk replacement forces a sale for me. There's failures out of no where but I'm sure most of them are from being beating on it day in and day out.

Buy what you like, you have about 40 solid answers to the question lol.

groovzilla

I guess I should have elaborated more - Only sissy men drive PDK and Boxsters. Other PDK & Boxster examples purchased for wives, daughters, mothers & grandma's.
Can we Sticky this?

groovzilla

My 308 was previously owned by Doctor in San Diego who treated it like royalty.
And Sandwedge not sure if you know or care but most of the 1970's and 1980's Ferrari's have been repainted. Original Lacquer paint checked badly and most owners took to highest end shops for strip & repaint.

qikqbn

Oh boy Groovzilla... now your taking it too far... I LOVE my 6spd manual Boxster S. The Boxster is awesome, so much so that I am on to my 2nd one now. My 911 C4S is amaze *****, but the Boxster is so fun to drive in the canyons and along the beach here in sunny CA. Now a pdk Boxster is whole other story and I may have to agree with you. " Can we sticky this?"

keperkey

Thanks for all of the helpful replies and even the less than helpful quips. I will not automatically exclude a 2009 but I am also reconsidering my reasons for a PDK.

groovzilla

Boxster joke was from years ago. Some member made fun of Boxster calling it woman's car.
I had a MT Boxster I bought in LA years ago. Like a little go kart.