sharkster

Hi Jack,I'm pretty stoked about the car thus far. I also like a lot of the updates made. I think I was in the same camp as most. Doubting the PDK along with the rest of the new updates. I don't look at this car as a comparable to the RS as it's still chalk vs cheese. The RS' motor is still in my mind the most fun you can have in a 911. The new DI certainly seems like it has good power and perhaps close to that of a 996GT3. The response is fantastic with the DI and it's almost like the good old days of a "cable" throttle body. The pedal feels more connected and less electronic if you will. I think the 997MKII with PDK is a much "easier" car to drive daily and live with in traffic. The PDK and software/shift patterns are _especially_ impressive in one area that I still think matters- in traffic and on hills. It feels so smooth and so well done that you think you're in an automatic. Friday rush hour traffic was my first drive in it and I can say that with PDK there's now no need for the Tiptronic. It's done. Over with and time to move on. What you also get with PDK is a more involving car, more sophisticated and generally faster set up than you used to with a Tip. Anyone can jump in and drive it anytime and under any circumstance. Traffic, freeway, curvy roads et. al. This is Porsche's first attempt and they scored. Combine it with a 7-speed exceptionally geared tranny you get a very quick car in terms of straight line speed. It goes like stink as the magazines have said.

Out of the box experience thus far has gone like this. Styling, I like it. The new color. I really like it. The stock wheels? A bit nicer. Led lights- cool. Transmission, practical and still fun but not RS 6speed. Suspension, the best yet for a "non" GT 911. I love the different settings with the sport suspension. They really do work well and change the ride charachteristics. In 'normal' soft mode I can't see the wife-o-meter even registering on the richter-scale. Creature comforts are the best yet. The NAV is finally on par with a modern Toyota and functional. BlueTooth, ipod yadda yadda. Stereo is at least as good as something found in a honda and not a 1979 Blaupunkt 930. It's a 911 that's more comfortable, easy to drive and in my mind more appealing car to the masses.

The bad? The buttons. I don't know what Hilda and Herman were thinking but when I want to change gears I really, really don't want to feel like I'm pushing a Vending machine's coin return trying to get my 25 cents back All I can think is that they are trying to appeal to the former tiptronic owners by saying "Hey look the wheel is very similar to what came before". Paddles people. Paddles.

So am I confident that the next gen GT3 with PDK will be a hit? I'm a lot more confident than I was a few days ago. I personally would still pick a 6speed in a car like a GT3 or RS present/future because to me nothing feels as connected, visceral and more perfect for that high-revving hard-edged car. But will the new PDK equipped car be faster? Absolutely it will.

On the Cayman I actually spent some time driving ours back from SoCal to NorCal yesterday and I can only imagine what a PDK Cayman with a 3.8 in it could be Our Cayman is pretty different to stock and you'll see what the press thinks of it shortly In the mean-time check:

http://www.sharkwerks.com/products.php?pid=185

sharkster

Hey Chris yes it is. The Porsche Racing Green touched a nerve with my love of all things from home and British Racing Green Suckered me right in!

Quick=Just getting started

sharkster

The PDK tranny uses the wet clutches so.... 1Gunner, you have a very good eye:P No 3rd radiator required which is great news for track guys because I'm sure once we get a gauge on engine temps at the track there will at least be an option for a 3rd radiator.

sharkster

The launch color really does look neat when you see it in person. It's not something I'd really thought of on a 911 before but I've loved BRG for years and years on Jags, Astons etc...

sharkster

Thanks corey. Seemed like a nice combo overall to me- especially in person.

You bet on the logo. We already have the other green

sharkster

It was like that for me driving on Friday. I was pretty stoked by the end of the drive and excited that Porsche got it right on the first attempt.

It's a hard choice but a much better choice than in 2008 where there was only one choice in my mind- the 6speed

sharkster

My pleasure and check one out in person. Maybe in the green or the new blue.... You actually see the lines a lot more than just in the pix. I have to say for guys that like 993s, this new 911 is heading _more_ in that direction with its lines/charachter than any previous 997 or 996.

sharkster

Hi Gene I'm not at the shop today but drop dan@sharkwerks.com an Email and he can maybe snag one for us. It looks like a shark fin

stubenhocker

Love that MEAN GREEN!

Thanks for the pics! I look forward to your progress on this project.

JFScheck

If not for my Club Coupe - this "Kermit Green S" would be my baby!!!

lgascoig

Sharkster, you guys should look at carrying one of the F1 style paddle wheels once a solution leader emerges. One has already been announced at the ridiculous price of $3920 MSRP but I am pretty sure there will be customers for you in the bay area if the price is right who will also want to pay for labor instead of doing it themselves (me for example when my car comes in, heh).

Great info on the car btw.

mickfluff

Yikes, maybe they look better in person, but pretty bland to me. They could have tossed on 13' spinners and they would have been better then the lobsters. Just saying, better then the lobby's isn't all that great. We are talking about a near 100K car here, north of that depending on how optioned etc.... just wish (like the turbo) the car looked the part..... I have not one once "Shark" will do magic here, not questioning that. Just making a personal observation that I think this car is going to "under-stated" in the looks dept....compared to others in it's class both performance and $ speaking in its standard stock trim. (not talking turbo, gt2 and 3, aero package and so forth)

mickfluff

Looks a little like "jeep green" to me in some of the darker pics..... my jeep below.....that is not a dig just a comment.... I think the green for jags and astons as you mentioned is where it belongs. On a porsche, not sure, would love to see in person. You have it, I do not and say it looks nice so sure it does. Again thanks for posting the comments and pics....

pbarch1

Congrates !! look beautiful. I really, Really want to hear what you have to say about the PDK after a few K

sharkster

Thanks and you re right at 3920 that's a bit on the um... stiff side;(? I'll look into it!