I get to run my 987.2 Boxster S locally in SS against two well driven GT3s and an Elise. On the bright side, I do at least have some local competition, lol.

 

I believe I have what can be considered a Unicorn Cayman:
2012 Cayman R, PDK, LSD, sport bucket, no A/C, no radio, SC+ software/buttons added without the dash clock. Only options were PDK, PSE, and wheel with the paddles.

When in SC+ Manual, the PDK does not upshift and readily bounces off the rev limiter -- I've done this many times in autox and hillclimbs. To the best of my recollection, I was 100% WOT.

BTW, I've found the mini-launch to be much more effective as well the full launch results in far too much wheel spin, though it is quite fun!

Cheers,
DJM

 

Mind if I resurrect this thread?

I am an experienced autocrosser but am new to PDK in my 991.1 GTS. I am really struggling to learn its secrets, and in particular control the throttle to avoid unwanted downshifts.

I can't speak to Caymans and Boxsters, but in the 991.1 cars, kickdown appears to work in manual or auto, Sport of Sport +...in other words...always. Unexpected 1st gear kickdown with this much power is not usually welcome.

Feeling that throttle switch in the heat of battle has proven very difficult. There were two places at my most recent event where it was killing me. One was a slowish 2nd gear corner where in a manual car, I would have stayed in 2nd. PDK did not downshift to 1st under braking (that was OK by me), but as soon as I got the car turned and jumped on the gas, it downshifted to first which really upset the car.

The second place was entering a tight slalom at the start. I wanted to manually short shift to 2nd, but as soon as I got back on the gas, it kicked down to 1st. According to the owners manuals, the 991.2 won't kick down in manual, which explains why a driver at the event in a 991.2 GTS had no idea what I was talking about.

My right foot is going to need to unlearn 35 years of poor throttle management.

In any event, I just need more seat time and practice to manage the throttle, but it really was a bad choice on Porsche's part to allow kickdown in manual, a situation that they appear to have addressed in the 991.2.

 

See if you can install the Sport-Chrono software from a 991.2 on your car?

 

Perhaps my issues with 1st gear throttle control are over stated compared to this:


:-)

 

He was simply getting some heat into his rear tires on a cool day. I do it just like that first run at each autocross!

 

I hear sports chrono fixes this. My wife's 981 Boxster S with PDK doesn't have sport chrono and does that 1st gear drop. I hate when it happens from a time perspective but sure is fun holding onto power slides out of turns!

 

I can't speak for 981, but 987 in Sport+ and M will hold the gear you selected. In all other modes, kick-down will shift into a more aggressive map and downshift for you.