rickdm

Just as a data point, at the last two Maverick region DE's I walked the grid for each session and looked at each of the student 991 and 981 cars to see the ratio of manual to PDK. Student attendance in these events is 150 per event. In two weekends I found one manual transmission, and that was my SA in his CS. Assuming repeat students, I have to guess the ratio is about 90 to 1. I know on the GT4 forum I am preaching to the choir, but if you want a manual you'd better get it now.

GTgears

It was tongue in cheek but I was dead serious. I was recently car shopping and I was considering base Caymans and Boxsters. Not S cars. Not GTS cars. Not the GT4 or a Spyder. Just a plain jane used 2.7l 987. I've got air cooled hot rods for when I want to pretend that I am Steve McQueen.

vantage

The only reason I ever learned to heel-toe properly is because I've had a sports car for the last 10 years that wasn't offered in paddles. I think a lot of people do not enjoy driving manual because the lack of proficiency gets in the way of enjoyment and when the paddles do it so well, why bother to learn? There are plenty of people that can drive a manual well that still prefer PDK, I just think proficiency scares off a lot of people.

BGB Motorsports

That's just it. The reason that Driver's Ed grids are overfilled is because of the PDK and the intimidation relief it provides. These people are scared to be floundering around concentrating on heel toe. When they stick up for PDK and play the "it's faster card" when manual purists ridicule them, it's just a defense mechanism. I've owned manuals and have preferred manuls my entire life but we wouldn't have half of the new customers we have had if PDK wasn't available. It's a total preference thing based on the level of driver involvement. Manual enthusiasts want more involvement whereas newbie track folks want less because they are just trying to catch up for years of lost time and have more info to disseminate; the rest of us have been blipping our way through intersections and back roads and still prefer to be more involved.

PDK is the reason a lot of non-traditional Porsche folks have purchased cars to start the DE thing and it's solely because it's just easier.

mgerber

Awesome and I know you were not kidding. We are in alignment. The car I (unfortunately) have to trade for the GT4 to make space in the garage is the blue one in the Avatar. Everyone thought i was nuts when I ordered it new. Base manual 2.7 981 with only two options - the sport suspension and PTV. It was almost as fun as the 81 SC!

The other gentleman missed the entire point of my response to your post. Huge manual fan for my street cars and will likely never sell the hotrod 993. Was really hoping for PDK in the GT4 and #1 on the GT4RS list just in case we see that option.

orthojoe

I don't think fear of driving a manual is the reason people don't do DE's. It has to do with fear of damage, fear of devaluation, fear of looking slow, or fear of wife...

neanicu

Speaking of DEs,one's mind must always stronger than his ***** be. Master Yoda said that. For real!

GTgears

Another reason to have something older and more disposable in the garage.

Maverick1

Wow, this is probably the reason I bought my 2005 base Boxster and held on to it for the past 10 years.
It's just a really fun, great handling car, and has been extremely reliable.

997rs4.0

This is what is always comes down to! For some that is a 918 or 991RS! And for me somerhing less expensive.

BGB Motorsports

I agree but the point I failed to to make is that DE attendance is on the rise big time and while things like the economy and price to play vs club racing are the biggest drivers, I think PDK makes the jump from the ledge less terrifying.

P.S. Joe, your avatar is hilarious. I hope to meet you So Cal and Nor Cal folks some day.

TRAKCAR

He'll be in Orlando late Feb, pretty close to BGB headquarters :-)
He needs a Rental Cayman for a day to sample Sebring.

otisdog

Get your *** out to Rennsport Reunion...I'll buy the beer.

QShip

Personally, I attribute my desire for a manual transmission, NA Porsche as a sign I'm getting old enough to appreciate nostalgia in my middle years.

When I was younger it was all about going the fastest with the best tech, now I want to ensure that I have a non-electric, non-forced-induction car that I can heel-toe the rest of my lift. It's definitely not about having the fastest car I can afford.

Phokaioglaukos

Hoping for a GT4RS because I cannot abide a car steering for me as the GT3/GT3RS does.

Cannot wait for my late Sept GT4 delivery! Nothing but ABS (and PASM). Never should have sold the 996GT3.