nzskater

The thing that interests me is the strength/life expectancy of PDK. Is there enough data on PDK cars driven hard to indicate how long we can expect a gearbox to last?

Macca

Have to confess if a choice had have been offered for the 991 GT3 I would have chosen manual. Possibly the wrong choice but being a traditionalist I still favour changing my own gears on a weekend only type car. Having no choice opened me up to learning about PDK-S. Wonderful tech, had taken me until this trip (3500km) to really appreciate PDK for what it is and how it can enhance the experience along with handle the increasingly congested NZ roads with ease. I have to say I'm more and more sold on it every KM I drive!

As for longegivity hard to say. Guys on RL have been tracking them hard since 2009 with good reliability. Overheating was a risk but I think addressed in the GT3 adequately. You can't really lunch the box or engine with PDK so that's a positive. OneUS fellow on the board with a modded 991S had done over 120 full track days on his and suspects by now with a manual he would have been up for a box rebuild and possibly top end on motor.

Time will tell. Looks good so far....

John McM

A while since we talked Honda. Just took the R to Pickapart. Result. One top radiator hose and two exhaust hangers for BB. $14

Garry D

I may be bias , but I love changing gears , I know it's slower around the track , but there's no farms at stake , it's a bit like having as much fun in a 356 at 90 kms or much higher speed in a latter car .

I understand the PDK cars , but I'm a lazy driver , if I had one car for work and fun the 991 GT3 would
be that car .

kiwi 911

I haven't driven PDK on the track so can't comment.

But on the road and even in the twisties - I'd choose PDK. You just leave the car in sport plus and the rev's remain at about 4K and near peak torque at all times........

The other issue is Porsche doesn't really make a proper manual box anymore. The 7spd box is a modified PDK box and the reason it has 7 gears. Those in the know think it's sh*t.

I understand the new GTS has an entirely new box and is probably the car to buy if you want manual. If you wanted to tuck away a future investment - I reckon a manual C2 GTS coupe is probably a good bet for 20 years time. it's the fastest and sportiest manual you can buy.

I also think the manual preference will only last about 20-30 years, as all new cars from now will only have 2 peddles. There will be generations of people who will never drive a manual and won't understand the logic of the experience??

John McM

As an investment, the majority of the cars we will ever own, Turbo 3.6 included, are very poor.

In 2014 dollars the Turbo 3.6 cost $477,000 new in NZ. It is now worth 1/3rd of that. That ignores the opportunity and other holding costs.

Even in my own case the sale price in 2014 approximates the buying power my money had in 2001. In other words the opportunity costs and other costs are all real losses.

In all but the rarest of cars the best value proposition is to drive it. To be honest my biggest regret with the Turbo 3.6 is that I didn't sell it with another 50,000 km on the odometer. My overseas work took away the opportunity to drive it when it was just another ageing car.

Macca

Well said. I agree entirely and have argued this line before with my old 993RS which shows similar metrics.

Cars should be bought to drive and enjoy not hope that they will appreciate.

Wont be making that mistake with the new GT3. It has near on 10,000 km on it as I put it way today, will have another 6000km on it before the end of 2015 (2nd year anniversary) and I suspect 2016 will be a big year with SITT+NITT - so by 3rd year will be nearing 30k km. Essentially that is full time use for me as Im only around 10-12 weeks a year! As Garry said, the car is excellent for covering all bases and I cant see the 993 getting more than 3K km a year whilst the GT3 is in the stable....

John McM

3,000km may be a gross over estimation for the 993. I'm not selling Herman but the R is flavour of the month in my garage and I can see Herman struggling for drive time. I need to get the ECU mapping finished otherwise usage will be zero.

Macca

I agree its optimistic. The only use I have planned for the car in the next 12 months is May 3 day Targa (2000km) and perhaps a couple of Sunday drives. Without the Targa my annual would be looking more like 1000km I suspect. I cant help myself when it comes to jumping for the keys. Perhaps it will wear off or maybe Im getting old and soft LOL!

kiwi 911

Cars are like property and move in cycles. I think cars (like property) are towards the top end of this cycle having enjoyed sustained growth since around 2010. We are entering the 5th year of this cycle and I think the party (at least in NZ) is starting to run out of alcohol.

If you owned a long hood, or a 964/993 RS 5 years ago, your capital growth would have been around 20% p/a. Maybe John was smart in cashing out now. Maybe he left a few bucks on the table, but the car couldn't continue to appreciate at $50K p/a.

kiwi 911

I don't fancy my chances of getting my car back anytime soon (March??)

Given your car is just around the corner - happy to run it for you Macca

Macca

if it helps here is the relativity with NZ 993RS pricing (limited data but I have a known sale in each date range):

10 years ago 145K (mine to JP)
8 years ago 170K (mine JP to TH)
5 years ago 180K (red ex gilbertson)
4 years ago 175K (yellow ex HK)
Today = 250-300K (dependant on provenance and condition, mileage etc).

Most of the growth in the last 3-4 years I think? 145K 10 years ago becomes 2x+ that today with prudent investment....?

John McM

This weekend is a big declutter at our house. Donna has 1,000 DVDs ex Jakarta that she never watches. Kept because some day she might watch them, yet watching movies now is usually an Apple TV event. The day to day behaviour shows they are surplus to requirements but it's still hard to let them go. I think some of us are the same with our cars. If you have no better use for the money, leave the status quo, otherwise make the decision to sell and move on.

mikey_audiogeek

How long before a separate license class is created for manual vehicles? Can't be too far away...

shiraz

How long before a separate license class is created for manual vehicles? Can't be too far away...

Conversely, my wife learned only manual ( in a Trabant) & had to adapt to an auto tranny!