oadams

All:

I am interested in the impression of anyone that owned a manual 997/991 then bought an automatic or vise versa. I owned a 997.1 C2S with a manual transmission (loved it) until two years ago when I sold it to buy a family car for my daughter (at 16 she thought she was Mario Andretti). Every time I drove another car I was "ghost clutching" my left foot (I drove the 997 as a partial daily driver). Now I am back in the market and looking at 991.2 models. There are a lot of used 991,2s but a limited selection of manuals. My guess is there are not that many people that can even drive a manual car anymore. Nonetheless, maybe I am missing something and the automatic is really fun? Thank you for your thoughts.

Papa Fittig

This is a topic which has been discussed over and over again.
I had 3 911 CSs with Manual 6 speed (997) and 7 speed (991) and also currently drive 991 with PDK. These are two completely different transmissions. You can enjoy and love both, or you can love one and don't care about the other. Go test drive a PDK with someone who knows how to drive it properly. Then make your choice. IMO the engine choice (an NA in 991.1 and a turbo in 991.2 or a Turbo in a Turbo/TurboS) makes a lot of difference on transmission to go for too. Proper test drive is your friend

BlueNorther

I won't enter this debate, but jeez, do you see the connection in your two sentences, in bold? I taught both my kids to drive a manual transmission (not that they had a choice), they took their drivers test at age 15 on a manual, and they are glad they have that skill set. And I'm glad they have to use both hands and feet and concentrate when they drive.

Papa Fittig

One of my kids is driving a stick. I certainly do too. IMO every car enthusiast must have a stick in their garage

oadams

Thank you for the quick reply. And yes, I do plan to connect with a few folks to work through the PKD.

More specifically however, as you are someone who has considerable experience with both (manual and automatic), is the visceral and physical experience and connectively you had with the manual similar to and/or comparable with the automatic? Clearly, there are pros and cons, but are you as connected with the auto as you were with the manual? Thanks.

spraguedawley

I am a 45 yo male used to driving manual transmission sports cars of the 90s era. I recently switched from a 2015 turbo s (PDK obviously) to a 2016 4GTS with manual. The predominant reason for switching was because I missed the connection to the car and visceral experience that the PDK lacked. The PDK was an amazing transmission, but in the end it was an automatic and I wanted a manual and am much happier with this car. As a side note, I truly prefer the NA engine of the 991.1 to the turbo of the 991.2, but I do miss the crazy torque of the proper turbo s.

chuckbdc

To me, at modern performance levels (braking, cornering, accelerating), there is more to be "connected with" than you can shake a stick at- if you have the ability that is. I have enjoyed a variety of Porsche's manual transmissions, with different characteristics, over 45 years of ownership (914, 911S, 911 SC, Boxster S), and I can honestly say that I am as connected to my 991.1 C2S PDK every bit as much as any of them. Would I go for another Porsche manual? A GT3 Touring or Boxster Spider 6 speed could make the case.

Bob Z.

Drive them both and decide for yourself, and if you had searched this forum you will find everyone's opinion, except yours. But since you asked, anyone can put their right foot on the gas and go but you cannot say the same thing if a 3rd pedal is added.

aircooledpurist

I own a 993 C2 with a manual 6 speed and love it to death.

My daily driver is a 2017 BMW M3 also with a 6 speed manual. I love it. (Wickedly fast and handles like it is on rails while being turbine smooth).

The pdk will be faster, but you are giving up a lot of connection with your car. The 993 is an amazing drive.... half the horsepower, but you don't miss it one bit. Get the manual.

Rich_Jenkins

It’s not about what anyone thinks but you. Both choices are right. Both are wrong.

It’s ultimately your decision.















pfft. Who are we kidding. Driving an Automatic is like kissing your sister. It ain’t going to go anywhere. Me, I drive a stick. (*)



* Kidding!!

oadams

Thank you all. I appreciate your personal and thoughtful insights.

Penn4S

I never owned an automatic vehicle as my own since I was 16 years old which is a hundred years ago.
All of my Pcars which included 4 TT 996 and 997 vintage were MT.
I am now in my 1st real PDK TTS. After a ton of anxiety I love it. I could never get from this car what the ZpDK foes flawlessly. I'm sold.

Bauckman

I just waited 6 months to order my 911 with 7 spd and other options. I evaluated MT vs PDK and the manual transmission won out. It might be a different story if I was planning to drive regularly in traffic. I have owned two previous PDK transmission 911 as well.

gripshifter

I had a 997 in stick, decided to go for the 991.1S coupe in PDK due it being faster, etc. etc. It just wasn't the same, and luckily I was able to justify trading that car in for my current car, a 991.1 Targa 4S in stick, and I'm really glad I did. For a car like a 911, I much prefer a stick shift.

Bud Taylor

I currently own a 5, 6 and a 7 speed. To me it offers several advantages. I feel more control over the vehicle. If the clutch goes out its 2k vs 20k for a pdk. The pdk is no doubt faster but my S is already way more car than I am driver. If I could afford to track a porsche or Ferrari I would probably have PDK. Think of it like this, why do manufacturers have flappy paddles to emulate a manual ? The computer is always faster, yet they still hang these silly paddles off the steering wheel to involve the driver. I would never use these to emulate shifting gears as it would be to me like faking it.