Now I am a tried and true Manual guy. It's in my blood by this time having owned a manual car for the past 43 years. I have had automatics and I have "manual auto-paddles (I had a Stradale for 4 years). I have noticed that since the advent and popularity of the PDK, F-1 (Ferrari style) and all the other clutch-less transmissions, the automakers have been able to sell more cars to folks who never would have considered them in the past.
I know that PDK is faster than manual but it seems to me that many drivers who have this type of transmission tend to use it more and more paddleless i.e. in auto.
I will not go into the argument about how a manual keeps the driver more involved in the driving process (which I believe). But it seems to me that something is amiss when I see a 70+ female getting into the driver's seat of a new Panamera. You know that before PDK, this lady would be driving her S550 Mercedes.
It use to be that the manual transmission separated the real car people from the recreational drivers. I define recreational drivers as those who consider the Mercedes SL550 a "sports car". Gone are the days when there were cars that most people would be too intimidated to drive because they did not feel they had the appropriate skill level to manage. I miss those days. They left when transmissions like PDK made it possible for granny to get into a Lambo, Porsche, etc. and drive it like a Chevy.
Just a few ramblings from a getting older manual tranny guy...

 

I haven't gotten my 911 yet but my 8-speed Bentley GTC is always in manual mode, even though it isn't a double clutch transmission. I'm quite certain that I'll do the same with my PDK.

 

"Just a few ramblings from a getting older manual tranny guy..."

Wow, you managed to insult both women and automatic drivers at the same time. Nice. I drive my PDK in manual when I feel like driving manual. Who cares if some people don't shift. It's your car and you can drive it however you'd like (within the law), and decide how you'd like to enjoy it. Sheesh.

 

City
85% Manual Sport
14% Automatic Sport
1% Automatic

Sport + is too much around town Auto or Manual

Highway
85% Automatic
15% Automatic Sport

 

Prior to installing PSE (after a year of ownership) I rarely used manual mode. Even in auto mode, PDK offers instant downshifts with a blip or push of the throttle, or the flick of a finger (no not that kind), and if the car is driven hard, it stays in gear "hustle" until its been driven more sedately.

Since PSE, I use manual mode and hold or get gears much more frequently because the sound is so good. Adds enormous pleasure to sporty driving.

Of course, when really pushing and late braking when corners are involved, I leave it in auto mode because it downshifts and upshifts to optimize RPMs pretty much as I would while I optimize car placement.

 

The driving experience is completely different between auto mode and manual mode in normal driving conditions. Here is what I mean, most people who drive manual, they like the fact that THEY can control when the car shifts gears, so even during "normal" driving, they may shift at slightly higher RPMs where in auto mode the car will constantly shift to a higher gear to save on gas consumption and etc.

Being a manual guy, personally I can't stand auto mode, the car feels boring and under powered. I have it in manual most of the time except when I hit traffic or it's a lot of stop and go in the city.

I think you will find most manual guys do drive the car in manual.

 

I drive in manual mode about 98% of the time. Love using the real paddles (not the standard buttons) and am also now experimenting using the "stick" shift also.

 

Every time I read the term "manual guy" I can't help laughing about it. Not that I want to insult anyone, but In my opinion that is something typically American.
A manual transmission still is something "exotic" in the U.S. and I get the idea that it's not suited for everyone over there. When you've always driven an automatic car, I can understand that it can be a bit difficult to operate a manual, especially in a car that has above average power.
Over here in Europe, 98% of the people learn to drive a manual when they're 18 and get their driving license. That makes every male a "manual guy" and every female a "manual chick" I guess.

Not that I personally don't like manuals.... I love them. But only when I want to drive on inspiring roads and only if I'm in the mood for it. I don't have my 991 yet, but I guess that, for me, it's gonna be 50-50 between "manual" and automatic mode. As a daily driver the car will be doing a lot of commuting in traffic or in cities. There I prefer definitely the automatic mode as it is just more relaxing to drive.

Suzy991

 

The reason Porsche is switching to all PDK cars is because the PDK works as advertised. Cars had manual transmissions due to mechanical necessity. If Henry Ford had invented the PDK back in 1910, you wouldn't know what a manual car even is. Besides even the new 991 manual cars aren't truly a manual, they have layers of tech laid over them. That's just the way things are, and change can suck if you really liked the old way.

Also, I drive in sports+ auto mode most of the time. If I want to shift though, I just press the paddle.

 

I find PDK great in auto - especially sport. Sure I use the manual, but much less than I did in my 2013 DCT M3. It seems to know what gear to be in.

Sport Plus is a wildcat in auto on the street....way too aggressive for me.

Speaking of manual transmissions, the Porsche units feel like mushy rubber
compared to the Acura/Honda NSX - yes I've driven the current & owned
a 996 prior - no comparison.

 

I think the fundamental point I was trying to make (obviously not well) was missed by most.
That is, with the advent of PDK,F-1, etc. transmission, it has made it much easier to drive any car for anyone. Years ago, there was a car culture which started in the late 50's early 60's when automatic transmissions became popular in the US. Sure, when my mother learned to drive in 1931, she learned on a 3 speed, column mounted stick with a clutch. I remember in 1950, my parents had a Kaiser Frasier that had "free wheeling" in 2nd and 3rd. That meant you had to clutch to get into 1st, but you did not have to clutch to shift into 2nd and 3rd. After the popularity of auto trannies, most main stream cars had them and anyone could get and use them. The manual tranny cars, which usually were the sports cars, where usually bought by driving enthusiasts. And yes Suzy, although it was mostly men in the US, there were a number of women enthusiasts too!
I think if you look at the stats, most Porsches and Ferrari's that were owned in the 70's-90's where owned by men. (last stats I remember seeing, it was about 9 to 1 or more).
My point now is, I am not saying that the current PDK isn't a phenomenal transmission,. What I am saying is that with these advancements, car companies have opened up to a greater number of potential buyers because their cars are drivable even for those with little enthusiatists interest. That allows that 70+ women, and yes men too, to buy a Porsche, Ferrari, whatever instead of that big luxo auto cruiser. This opened up market has allowed these companies to appeal to a much wider audience of drivers.
Now in some cases this was a godsend. In the case of Porsche and the 911 series, if it wasn't for the Cayenne and the Panamera,etc, who knows what would have been in the cards for the marque. On the other hand, when you see a Ferrari or a Porsche on the road, you will not necessarily find an "enthusiast" driving that car. In many cases, far from it.

(BTW-definition of an enthusiast= gearhead to a degree, track rat as much as possible, loves form and function .
Check out this thread-the responses covers it all: http://sportscarforums.com/f7/whats-...ast-12503.html)

P.S. My comments here are not to insult anyone. Everyone has a right to buy, use any car they want in any way they want to. Just my .02.

 

I'm no feminist, but this still just sounds like the ramblings of a grumpy old man who doesn't like women-folk driving his manly cars, and wants them to go back to the old days when it was a men's club. Or more to the point, you're mad that any old normal person can operate a Porsche. I just don't see any way this discussion doesn't just end with this being an exclusionist rant.

 

'Fraid I agree with the Mayor. More power to everyone who wants to drive a Porsche.

 

I guess your mindset is such that it is difficult for you to understand my point. I have to say that my wife drives a Z4 M coupe speed manual. She will only drive manual. I have found, after taking numerous driving courses at Skip Barber, Bondurant, and others that women enthusiasts are usually as good if not better then the their male counterparts. It seems that they focus on being smooth on the track and not fast. In short order, by being smooth, it makes them much faster than many of the men. The remarks made in my post are observational, nothing more. As I said, my post is not to insult anyone , but to just open up my observations to others and get their opinion. Your opinion is duly noted and appreciated for what it is.

 

Before the PDK there wasn't a Panamera... Allthough being a Porsche, the Panamera is a luxury car, not a sportscar. All those cars like the Panamera, CLS, 6-series Gran Coupe are cars that give a sportier design to luxurious cars like there were and are Merc S, BMW 7-series etc. Pesonally I think it's just a new trend in design rather than elder people getting into sportier cars. They didn't have that choice before cars like that were introduced.

But I get your point somehow. There are lots of people driving a 911 because they have the money to do so and will never drive the car like its meant to be, which wasn't happening as much when there were only manuals. On the other hand does this help sportscar brands to survive. If they only had to depend on the "true enthusiasts", they probably wouldn't sell enough cars to survive and that would be a shame.

This is only an issue in countries where the automatic transmission is more common than a manual I think. It's not the transmission that intimidates people... it's the speed and acceleration that they feel they can't handle. It has nothing to do with the transmission. But that's just my personal opinion.

Suzy991