Well this is the never ending debate. From my experience the 7spd MT has been a blast. Always puts a smile on my face. For traffic and track I say go with PDK. For everything else MT

 

This is the first time I have ever heard anyone state that MT has less involvement and control than a PDK.

Not being funny, but I suppose I really haven't driven enough PDK's to fully appreciate the aforementioned experience.
This is something that I sincerely intend to do, as the future will certainly only offer PDK as an option.

 

PDK, drove MT for years, now I have a PDK. I still do manual mode when I want to, just dont have a clutch, the PDK can be driven either way and I challenge ANYBODY to shift faster than a PDK.

PDK = Best of both worlds IMO

 

For you manual guys that have owned previous Porsches: How does the 7-speed manual compare to the previous generation manuals in terms of feel, notchiness, clutch engagement, etc?

 

I had a 997.1 6spd-besides the tighter gear spacing the overall feel of clutch and shifting seem better to me.

 

I need both tyranny types in my garage, variation is so nice. Some days I feel like rowing and other days I feel like clinking 😊 If its a weekend car leaning towards a manual...

 

Best MT I have driven in a while.

 

I had a 6-speed 997.1 and now a 7-speed 991. Overall, I prefer the 7-speed because of rev-matching, hill-assist, raised shifter due to height of center console, and the bragging rights of having all those gears. The only thing I don't like about the 7-speed is that it's fairly easy to accidentally downshift into 5th gear when intending to upshift into 7th gear. Since 7th gear is really only for fuel economy (not greater speed), I'd prefer it if the shifter only had 6 gears, and there were a button for 7th gear economy cruising. Hell, there are all those blank buttons on the console, they could very well use one of those for 7th gear.

With regard to the automatic, I'd prefer a round *** (like on a Jaguar), than the actual shifter. With paddles you don't need a tall shifter that hinders your ability to see and reach all the buttons on your console.

Back to the original question about PDK vs MT; I prefer MT because of involvement. Sure if you want to drag race, a PDK is better, but if you want to drag race you should just buy a Mustang or a Camaro instead of a Porsche.

I drive my Porsche for the pleasure of driving it. If I just want to get from point A to point B without any hassle, I drive one of my other cars that has an automatic transmission and doesn't rattle my teeth every time I go over a small bump in the road.

 

I think it depends a lot on your age and also how your car will be driven. I am 70 and have ALWAYS driven manual Porsches. I have owned 5 of them. When I first drove the PDK I did not like it and pretty much decided to get a manual. Fast forward to 6 mos. later and a second test drive and I did NOT like the manual. Did not like the higher position of the shifter ( I have a manual 997 4S) and i did not like the shifter which felt like it had longer throws than mine (I have the factory short shift kit in mine). When driving the PDK back to back with the manual I fell in love with the PDK. So take your time and decide and go back for a second drive if need be. Glad that I did.

 

I have owned both . Currently I have a 911 Turbo (manual) and boxster S (Manual ) .
I would buy a 991 with PDK .

I feel that the 991 is more of a luxury 911 and PDK has evolved so well that it suits the car so nicely . One very important positive feature of PDK is that it will ignore engine over rev commands which protects the longevity of the engine . That alone makes it a very worthy component on a 120+ K car.

I chose a manual with my 13 Boxster because witrh the top down in a roadster it's a great environment to row the gears the old fashioned way . Plus the Boxster has a 6 speed rather than the 7. So the manual offered a fun factor in that specific car.

Although it's not imperative to get a PDK with a 991S but it would be in a 991 Turbo . PDK maintains boost on upshifts and the eficiency is simply too crucial to sacrifice .

Conclusion - PDK !!

 

I completely disagree, like I already stated in my previous post.

To me a MT is for people pootling around town, daily driving, bored with driving the car at slow pace, so they need the distraction (which they call involvement) of shifting the car.

People that tend to drive briskly/fast appreciate the added level of control in a PDK so they can optimize their driving, ie scanning the road, scanning traffic, managing treshhold braking, car balance, hit their apexes, manage traction out of corners, ... and so on. A MT is by definition a slow shift were the clutch is open for a longer time, thus more time out of control, and more time wasted shifting that could be used efficiently on other key aspects of driving ! And it's the total package of driving fast, near or on the limit which I call involvement. It's then that you feel alive, feel your body tingle, feel the adrenaline of well executed driving commands.

 

As someone who is in his mid-60's and have been driving Porsches for 40 years, I can assure you that the first time I willingly will buy a PDK equipped car is if sticks check out before I check out. Or, to answer your question - as someone in his mid-60's - yes, MT's are still fun.

 

Well said, bccars.

ChuckJ

 

Great post!

I was going to expand, but no longer need to.

 

I found that the manual in the 991 is excellent. Not too stiff, short throws with the factory standard shifter, and as far as 7th gear is concerned, it's like it's not there. I have yet to use 7th and can only imagine it is useful as an overdrive. If I was concerned about keeping my gas mileage down I would have bought a Prius. I'm not concerned about using up the engine...I've had a ton of Porsches and that has never entered into the equation.