With current manual, any fast spurts in 1st are butchered by very short rpm range (revlimiter) and extreme power. The 1st to 2nd shift is instant and tough to remember especially when trying to focus on traffic conditions. 2nd to 3rd is as bad. As adrenalin starts its climb, boom the revlimiter. Manual boxes are great for cars like the GT3 and M cars with rpm redlines reaching 8-8.4K. Reaching these higher rpms gives the brain a minisecond to at least focus on traffic or whatever.

I know the auto-slush box overcomes this, but who wants an auto-box doing the driving. The PDK seems ideal and lets the driver do his own downshifting and upshifting even close to redline without treat of costly overrev. Perhaps 09tts may see DKK??

 

I drove a Carrera coupe with the PDK yesterday. Although it is very smooth and quick, I would not consider one for a TT. IMO, it's not any better then any of the other "auto/maunal" offerings out there and it costs over 4 grand. Further, the computer defaults to a second gear start just like the tiptronic in my Cayenne TT. I've driven MB's latest "sportshift" in both an SL63 and CLK63 and I think their paddle shift version works better then Porsche's push/pull set-up.

Moreover, I was less then impressed with the quality of the whole setup. The PDK "thicker" wheel is a nice design and feels pretty good, but the volcano grey plastic center section looks and feels cheap. The console shifter is no better (painted aluminium look plastic) and has a cheap feel to it.

If Porsche really wanted to offer a nice clutchless manual with paddle shifters, all they need to do is check out Ferrari's. I think more people (TT owners/buyers) would jump on this including myself. Anything less (PDK) is just an attempt to gain market share through a transmission with mass-market appeal.

 

"the computer defaults to a second gear start just like the tiptronic in my Cayenne TT"

That right there is good reason to avoid it! But failing that I bet it would be fun on a TT. The transmission alone should be worth .03-.07 off the quarter (as a performance reference) thus making it quicker at similar HP levels with uninterupted shifts etc.

This transmission will find its way into all sport / GT cars as manufacturers look for increased performance while meeting emissions, reliability requirements and all that fun stuff vs. simply 'upping boost'

 

Sorry to ask,but which CLK63 you drove has latest daul clutch gearbox?I throught MB currectly only offer them on SL series?Even the latest CLK63 BLACK still using the AMG 7speed automatic?

 

Considering Porsche is always conservative with 0-60 times, this car should be 3.0 0-60 or less. And that's just with the tranny. Considering the current Tip TT has been timed at 3.2. If they add power which they obviously will with DI, and put that new motor (bleh) which saves quite a bit of weight (and must make more power, but less mod friendly), The car could be a real beast in a straight line. I would think 11.2 @ 124-125.


I'd consider the PDK, because I have a track car with a manual.

As for the suspension, no telling where Porsche will go with that, but I have a hunch it will be extra fast in every way.

 

None. I never said I did. I was comparing the PDK to MB's latest "sportshift" option.

 

I am a manual driver and would take a manual over PDK even if PDK is faster.

 

I drove the PDK also , it has three shift modes...

Love it

Next car will have it....

Looks like at the end of next year ( Oct 09 )

2010 Cab4S

Gee-Bee

 

Gee-Bee - I agree with you as well. The Turbo PDK is going to have get some work done in current form to get it to handle those power levels. But in truth my next P-Car will be the C4S with PDK, White/Blk or White/Cinnamon/Black Cabriolet.

 

I have always like manuals too. However, with a secured 1-2 second 1st to 2nd shift everytime without shift-focus (no more 70m/h revlimiter 2nd-3rd either) and no more worry of a mechanical overrev from a panic driven misshift, PDK (Porsche Doppel Kupplungs getriebe) for me is begining to sound almost like a no-brainer.

 

I'm a manual guy too, but after reading all the spec's in every magazine regarding it, then getting behind the wheel and playing, (OK, beating the crap out of it - fun, fun, fun!) with it ... it will also be in my next sled too. Once you get used to it (took about 20 min's in a Carrera S), you just can't do better. I like this technology and it'll only get better and more refined each year. After being out for about 90 minutes with the PDK, getting back in my sled and back to manual ... I definitely felt I had stepped back in the evolution of forward momentum.
I may flip out of this new TT sooner than usual if it's available on the TT Cab in a few years.

 

IMO, If you like to be involved with the driving of your car, you will be bored with the PDK in a month or so and wish you purchased a manual. My son bought a new paddle shift GTI, modded it pretty well, so it handled very well and was fast, but the auto transmission killed the enjoyment. He ended up hating it (only because of the lack of driver involvement) and traded it after less than one year for a standard transmission. After witnessing this and driving his car a bit, personally, I would not buy a PDK car. It gets routine and boring very quickly. That said, I'm sure it's right for some people, but I would not order it on a Porsche.

 

I agree with you, the only problem I see with this comparison is that a 911TT is still going to be a lot of fun to drive regardless of it's transmission... due to the sheer power and acceleration. The most fun to be had in slower cars like a GTI is shifting and handling, not power..

I think that even if you miss rowing through the gears because of PDK, you're still gonna have a huge smile on your face going 0-60 in 3 seconds

 

+1, the TT will be fun regardless. It will take some convincing on a GT3 though. Driving mountain roads and twisties is more fun with paddles. On the track, the old manual is still most fun though.

 

I feel the disappointment of your son - -I too drove that GTI (an employee's ride), and I agree it's really a let down as it's more like the Audi Manual-matics and they're pathetic! Comparing it with Porsche's tranny that's on par with some of the F1 sequential tyranny's is far from fair. Put your son in a test drive of the new Carrera S with a PDK and see if he feels it's even close to the same animal.
As much as I've stated my love for the PDK, I will admit to this design flaw ... they MUST change the paddle design on the steering wheel. Plain and simple ... IT SUCKS!!! It's not conducive to large-hands nor impulsive/reactionary handling inputs as you can/do hit the front side of the shifting mechanism making changes that completely upset/disrupt the balance of the vehicle.
One would think the engineers who designed this system didn't take one look at the most advanced ergonomic designs of F1, WRC, etc and realize the set up is designed for the best results with minimal human error.
OK ... I'll step down off this soapbox and repeat; the sequential tranny on the 998's is the shizzle (outside the silly wheel controls ) and I'd bet within 2 model generations/evolutions, the manual tranny as we know it will not be available, just as double-clutching is a thing of the past (geeesh, I can rememeber doing that ). As an old guy who's been rowing gearbox's for almost 40 years (including 11 years professionally), I will miss the pleasant sensation from moving my right-hand and left leg simultaneously. However, it isn't past my brainpower to recognize there is a better way with the use of this new fluid-momentum technology.
Can't wait to see the improvements they make for the Turbo's!