hey guys,
I don't make many comments here, I mostly find entertainment in your photos, and stories, but it is time for me to offer up a little opinion/question.

I work in the automotive media producing videos, I don't actually review vehicles, but I drive a wide range of them for production purposes. I learned to drive in my dads 1969 911T, and ever since that day, i've been a full blown porsche fanatic. Anyway, my business partner and I are just finishing up the cycle of the new porsches equipped with the PDK transmission. As a purist, I feel incredibly connected to the traditional manual, and my partner appreciates the PDK, but would rather not bother. Myself, unexpectedly, I am a bit more impressed with it. I love a Porsche manual, nothing really like it in the world. That being said, i can't shift anywhere near the speed of the pdk, and in full sport mode, i was amazed at how it managed rpms and power delivery in a challenging driving situation, I'm not in the market now for a new car, but this is the first transmission that any manufacturer has made, that really makes me think I'm going to have a tough decision to make when the time comes....for what its worth. Enjoy the day guys, i'd love to hear about your experiences and thoughts on it.

 

I remember, several years back, when BMW brought SMG II to North America. The purists went CRAZY, the arguments were fierce both directions. I thought it was a great transmission, I owned one myself for a while. I have been waiting for PDK to get her, to see how the debate goes on a Porsche.

I will summarize, without having driven one, why I think PDK is a better choice for ME over a true manual:

1. I generally use my car for GT purposes, as well as commuting, and man does it give your left leg a break. One traffic jam later, you'll be glad you have it.

2. Lets see... Formula1, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborgini... if these guys use it, there has to be a purpose to it. Yes it's faster on the track, but if anyone says they are less connected, I would say that shifting doesnt make me connected, controlling the car does. Going fast around laps etc...

3. I like to be able to have that free hand for... whatever. (phone, ladyfriend, cheesburgers, etc)

I look forward to a PDK GT2 in my future!

 

First let me say my car is a 6 speed. Last fall, 3 local dealers brought 3 PDK cars to the track for our local PCA DE and let us drive them. We had a pace car so couldn't go much above 100mph, but that was enough to impress me. I found that on track, I could concentrate more on driving the car and way less on shifting. Also I could see that in traffic, you could put the car in auto mode and relax. I would buy one if it was available in the turbo or GT3. I would actually prefer it to the 6 speed.

 

does the pdk rev match automatically when downshifting? I drove an sl63 the other day that did this and it was pretty cool. I like doing this myself with my manual tranny, but i have to admit i did like the paddle shifting with revmatching downshifts.

 

Yes it rev matches on downshifts. It is so smooth you can't really tell it's shifting except for the sound.

 

coming from a SMG E60 M5 back to a 6MT i miss the SMG on a daily basis. when the PDK comes out for the Turbo, I'll definitely trade mine in

 

And I think that really is the main selling point for me. If I could afford a track car, it would be a 6sp. But if I'm going to be driving this car to work, and home via the canyon....and then back onto a freeway...it just makes it that much more comfortable when you aren't attacking the road. Next car is going to have the pdk for me.

 

I would not do much upgrade if the turbo get PDK. Maybe 20% HP over stock is max.
I have a Golf GTI with DSG and mod it to 20% over stock with no problem. My modded SST Evo X with 25% more HP and the tranny starts overheat and slipping.
Maybe the nature of Dual Clutch does not like heavy mods, unlike our Tip that also used in AMG SL 65 AMG with over 700HP and TQ.
Dual clutch use wet clutch which slip once the oil is overheat.

 

Another factor to think beside the higher Tiptronic HP/NM limit, is the possibility of making the tip more sportive and enjoyable with all the modded softwares being released. And if you add a steering wheel with paddles, then the extra money for a new PDK car will be even more hard to make sense.

About the better launch times, i believe that a car with light mods (engine/tiptronic software and exhaust), will still be faster than the PDK.

About the eternal discussion 6sp vs tip, IMHO the 6sp has a hard clutch feel which is bad for a DD/jam and resale market. If you upgrade the clutch to handle with increased torque, then this will be even worse. The tip makes it alot simple and easy to handle/drive. There are also better choices for a street/race car than a 6sp 997TT.

As most in Europe, i learned to drive with manual cars, had several and still have, but the 997TT makes more sense with tip/PDK as the GT3/2 with 6sp.