View Poll Results: What transmission to get for a 2010 turbo?
6-Speed Manual Transmission
41
38.68%
PDK Transmission
65
61.32%
Voters: 106. You may not vote on this poll
Which to choose 997.2 turbo with 6-speed manual or PDK
#32
12-12-2009, 08:39 AM
clearly there are some strong opinions on this issue. i disagree with those that say the pdk removes the driver involvement. that depends on how you drive it. in my m5 smg, i always drive it in manual mode and use the paddles to shift. i totally feel "involved" in the driving experience. the only thing i am missing is pushing the foot clutch. but i am up and down shifting when i want. i use to be a big stick driver, but am hooked on the footless clutch and paddles. obviously i ordered my 2010 tt with pdk.
#33
12-12-2009, 08:54 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Row the gears yourself, the whole experience is far more pleasurable IMO.
You learn so much more about your car that way, it takes skill and years to learn that, and you never really master it because each driving experience is different day to day.
Absolutely no doubt PDK is amazing technology....the evolution of the gearbox but each time they add these technological marvels something is lost. I am all in favour of technology!
I drive my car with PSM off even in the rain and it forces me to be a better driver, the car teaches me things every day I drive it so I become one with her.....
This is the PASSION of driving, the essence of it.
Ben
You learn so much more about your car that way, it takes skill and years to learn that, and you never really master it because each driving experience is different day to day.
Absolutely no doubt PDK is amazing technology....the evolution of the gearbox but each time they add these technological marvels something is lost. I am all in favour of technology!
I drive my car with PSM off even in the rain and it forces me to be a better driver, the car teaches me things every day I drive it so I become one with her.....
This is the PASSION of driving, the essence of it.
Ben
#35
12-12-2009, 09:41 AM
I think it depends on what you want. A PDK will shift faster and more consistent, every single time. The manual will provide more involvement and "feel". My boss just bought an e46 M3, and we both agree that the SMG is faster shifting, but not nearly as involved.
#41
12-12-2009, 05:20 PM
idk, i never drove a porsche with pdk, as far as my thoughts now, i would pick 6speed, but if i test driven a pdk i may pick it, but i think my right foot would be a little lonely.....lol 
Last edited by landjet; 12-14-2009 at 09:15 AM.
#42
12-12-2009, 05:22 PM
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Jersey Shore
Age: 61
Posts: 1,550
Rep Power: 85 I think everyone is missing the point of owning a sport car. PDK may be faster and more technological but where did being "one with the car" go. If I was a competitive racer or a commuter and needed an automatic then the PDK would be the way to go. With the amazing potential of the Turbo and the super limits it has well the only way to really appreciate the car on a constant basis is with the communication you get from the clutch pedal, the gearshift etc.
I can enjoy my Turbo at 40 and 50 mph because of the JOY of shifting and controlling the car. With an automatic in a high performance car, you have to be accelerating at speeds that send you to jail to enjoy the car.
I drove both the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo and could appreciate the PDK in that type of performance sedan but if you are talking about a 911 Turbo then a manual is the way to go and be INTIMATE with you baby.
I can enjoy my Turbo at 40 and 50 mph because of the JOY of shifting and controlling the car. With an automatic in a high performance car, you have to be accelerating at speeds that send you to jail to enjoy the car.
I drove both the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo and could appreciate the PDK in that type of performance sedan but if you are talking about a 911 Turbo then a manual is the way to go and be INTIMATE with you baby.
#43
12-12-2009, 06:33 PM
I would definitely get the PDK. I own a 2008 997 Turbo with 6 speed manual. I love the car and the shifting, and could not tolerate the tiptronic (which was like shift an automatic up and down with buttons instead of a lever) but I only drive it a few thousand miles a year.
A little over a month ago I bought a 2K10 M3 for my daily driver. I ordered it with the M-DCT transmission (basically the same as PDK). I like the transmission and the flexibility of driving in auto-shift, paddle shift, or stick shift. The M-DCT, like the PDK, rev matches on downshifts, has lightning quick upshifts, and provides 7 close ratio gears to meet virtually any need. If I were to replace my 997 TT it would definitely be with PDK. Most of us buy these cars for performance. I do miss that third pedal in the M3 but why handicap yourself with an inferior product from a technology and performance standpoint right out of the gate? You can do everything with the PDK that you can do with the manual but you don't have to push a pedal and the car will do it faster and more effectively. Those that argue against PDK should ask themselves about turbos, ECUs, Fuel Injectors, etc. Those were all technological advances that proved valuable to increasing performance and efficiency. The PDK is another advancement that improves performance and flexibility.
Definitely get the paddles if you go PDK. For some reason Porsche chose to arrange its stick forward (push) for upshifts and back (pull) for downshifts. To me that seems counterintuitive to the g-force effects when accelerating.
Good luck and congratulations on your soon-to-be new ride!
A little over a month ago I bought a 2K10 M3 for my daily driver. I ordered it with the M-DCT transmission (basically the same as PDK). I like the transmission and the flexibility of driving in auto-shift, paddle shift, or stick shift. The M-DCT, like the PDK, rev matches on downshifts, has lightning quick upshifts, and provides 7 close ratio gears to meet virtually any need. If I were to replace my 997 TT it would definitely be with PDK. Most of us buy these cars for performance. I do miss that third pedal in the M3 but why handicap yourself with an inferior product from a technology and performance standpoint right out of the gate? You can do everything with the PDK that you can do with the manual but you don't have to push a pedal and the car will do it faster and more effectively. Those that argue against PDK should ask themselves about turbos, ECUs, Fuel Injectors, etc. Those were all technological advances that proved valuable to increasing performance and efficiency. The PDK is another advancement that improves performance and flexibility.
Definitely get the paddles if you go PDK. For some reason Porsche chose to arrange its stick forward (push) for upshifts and back (pull) for downshifts. To me that seems counterintuitive to the g-force effects when accelerating.
Good luck and congratulations on your soon-to-be new ride!
The difference is that advances in turbo technology, fuel injectors, ECUs, and all that don't take away elements from the driving experience whereas PDK does.
I would say the last "biggest" change in terms of technology that affected that was the introduction of synchronized transmission gears, which took away the need for double clutching.
#44
12-12-2009, 11:47 PM
clearly there are some strong opinions on this issue. i disagree with those that say the pdk removes the driver involvement. that depends on how you drive it. in my m5 smg, i always drive it in manual mode and use the paddles to shift. i totally feel "involved" in the driving experience. the only thing i am missing is pushing the foot clutch. but i am up and down shifting when i want. i use to be a big stick driver, but am hooked on the footless clutch and paddles. obviously i ordered my 2010 tt with pdk.
1) a manual Turbo
2) a PDK 997 S
I believe that the Turbo would benefit from the pdk . Unlike many on the forum I like both for different reasons that each camp lists . Oddly the strengths of one reveal the weakness of the other .
Hence the dilema .. and in my case --two cars.
#45
12-13-2009, 01:22 AM
I spent three days CANING an Audi R8 around Sears Point/Infineon Raceway here in the San Francisco Bay Area at the Audi advanced race school.. I had the opportunity to drive both the 6 speed and the paddle shifter equipped car and here's my take:
The paddle shifter equipped car is probably .75 - 1 second a lap quicker around the track... You can brake at the limit and click a shift down simultaneously, which is perfectly rev matched for you by the car.. this helps keep the car more balanced and also lets you keep both hands on the wheel which helps. The upshifts can be executed at full power without lifting, so you get a more seamless stream of acceleration...
The 6 speed gearbox is a thing of beauty... each shift is accompanied by a metallic "snick", almost like the sound of the hammer being ****ed on a gun. It works flawlessly, as do most modern 6 speeds (apart from those in Corvette ZO6's and Vipers.. I owned a ZO6 before I bought my GT2 and the gearbox was freaking horrible).
Despite the advantages of the paddle shifter setup, at the end of the day, I wanted to be back in the 6 speed, because I really resented the lack of involvement and missed the skill and sheer delight in executing a perfectly rev-matched heel-toe downshift.. Also, my driving skills have been honed by many years of racing and practice.. I like the fact that I can use a manual gearbox to it's full potential.. With the paddle shifters, there's nothing to separate "The Men from The Boys" so to speak.. It's too much like playing a video game with one of those Momo wheel/pedal sets that bolt to your coffee table..
I'll stick to my 6 speed for my street/track day car. Though, if someone wants to pay me to race and there's money on the table, I'll have to go with the paddle shifters..
The paddle shifter equipped car is probably .75 - 1 second a lap quicker around the track... You can brake at the limit and click a shift down simultaneously, which is perfectly rev matched for you by the car.. this helps keep the car more balanced and also lets you keep both hands on the wheel which helps. The upshifts can be executed at full power without lifting, so you get a more seamless stream of acceleration...
The 6 speed gearbox is a thing of beauty... each shift is accompanied by a metallic "snick", almost like the sound of the hammer being ****ed on a gun. It works flawlessly, as do most modern 6 speeds (apart from those in Corvette ZO6's and Vipers.. I owned a ZO6 before I bought my GT2 and the gearbox was freaking horrible).
Despite the advantages of the paddle shifter setup, at the end of the day, I wanted to be back in the 6 speed, because I really resented the lack of involvement and missed the skill and sheer delight in executing a perfectly rev-matched heel-toe downshift.. Also, my driving skills have been honed by many years of racing and practice.. I like the fact that I can use a manual gearbox to it's full potential.. With the paddle shifters, there's nothing to separate "The Men from The Boys" so to speak.. It's too much like playing a video game with one of those Momo wheel/pedal sets that bolt to your coffee table..
I'll stick to my 6 speed for my street/track day car. Though, if someone wants to pay me to race and there's money on the table, I'll have to go with the paddle shifters..
Last edited by 80shilling; 12-13-2009 at 01:25 AM.