I have mentioned this a couple times in others threads here about my comparison of the Getrag 7-speed DCT transmission (M3) and the PDK. I love the DCT. It's very engaging and shifts occur instantaneously upon pull of the paddles. No delay whatsoever. In addition, shifts are "felt" though the fingertip and body at higher RPM shift-points despite occurring @ 20 milliseconds. You feel absolutely connected to the car.

While I appreciate the amount of power/torque the PDK can handle (particularly from the launch control feature) and also appreciate the shifting speed of the PDK, otherwise it's not engaging at all and feels like an auto transmission, not like a wet clutch system. Actually a good comparison to the PDK is the ZF 6-speed and 8-speed auto trans with steering wheel paddle shifters (in my old BMW 335i and current 2013 X5). When shifting with the paddles, there is a delay between when you pull the paddles to upshift or downshift and when the shift actually occurs. And you cannot "feel" the shift through your fingers. Yes on sport/sport plus mode on the 911, the exhaust gets a bit more "bassy" and you can certain feel the gear change occurring but the delay from when I instruct the car to shift and when it actually shifts is bothersome. I'm talking about fractions of a second here, but Getrag got it right and it really makes a noticeable difference.

The nice thing about the PDK (like the Getrag) is that it's software controlled so I'm hoping there is a hardware/software combination upgrade that improves the factory paddle shifter mechanism on the steering wheel and is integrated with the software to helps reduce the delay between shift instruction and actual shift. So is there any product like this?

I understand the PDK-S in the 991's have been completely revised from the 997 PDK with both hardware and software upgrades and from what some other members have said, really does a lot for driver engagement.

Thanks.

 

The BMWs I believe are a manual transmission with SMG added. That is why you have that, it feels like a manual, to it because it is. The PDK and even the Tip understand you want to shift they just know the best place to do it.

 

The Getrag in the BMW is a wet dual-clutch system. I understand that is the same as the PDK.

I think you are referring to the earlier BMW sequential system (first in the e46 M3, then upgraded to SMG II in the e60 M5 and M6) that was similar to the F1 in the F430.

 

I get the same thing in my car, when I shift from 1st to 2nd in sport plus sometime it seems as if it is going to redline before shifting which gives me hesitation and I let off a bit.

 

I share your views longboarder...
The delay in 'actual' shifting from the time you hit the paddle to the actual gear change is sometimes just not tolerable in today's standards. Does Porsche expect us to change our cars instead of releasing a simple upgrade to their pdk?
I think any tuning company who releases such an upgrade will realize a higher demand in improving paddle response, rather than just adding hp. Or has anyone released such an upgrade already?

 

I agree as well, my BMW E60 M5 with SMG-II shifts so quick (specially with highest shifting ratio, which cab be adjusted by driver), feels way better than shifting response with PDK. I also fear that i will hit redline, so i end up hitting the paddles way before i would if i was in my M5.

 

maybe stupid (probably stupid) question…but you are sliding the stick to the "M" position in SP mode, right?

Otherwise regardless of where you shift, the car will otherwise RL in all gears before shifting. The limiter won't let you blow anything up, you know?

 

Contact Tom at Champion, I think they have made the most progress upgrading the PDK including point points and engagement latency.

 

Interesting thread to start.

Just be clear that the BMW SMG is not a dual clutch, but a single clutch, which is why it shifts so hard and was abandoned. Similar to the older systems offered by other companies.

I guess Porsche revised the mapping and some hardware. Doesn't seem that the older tranny can simply be improved by software. (Although I trust we'll here from Tom, I think there is an offering. )

In respect to manually shifting and hitting redline, the answer is perhaps sad, but nevertheless very simple. Put the car in drive and select sport plus. Car will run flat out and shift itself at redline. Sad in that it takes the driver or of it, yet consistent and the fastest execution possible.