Here are my thoughts on a recent '09 Carrera S PDK test drive (a few minutes ago):

-The car is FAST from 0-60mph with sport plus mode! I wouldn't mess with one of these cars at the stop light, and if you own one, you can pretty much give anyone a run for their money from a dig (not condoning street racing anyway).

Note: Someone posted a video of an 09 Carrera S running against a GTR from a dig, and the Carrera S kept up with (and actually passed) it all the way to 100mph. I thought this was BS but after driving it, I can see how it may be possible up to that speed. After 100mph the GTR walked the Carrera S, and won the quarter mile race, but that was the expected outcome anyway.

-When driving on the highway at freeway speeds, the Carrera S engine has it's limits and pretty much loses its guts. For those who want the ability to pass anyone on the freeway, the Turbo is the only way to go.

So what's my verdict on the new transmission?

Bottom line: PDK is amazing. You can barely feel the shifts, and the different modes (normal, sport, sport plus) are good options for choosing your driving style. All the other car companies seriously have to be scared once they put this transmission in the new 911 Turbo. It is that good. Track driver's who are into time attacks and consistent lap times will kill with this thing.

But, is the new car and transmission so good that I'd sell my car (an 06 manual S) to get the new PDK 09 S?
NO. Here's why:

Although the PDK is an awesome piece of technology, something about it feels "artificial". I feel like the Porsche engineer calculated and programmed it's performance capabilities (which I know is true), but now it honestly feels like it. I just see a german engineer saying "Zee new 911 vill go 0.1 zecond faster than zee previouz verzion" while flashing the software and tweaking the PDK gears.

Not sure I'm making sense, but I feel like PDK takes away from the "fun" and soul of a sports car: no more shifting, rev matching, heel toe, messing with the clutch.

Don't get me wrong, the car is still fun. It's fun mashing the pedal, clicking the PDK buttons, and watching the revs go, but honestly, I can see it getting old. I think it's a great option for automatic lovers though. My sister has an automatic Cayman, and I hate driving it because it's tiptronic. The new PDK transmission makes automatics acceptable.

The PDK paddle/buttons aren't as bad as most people say, but I can see how they are confusing if you're doing some spirited driving. In all honesty, the car shifts too fast anyway, and it's better to just hit the sport plus button and leave it alone.

Overall, the new 911 with PDK, as a whole, is an awesome car for daily driving, and offers options (sport plus with PASM) for the occasional spirited drive on an empty twisty road. The handling is improved when comparing it stock to stock, but I still like my lowered car on Bilstein damptronics with H&R sways better.

The new interior accessories are nice (cooled seats, touch screen PCM), but are really minor upgrades in the whole scheme of things, especially when comparing it to the new transmission. Think of it this way: the interior features are now basically up to Lexus standards.

I think Alex from Sharkwerks said it best when he said that the new Carrera S is a sneak peak into Porsche's future. The car is even more refined than before, but is also capable of being more "sport" oriented with all the new technology. For those who want a sports car to drive daily in traffic to work with an occasional blast through the back roads, the new 911 with PDK is the only way to go.

 

I guess if you like velcro shoe fasteners, and clip on ties, and cooking with a microwave then PDK will make you very happy - it's amazingly efficient.

I've tried it twice and found it made driving an anticeptic experience. There's no visceral connection and no mastery involved in driving the car. You point it and it goes. You don't even need to use the bat ears to change gear because "D" is so smart and does all the thinking for you.

I'm so happy I have a stick shift and know without question that my next 911 will have stick shift too.

 

I agree with you, LeChef. Efficiency does not equal driving pleasure. Efficiency is great way to measure how quickly tasks get done from a business/management perspective. I would hate to have that perspective when driving my Porsche.

And you touched on another great point I didn't really get into with the new 911: it does feel a little "sterile". The engine and exhaust noise don't sound as gritty or rough. The shifting is super smooth. The 911 howl once past 4000rpm is muted! But the car is more "refined" and can serve a bigger market.... yeah, i'm not sure I really like the direction Porsche is going.

 

I love manual gearbox.... But this is a new direction which may make manual and automatic obsolete....

 

Several times now, and found it to be extremely good but lacking in the fun factor. As a first time Porsche owner (09 911 cab S Nov build) I wanted the experience of being really involved in the driving dynamic and I felt the PDK disconnected some of that experience. I am lucky enough to not have a ton of stand still traffic to drive in so the 6 speed was the only way to go for me

 

Good to hear that I'm not the only one with this experience.

BTW, how does the manual feel in comparison? I'm really curious about the power delivery, if there's any difference in engine/exhaust noise (is it loud enough?), and clutch feel.

 

I am 100% with you.

 

Charles I'm with you... I wasn't expecting much but what driving I've done (some 900 miles) thus far has been very eye opening indeed! I don't remember the 911S ever being this quick before either....

 

I would like PDK a lot more if the paddles were not push paddles and were similar to Ferrari, BMW, etc. Left down Right up.

 

Guys I just test drove a PDK S cab today at Pacific Porsche- Took it up into the PV hills.
It actually drove quite better than I expected, it does indeed rev match on downshift. It's clearly audible and visible on the tach that the PDK blips the throttle up before downshift.
It does feel quicker and I like the ranges of the 7-speed vs. 6.

However, I have to agree it is sort of whitewashed in the experience. The exhaust is even more quiet, the shifting is not as "sporty" as I would like it (wishing it was more like an F430 for example), and the buttons took a tad getting used to with the push forward for up / pull backwards for down. I'm happier with the stick for now. I would say comparatively, my buddy's Audi R4 is sportier / quicker with the auto-stick.

I really enjoyed the ventilated seats and "*** vaccuum" while driving... If you fart in the car, no one will know.... wooo!!

 

I'm sure Techart or someone else could come up with a good F-car style replacement wheel.

 

Porsche should do it, a Techart wheel will void the factory warranty!

 

- Only if the TA steering wheel is 20" !!!

 

from TA truck series!

 

alex, it looks like sharkwerks has an informal request for mods on the new car Which companies have a fix for the paddle challenged? FVD? Techart?