I took the DS at Bremerton, WA yesterday and the experience was awesome. The instructors were great and did a great job teaching and organizing. It was the best fun I had in a long time....meeting great people who share the same love I do and really starting to figure out what the car can do. Loved it and I am now hooked. Next step is PSDS in Alabama in two weeks and then DE. Can't wait.

However, what I found is the PDK buttons suck, particularly for Autocross. I have read this before on this forum, so I know it is not new, but I kept hitting the buttons by accident. Really messed me up...Hopefully with practice I will stop doing this but I am really thinking to replace my steering wheel with the paddle shifters. Will see how it goes.

 

That is why those that track PDK and the instructors for Porsche at PSDS prefer the paddles over the push pull buttons. You can practice all you want but the meat of your thumb on the inside of your hand when you hold the steering wheel properly will cause you to upshift by pushing the button.

I like others replaced the steering wheel with the paddles version...problem solved.

There are a few that say the paddle wheels prevents you from shifting in the middle of a tight turn. Well you should get all your shifting down BEFORE the turn. If you are shifting in the middle of a tight turn you've already messed up that turn.

 

Replace the steering wheel. The sooner the better.

My car isn't even here yet (in the middle of TX on a truck right now), but I've already got the paddle shift steering wheel ready. The PDK version with the buttons is a horrible design, particularly for any sort of performance driving.

 

yeah...I think that is what I will do...

 

If I was planning on keeping my car and using it at DE's then I would change to the paddles ASAP as others have said.
Have fun at PSDS, a few of us just did it in Feb. and had a blast. By the way I completed all my mods months before the PSDS and it confirmed that my car is night and day faster then stock. Not to hijack this thread and turn it into a mod thing but it does make quite a difference.

 

I was at the driver skills in Bremerton yesterday too (green 09 C4S). Had fun as well, almost sunny. I have the paddle shift wheel and had no issue. I just ran sport mode and let the PDK sort it out. I was told my paddle shift wheel was going to take a while to get(up to 6 months) because of natural brown leather interior but it was only 4 wks or so. More fun driving around town too with the PS wheel. I believe it is now on sale (or was).

 

Ah yes, I remember seeing you leave, I was admiring the color....I had the Grey 09 C4S. Wish I had checked out your paddle shifter...I will PM you for details...

 

I tried to PM reply but I don't have enough posts. Pics of the wheel can be seen on Suncoast vendor site 997 sponsor. It is discounted from what I pd . I also used a e-coupon from PCA good till end of 2010. Install was around 150 from a local Porsche dealer on the eastside. Enjoy your PSDS experience.

 

I bought the Champion paddles and love them . At the time the OEM paddles were not out yet but even if they were I still woild pick the Champion paddles because it allowed me to have paddle shifting and maintain my multi function steering wheel.

I didn't dislike the buttons . They were ok . I like the paddles more though.

 

I'd be curious to find out how much quicker the car would be around the track if you just left it in auto.

 

The problem was the accidental pushing of the PDK buttons even in auto mode, very frustraing....I want them of the steering wheel but still want paddles in the event I want to do some shifing at the steering wheel.