Oh I tried the paddles.. just like I tried different types of cookies; always go back to my favourite chocolate chip, MT all the way.

 

I used to only drive MT cars. Then I had a BMW with an automatic that I hated. Now that I have PDK I will never go back to MT.

 

Not again! I have both and laugh about the manualites claiming there's no involvement in PDK... Many of these claim their mastery of the shift while running to the dealer for clutch changes at 30k miles...

At the end... to have the choice is what matters. No need to pander one way or the other.

 

I was a 3 pedal guy all the way, until I test drove a 997.2 cabriolet PDK with SC and was pleasantly surprised to say the least. More like blown away by the sublime shifting and throttle blips on down shifts that fired like rifle shots.

When I'm stuck in traffic on my daily commute, I can definitely appreciate the convenience of PDK. However, when it's the weekend and I'm on open, windy roads, I'm happy I can still row the gears myself.

 

My impression so far is that some people strongly prefer stick, others strongly prefer PDK, and not many are on the fence.

Though I went stick, I do recognize that PDK helps extract acceleration from the car, which is valuable given that the 911 base and 911 S aren't muscle cars, and the peak torque plateau isn't reached until about 4300 rpm (and then extends to about 6500 rpm). With such a torque curve, keeping the car near peak torque takes some work when using a stick, whereas the PDK can do that well and easily.

 

Check again...

The 997.2S develops 85% of peak torque from 2500 RPM to 7500RPM.

 

Good eye, thanks for pointing that out.

I was looking at the top of the torque curve, but you're right that 85% of peak torque is available from about 2500 to 7500 rpm, which is pretty good. That said, when driving the car, it does feel like I need to get to about 4000 rpm for the car to really come alive, so I guess that extra bit of torque is noticeable.

Addendum: If they plotted the torque curve with zero at the bottom, it would be clearer that the torque curve is flatter than it looks.

 

I consider myself very lucky... I can enjoy the car in any configuration... I went shopping for a black manual 911 and came home with a green PDK 911.. Actually I'm enjoying the auto and I would have enjoyed the manual I'm sure....

 

I have both.

After two years with a PDK I almost feel its best to have both but if a person coild only pick one it would depend on his own personal driving needs and use of the car .
However -- since the PDK can NOT over rev .. just the fact that it can save the engine makes places it at the forefront of the discussion.

The PDK is stronger in ANY race type situation . The rev matching ability and precise shifts factors out human error giving a perfect shift every time . In fact with the new Turbo PDK it shifts so efficiently that it maintains boost utilizing every Hp to its benefit . It takes a highly modded competing Turbo to compensate and (in my opinion) that's one of several reasons why the 1 mile records are still being broken in manual turbo cars.

In gridlock traffic PDK tranforms into an almost boring automatic type of car .

The weakness of the PDK is with the automatic modes . They absolutely suck !!!!!! The normal mode is so boring that one is in 6th gear at 35 MPH or so . The sport mode is jerky at best . The sport plus mode is useless on the street.
I love driving the PDK for performance or boredom but its those in beween speeds which are just plain awful . In a city driving situation a driver going from 55 to 30 and then back to 55 is contantly shifting those paddles and I feel the 3 pedal 6 speed is more intuitive and better driver involved . That's just my opinion.

So in conclusion --
1) If my next Porsche is another Turbo = I'd buy a PDK.
2) If it's another 997S = I'd buy a manual
3) As for the Gt3 track cars --In my opinion they are the last and best made of the old school . My guess is Porsche will opt for PDK in the 991 Gt3 cars and it will blow the doors off the numbers on trhe old Gt3 cars .

Lastlly --If one has doubts I feel this video shows how efficient the PDK car is ina straight line . A stock Gt2 can not keep up with a PDK Turbo and it's not even a Turbo "S". PS. Mod that Gt2 and it will cream it . Mod both and the Gt2 will cream it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOE7dv5hs_o

 

Trust me , you will enjoy shifting SLOWLY just to hear the engine / exhaust sound inbetween the gears changes. That's
part of the enjoyment of the Porsche sound.

 

i probably will never leave the Porsche brand due to the fact that they will always offer a manual transmission.

 

Manual all the way....would never even consider PDK!

 

Look at it this way. The manual is a luxury. It allows you to save money, go slower, and have more fun.

 

I have a c4s with pdk for DD /fwy with paddle shifters and love it. On the track I just do sport or sport plus and concentrate on my line and being smooth and not worry about shifting. Wife has a manual Boxster and doesn't like the PDK. Which is ok with me. So I am lucky and get to drive either mode( if she let's me) LOL

 

One of the cool things I like about PDK is the engine sound underhard throttle with a quick upshift. It sounds just like a ALMS RSR with a nice pop sound at the ultra quick up shift.