From the Porsche website itself:

Developed for varying purposes, it was tested from
1981 to 1986 in parallel in the Group C race car
Porsche 956, as well as a half and fully automatic
version in Porsche series sports cars. The first trial
use of the direct manual transmission occurred in
1983 in the Group C race car Porsche 956. The
PDK made it possible for the driver to keep on the
gas when shifting gears, and also when cornering.
In 1986, Hans-Joachim Stuck won the Supercup in
the Porsche 962 C with PDK at Nürburgring and at
Hockenheimring. In the same year, he also achieved
a victory at the World Championship race in Monza.

 

Compare that to the overall success of the 956/962 program and I think that pales in comparison. I'm not going to go to the trouble of posting all the wins of that program, but if one did, one would realize that Porsche was much, much more successful with the 'standard' gearbox.

 

Actually - I ha some time and decided to do a bit of research. Check this out for an independent account of the 956/962 success:
http://962.com/history/956_962/index.htm#

Of possible note that PDK is not mentioned (AFAIK). More to my point though, is the story of the many wins compared to the few mentioned in your reference. Also, I would point out that Porsche is obviously biased - and they would want to glorify any successes that the PDK had.

Just for kicks, related LeMans winners are as follows:
1982: Porsche 956
1983: Porsche 956
1984: Porsche 956
1985: Porsche 956
1986: Porsche 962C
1987: Porsche 962C
1994: Porsche 962 (Dauer)

Of course, there were many other wins as well as Stefan Belof's record 6:11 in a 956 at the Ring...

Again, if PDK were really successful, it would have figured more prominently in the history of the 956/962. As it stands - IMHO, the wins you cite seem to have come 'despite' having the PDK.

 

I feel most engaged when I do not have to take my hands off the wheel, and when I have two pedals instead of three. I will never own another manual car, except farm trucks.

 

Just switched from 2S manual to 4s PDK and I LOVE IT. I've driven manual for many years, hated my 2006 M5 SMG and thought i would never buy another car with semi-auto transmition. After I drove my friends panamera, fell in love with the PDK.

 

I agree.... the PDK adds a few G's to the sticker does it not?

yes the PDK has many great advantages but I am anti PDK/SMG/DCT/F1/ etc;

it takes away alot of the fun IMO

 

The problem is one can't quantify 'fun' with a scale that everybody can relate to.

Which is why performance numbers, 0-60, lap times, corner speeds, etc... all favor the PDK. And then, at the end of the reviews, there is always the standard,"Although I was faster than you every lap (and even lapped you once), I'm sure you'll have more fun going slow, in a 1989 964 (or Mazda Miata - who is marketing their vehicles on 'fun', as opposed to performance).

 

That's not exactly how the reviewer worded things in the Sept Panorama article on the Cayman R. He seems to like the PDK, but doesn't compare it to the manual. He does say:
"PDK in the R is like PDK anywhere else, which is to say the best two-pedal transmission anyone has ever installed in anything with wheels."

also

"Sport Plus PDK once downshifted on me, off-throttle, in the middle of a corner, pitching the nose forward and popping the car's tail out. Manual mode never let me down."

Even the Porsche ad basically says that the manual delivers more precise shifting/gear selection. So, there's more to it than fun vs metrics.

 

Well, of course Porsche is going to say this - they want to sell more PDK cars.

It's the crossover everybody who does NOT prefer a stick has been waiting for... It's the Tiptronic - perfected.

And now, even a woman can drive one.

 

Wow, can't believe Mr. GTR said "even a woman can drive one". I've been driving manual for years and enjoy the input and control. Now I'm in a Carrera w/tiptronic (on the track) which I hate most days, but since I drove a Carrera w/ PDK/sport chrono pkg I'm RUINED! PDK rocks!

 

Glad to hear from a woman! My wife does fine with the manual in our 911S cab, and enjoys it. As for me, I agree that PDK rocks (I don't like tiptronic), but I still prefer manual much more.

 

Thanks Man!

 

Please understand, I'm speaking generally (you know what I meant).

I was the the same way - I preferred manual (never thought I'd ever drive anything else), until the dual-clutch gearboxes. It really is the best of both worlds, with very little compromise.

Boxers vs briefs... vs Boxer briefs?

Or a plastic bag, lined with a paper bag...?

 

Panorama is not Christopherous. PCA is independent, just like many of us are. Huge Porsche fans, dyed in the wool, biased a bit, but still independent. IMHO, the comment about the inappropriate shift on the track is pretty damning.

I'm not a PDK hater; I just jumped into this thread to combat some mis-information and counter the PDK-loving crew's statements the manual is archaic, PDK is better in every way except for those that prefer outdated nostalgia, etc

 

Sorry, I was pointing out two things...

#1 Manual mode (as opposed to manual transmissions) did not have the problem described

#2 "Even the Porsche ad basically says that the manual delivers more precise shifting/gear selection."

I did this poorly. I was not trying to say otherwise. Thanks for pointing that out!