Carrera GTS PDK driving impressions
I have driven manual 911's for nearly 20 years and currently have a 997.2 base car, 6 spd. I had pretty much made up my mind that I would trade my car for the new 991 base car with a manual tranny but when I went to the dealer today to leave a deposit I decided to test drive a 2012 Carrera GTS and in one word: WOW
The difference between my base 997.2 and the GTS is vast. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the PDK. I dropped the hammer and the acceleration and precision of the shifts was amazing. I had never considered a PDK before today and now I am giving it serious thought.
Over all the car felt solid and the Alcantara steering wheel and sport seats just added to the quality feel. I don't know that I would pay $125k for it but it was definitely the best Porsche I have ever driven and felt faster than a stock 996 turbo I had driven some years ago. My mind cannot even imagine what the Turbo S PDK must be like.
The sales guy, who was very helpful and even let me drive the car on my own which my local dealer would NEVER do, even tried to talk me out of the GTS and said the new 991 S will be even better than the 997 GTS. He also spoke very highly of the new 3.4 litre base car which will rev more freely than the current car. In fact, the new 991 will have the same exhaust standard that the GTS has when you press that little button to open it up some.
I'm still not sure what I will end up doing but I left there thoroughly impressed with the GTS and getting back in my car it may as well have been a toyota camry the difference is so astounding. New 991S at MSRP or perhaps a GTS discounted 10%? What to do
The difference between my base 997.2 and the GTS is vast. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the PDK. I dropped the hammer and the acceleration and precision of the shifts was amazing. I had never considered a PDK before today and now I am giving it serious thought.
Over all the car felt solid and the Alcantara steering wheel and sport seats just added to the quality feel. I don't know that I would pay $125k for it but it was definitely the best Porsche I have ever driven and felt faster than a stock 996 turbo I had driven some years ago. My mind cannot even imagine what the Turbo S PDK must be like.
The sales guy, who was very helpful and even let me drive the car on my own which my local dealer would NEVER do, even tried to talk me out of the GTS and said the new 991 S will be even better than the 997 GTS. He also spoke very highly of the new 3.4 litre base car which will rev more freely than the current car. In fact, the new 991 will have the same exhaust standard that the GTS has when you press that little button to open it up some.
I'm still not sure what I will end up doing but I left there thoroughly impressed with the GTS and getting back in my car it may as well have been a toyota camry the difference is so astounding. New 991S at MSRP or perhaps a GTS discounted 10%? What to do
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For me personally, PDK is absolutely necessary because of LA traffic.
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No doubt. If I was spending a lot of time in highway traffic, PDK would be a must.
I owned a 09 PDK C2S and loved it...then a year in a Panamera S (PDK obviously). When I finally got the 'agreement' from the wife to get another 911, I initially drove another PDK (C4S) in this case. Of course, I loved it. But I then took the 6spd GTS out ALONE...and was sold before the end of the block (see related thread about Dealer Test Drive practices). I didn't drive a PDK GTS and not sure I should have.
I LOVE shifting my own gears, but I also don't deal much with stop/go traffic. I'll also admit that I wish I was a more skilled manual driver (heel/toe, etc) to take better advantage of the tranny. I know I'd be faster in a PDK, but I don't race or track my car so most of my 'go fast' moments are limited to wide open roads with no need for super fast shifts.
But I have enough experience with the PDK S models as well as the GTS to know that the GTS PDK is the most advanced 'Carrera' available today.
I LOVE shifting my own gears, but I also don't deal much with stop/go traffic. I'll also admit that I wish I was a more skilled manual driver (heel/toe, etc) to take better advantage of the tranny. I know I'd be faster in a PDK, but I don't race or track my car so most of my 'go fast' moments are limited to wide open roads with no need for super fast shifts.
But I have enough experience with the PDK S models as well as the GTS to know that the GTS PDK is the most advanced 'Carrera' available today.
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I have 9500 miles on my 2012 PDK GTS. PDK has been awesome on tight go kart twisties, 1 AX as well as stop and go commute. My driving is a mix of paddle shifting and letting the PDK drive. I do miss shifting in some ways, but not a viable option given the traffic I experience in the Bay Area.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Orange County, CA
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is the PDK smooth on take-off and stop and go? most dual clutch automatics are jerky in those conditions and that annoys me. even the 458 Italia, which you'd think would be the best example of that technology.
When I had my PDK C2S, 1st gear could be a little jerky in Sport mode, but was pretty good in Normal mode. In Sport Plus, everything is jerky...
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I thought the single clutch automatics are even jerkier and more "manual" like? Hence Audi using the single clutch R-tronic in the R8 and Lambo using the single clutch automatic in the Aventador (besides purported weight savings)?
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If your driving aligns with the setting your are in (Sport, Sport Plus) I found the shifts in all gears are just fine.
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Only thing that surprised me was coming to a stop in Sport mode the downshift to 1st while slowly braking can be a bit jarring. I found that not to be the case in normal mode (non-Sport, non-Sport Plus). I also found that if I'm in Sport and are more aggressively braking, even the downshift to 1st is smooth.
If your driving aligns with the setting your are in (Sport, Sport Plus) I found the shifts in all gears are just fine.
If your driving aligns with the setting your are in (Sport, Sport Plus) I found the shifts in all gears are just fine.
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From: Portland, Oregon
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Most GTS I've seen have it including mine.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Stephenville, Texas
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I believe the sport suspension is standard on all GTS models....Have been driving the PDK for two days (14 hours + each day) and I am impressed. Very smooth shifts, I can downshift with the paddle at anytime. Running in Sport mode 75% of the time unless in traffic or on a really bumpy section of flat road because in Sport the PASM is active and stiffens things up a bit. Most impressive has been the quickness of the shifts and the automatic down shifting when going down a steep grade - I don't use the brakes nearly as much as I would have thought. Over all first impressions are just outstanding! No buyer's regrets thus far, especially when I put it in Sport + mode...