Hi Guys,
I had a deal put together on a 6 speed GTS but it fell apart last minute. I am now looking at another car which is better equipped and less expensive but it's a PDK car. What are your opinions on PDK vs. Stick? My last car was an SMG M6 so I have some experience with the auto/manual. I like the raw factor of the GTS in a manual but the PDK car is a full leather car with full power seats and i am really considering it. What do you guys think?

 

I love PDK but my first porsche was a Panamera.

 

many discussions...it boils down to personal choice.

and if anyone says different....ignore them.

 

that is a total, your call! I love to shift! so the real question is, what do you like to do, if you get a PDK but really like a 6 speed then you will regret it. if you really don't care which, then that is a different issue.

 

He is right so ignore me. For me it depends on the car, in my C2S which is pretty much the same as GTS, I preffered the PDK. In a GT3 or 2 I would always chose manual if and when there is a choice for PDK.
I drove the manual C2S at the porsche driving school and realized that I thought the car was much better for me and faster in the PDK.
Again its up to you, the smg really does not compare to the PDK.
You need to drive them, make sure the sport button is on though.

 

if you do a search of this forum "pdk vs manual" there is a thread like it, what seems on weekly basis. Although we didn't have one in about 3 weeks

Anyway, nobody can tell you what's better or which one to choose. The only way to decide is to try both yourself.

On personal note, I tried both and chose manual.

Good luck.

 

I have a PDK turbo. Love it and don't regret moving out of manuals finally after 24+ years. BUT....

1. Don't get PDK unless you get sport chrono package so you have sport and sport plus buttons.
-As ppl said, PDK vs. 6speed is a purely personal choice, no right or wrong answer - but not really much a debate is how utterly crappy, useless, and so confounding stupid the PDK in non-sport mode is. On my turbo in city driving going from 0 to 40mph one stop light to another, the idiotic non-sport PDK mode will upshift and stay in 7th gear at 35mph. Only way to not have that happen is be under hard acceleration which you'd rarely do in regular city street with traffic, and even then it will upshift very early. Almost lugging the engine really.

2. In sport mode, wow - so utterly fantastic it boggles the mind how useless those same german engineers made non-sport mode PDK.

3. PDK in manual mode - to each their own, but I consider PDK a manual transmission. I don't consider getting PDK meaning losing the ability to shift which 6speeders love. Some just don't like the loss of shifting via rowing the gears vs. paddle/button. Again, that's a personal thing so no right or wrong.
-So if you cant stand the thought of losing clutch pedal push/stick row - get the 6speed. If you want to try another way to drive a manual car, try the PDK sport mode and shift manually vs. leaving it in drive.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys. I love the clutch but I think I will go drive one at my local dealer. The car I am looking at is a couple hours away. Happy New Year everyone!

 

Atomic and mozhacker hit it on the head. It is truly personal. I had a Cayman S with PDK and loved it. I then went to a Carrera S 6 speed and liked it as well. I'm now in a GTS PDK and extremely satisfied. I was also looking at a GTS 6 speed and at the last minute went with the PDK. My car stays in sport mode unless I'm on the highway.

Try to spend some time in the PDK car and play with it in sport and manual. Enjoy which ever one you choose.

 

Drove a 6 speed for 12 years my 996 cab. Now have PDK 997 2012 cab S. Will never go back. Sport Crono plus a must.

 

I always drive manuals including my 2012 GTS Cab.
I had a Panamera PDK loaner about a month ago, and I was really disappointed. I was really impressed with the car itself, but the PDK just felt like an automatic transmission to me. A nice automatic, yet an automatic, nonetheless.

 

Each has distinct advantages, so go with your subjective preference. I enjoy the automatic in my C63 because you can just put your foot down and experience the car rocket, plus it's great for highway driving, but I prefer manual in pure sports cars like the 911. Think carefully about how you'll use the car and that may help you decide.

 

On my fifth Porsche, first PDK and I love it. On the track it's really brilliant and that coming from a GT3 RS. The RS is much more a race car and inputs gives you instant results and part of that is being connected through the transmission IMHO. Tracking the C2S in PDK is just a blast and fun more than "work."

 

Please be aware that no test drive will ever truly capture the essence of the PDK. It took a good 1000 to 1500 miles into ownership driving the car in several modes to really feel the magic of PDK. Having said that if you love to row gears then there is no substitute to 6 speed.

 

Car magazine writers seem to always prefer manual when they test
high end cars