From Rennlist:

I've been computing my position on owning PDK now that I've put about 600 miles on the car. I don't have too much seat time with a regular PDK. I've spent maybe a total of 45 minutes in a PDK equipped C4S, so my comparison to the PDK-S is a bit limited.

Let me say this first. The PDK-S is so "manual-like" that I almost turned around after driving the car off the lot at the dealership because I thought it was broken. You can hear an ample amount of chatter, clicking, and clanging as the gear box downshifts while approaching a stop or when the car is cold. It was a bit shocking at first.

I love the fact that it in Manual Mode, where I'll be all of the time, the car doesn't take over. It will allow you hit the rev limiter and won't kick-down to a lower gear on its own. It will allow you to bog the car. It also doesn't move forward or backward without throttle input. You can feel the clutch engage.

I am sold on the PDK-S for this car. It's loud, jerky, temperamental at times, but is oh so smooth at 6,000+. I really don't think I would be able to handle the violence of this engine while trying to row through the gears.

My one complaint is that I do wish the car downshifted more like the regular PDK. It's almost too quick. The car doesn't really need to rev match, which take a bit of the fun out of it.

All in all, this manual purist is going to have to eat his words again. The PDK-S makes me a believer. I thought I would just deal with it, but am in complete agreement with Porsche engineers that this thing needs the PDK.

 

I do not. If I were going to track the car, I would probably get it done. Since I'm such a detail freak, I can't stand to see the plastic on the car. Believe it or not, chips are less annoying than a plastic film on the car. I think if I weren't so **** and didn't wash/detail the car religiously or lived in a harsher climate, I would consider doing it more.

 

I have a Canon 5D MKII and a 5D MKIII. I use a Canon 50mm f1.2L and Canon 70-200mm f2.8L II with a Kaesmann Circular Polarizer. My editing skills are limited to Lightroom.

 

I had my awesome tint guy do the usual to my GT3 last week. I always get Llumar AirBlue 80 on the entire front windshield and Llumar Formula One Pinnacle Ceramic Film on the rest of the car in 15%. The car comes out a little dark in some of the photos, but it's not as dark in person.

The Ceramic tint works pretty darn well in FL. I always do a little darker to protect the interior and eliminate the need to wear sunglasses. Knock on wood, I haven't gotten in trouble with the law yet.

I was a little too lazy to take the car to a better location to shoot it, so I apologize for that. I also shot at exactly noon, which is the worst possible time. There are nasty shadows everywhere, but the car still looks cool.

 

I'm really enjoying this thread. So informative, thanks! I love the car, and love the color.

 

Matt, now that you have lived with the Sapphire Blue for a couple of weeks, whats the verdict? If you were a spec'ing another car, would you go with the same color.

I am on the fence with my own personal decision re: color.

 

Thanks man! I hope others enjoy it half as much as I like putting it together.

 

I am very, very happy with the decision. I would absolutely order the same color if I had to order another car. I'm so glad the whole process worked out like it has. Are you thinking Sapphire or something else?

 

Awesome pics!

 

I was thinking Sapphire but I have not seen it in person so I am a little apprehensive. Your images are winning me over but I noticed somebody on Rennlist commented on your post that they felt the Sapphire was a little duller in certain light. Do you have any images taken under cloud cover or without sunlight? Living in Boston, I will see that as much if not more than sun!

As an aside, I really appreciate all the informative posts and as a photographer appreciate the eye candy.
Thanks

 

I was thinking I need to try and get some photos on an overcast day. The metallic in the paint comes out with the polarizer. I'll try and get some photos that show it better. The compression on conversion from RAW to JPG and then upload to Picasa has been adding a little too much yellow to my photos.

I really like the fact that it's not a super heavy blue. It's a plain metallic looking blue that does crazy stuff when you photograph it.

 

Your car has inspired me to order my next P-car in Sapphire Blue w/ Yachting Blue interior....

 

One bad as looking car . Love the color too. Congrats!

 

Call me a nerd, but I think this is pretty clever.

 

I love it