I recently change from a 2011 M3 DCT to a 2010 Panamera S... and one of the things that I do miss from the M3 was the way the transmission worked. I feel that the shifts on the Panamera are a bit on the slow side and also I do miss (a lot! )how my M3 would blimp the throttle on downshifts...

I hear that the Panamera GTS has a much nicer PDK software that allows quicker response on shifting and also blimps the throttle on downshifts.

I was just wondering can the software on the PDK be updated to that of the GTS or is there any Tuner that has or is working on a PDK software update??

 

I find this hard to believe. The PDK consistently gets reviewed as one of the finest if not THE best dual clutch gear boxes in the industry. I had a 2010 4S and the upshifts, especially in sport and sport plus were brutal. Sport plus with a heavy dose of throttle bordered on harsh, but also instant. My biggest complaint with PDK was how it managed the clutch at low speeds, especially when the engine and drivetrain was cold (for example, mine forgot to close the throttle on a light throttle 2-3 upshift for the first 1-2 shifts of the day). Mine definitely rev matched (blipped the throttle) on downshifts. BTW - any good driver using a standard clutch should be rev matching when down shifting - especially performance oriented driving as it is easier on the drive train and keeps the rear wheels from hopping getting into a corner. The throttle blip is not there just to sound cool, there's actually a purpose. Sadly in today's computer controlled everything world, more and more think it's there just because it sounds cool.

 

I also did a lot of research prior to ordering my turbo and every review mentions the PDK being the best dual clutch transmission. One review went as far as saying Porsche wrote the Bible on DCT with their PDK.

 

I read the same thing.... and when I drove a 997TT PDK I agree is was a beast. My panamera does feel different though. as if it was program to be more in comfort than sporty mode... I do not have Sport Plus... so Im not sure if that makes a difference. I only have a sport button.
My up-shift are relatively quick from 2nd gear and up. but I do find the shift from 1st to 2nd to be delayed a bit after I tap the paddle...which have made me hit the rev limiter a few times by accident. Now I know to shift earlier from 1st to 2nd to give the car time to actually change gears before it gets too close to rev limiter...

 

You can purchase the sport plus update from suncoast to get the more aggressive PDK mapping.

 

Oh really.. thats good to know.

Is Suncoast a Tuner or dealer?

And is probably a dumb question but what all do you get with the Sport plus update?

 

A dealer. This link has all the info you need. http://www.suncoastparts.com/product/970SMS.html?Category_Code=newproductpage

 

If I am not mistaken there have been software upgrades to the PDK (or at least there were for the 997's) I have driven pretty much every type of paddle shifter and it seems to me the higher the RPM's you shift at the faster it shifts. Not sure about this group but there are a drivers who use 4000RPM as their shift point. That is fine in car like a corvette but these cars seem to be a bit sluggish at that level. I find around 5500 RPM works pretty well. Sometimes you just need to find a cars sweet spot.

 

makes sense.... thats how most cars are with me... I just wish my PDK was as responsive as my DCT was in the more aggressive settings... but I'll get used to it after driving it for a bit you get to find that sweet spot...

 

I have had several M3 variants over the past few years, and all of them were the DCT...loved that tranny as well...UNTIL I got my Panny GTS with PDK. Man, o man, its just that much more seamless. DCT, in may ways, was violent and brutally fast, which at the time I loved. However, the PDK is just more brilliant in every setting. As others mentioned, in sport or sport+, at rpms around 5K, its just awesome. In auto mode, it simply crushes the DCT performance.

Enjoy!

 

I do agree that the PDK is not harsh at all....from one gear to the next is super smooth in manual and auto.... I guess Im one of those who loves the violent and fast shifts when I want to have fun.. haha... but for everyday driving this PDK is really nice and comfortable.

 

Sounds great I'll definitely look into this!

 

Question about Sport Plus....

Can you actually tell the upshifts being faster?
Will it blimp the throttle when you down shift?

 

at least on my GTS, the upshifts are WWWWAY faster in sports +....also, my car blips throttle whether in sports or sports+, which is nice, but at least to my ears, the accompanying "gurgle" in sports+ is just that much better. I just love everything about this car

 

Yours blips the throttle when is only in Sport?... it most be completly different software on the GTS compared to my S. Because mine definetly does not... the downshifts have zero emotion on mine....

Im going to do some more digging... to see how I can get more feel out of my car...