Manual or PDK 718 Cayman GTS
Discussion
Undecided on which gearbox to go for. It will be a long term keeper, and used for weekends/fun/Europe.
Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
It really is personal preference and might also depend on what else you drive (manual or auto) and your age…
Personally I have only test driven 911’s and Caymans with PDK, having had auto/DSG for the last couple of years I wasn’t keen on going back to manual and ended up choosing a Cayman S with PDK. It’s just a toy and will be used for the odd track day (one so far) and I have to say I certainly don’t regret not getting a manual.
Having said that I am off to the Silverstone PEC on Thursday where I will drive manual Spyder and PDK GT4 so will be interesting to see if I feel I am missing out on anything, but I don’t think that will be my conclusion.
Personally I have only test driven 911’s and Caymans with PDK, having had auto/DSG for the last couple of years I wasn’t keen on going back to manual and ended up choosing a Cayman S with PDK. It’s just a toy and will be used for the odd track day (one so far) and I have to say I certainly don’t regret not getting a manual.
Having said that I am off to the Silverstone PEC on Thursday where I will drive manual Spyder and PDK GT4 so will be interesting to see if I feel I am missing out on anything, but I don’t think that will be my conclusion.
Being old school i Was convinced I wanted a manual Cayman as a fun 3rd weekend only car but have to say after the test drive I now will only buy a PDK.
Sports cars over 300 bhp need a PDK to match performance but in a sub 300 bhp hot hatch i would go manual all then way though
Sports cars over 300 bhp need a PDK to match performance but in a sub 300 bhp hot hatch i would go manual all then way though
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th February 03:38
jwo said:
Undecided on which gearbox to go for. It will be a long term keeper, and used for weekends/fun/Europe.
Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
Hire one for a week and see - manual first and then PDK and see if you miss the manual. No matter what peoples replies are, there is no right or wrong answer, it is what is right for you. Its like asking shall I have a tea or coffee on a forum, what do you want? Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
Only you can answer that. Try both.
Personally I love PDK in my 981. Slap it over in to manual and the gearstick feels like a proper gearstick so you can shift with it, or use the paddles. And when not attacking B roads you can slip it over to auto, it'll double the mpg and turn in to a very comfortable, easy going GT.
Given the long gearing you'll barely get out of second with a manual anyway (will hit at least 70mph in second gear).
Personally I love PDK in my 981. Slap it over in to manual and the gearstick feels like a proper gearstick so you can shift with it, or use the paddles. And when not attacking B roads you can slip it over to auto, it'll double the mpg and turn in to a very comfortable, easy going GT.
Given the long gearing you'll barely get out of second with a manual anyway (will hit at least 70mph in second gear).
I tried both, in both NA and turbo versions of Cayman, and Cayman S. PDK is better in absolutely every way. In fact it's a technological marvel. If you ever get the opportunity, try launching a PDK 718 Cayman S off the left foot brake. It's hysterical. (Presumably a 718 GT4 with PDK can do the same trick? Bet that's even funnier!)
And knowing all that... I'm on my 3rd Cayman (still have the 2nd), and they are all manual. In my defence, the 981 GT4 only ever came that way, but when it came to ordering a new base model... I know PDK is better, but I prefer cars with 3 pedals and a petrol engine.
The objectively correct answer is PDK, but it's a subjective question. Try both and you'll know, as a few have said.
Liam
And knowing all that... I'm on my 3rd Cayman (still have the 2nd), and they are all manual. In my defence, the 981 GT4 only ever came that way, but when it came to ordering a new base model... I know PDK is better, but I prefer cars with 3 pedals and a petrol engine.
The objectively correct answer is PDK, but it's a subjective question. Try both and you'll know, as a few have said.
Liam
jwo said:
Undecided on which gearbox to go for. It will be a long term keeper, and used for weekends/fun/Europe.
It’s impossible to answer that question because, as has been said, it is totally subjective, and there is no right answer - we are just fortunate to still have the choice.Some will argue that PDK is a technical marvel, others will argue that a Manual provides more satisfying driver involvement.
If you did a poll it would probably be split 50/50. Although, I’ve often wondered if, these days, an increasing proportion of drivers may not actually be licensed to drive a Manual.
jwo said:
Undecided on which gearbox to go for. It will be a long term keeper, and used for weekends/fun/Europe.
Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
Bolting a flappy paddle gearbox to a flat six engine should be a criminal offence.Whilst i appreciate PDK is very slick and makes a quicker car, can’t help but think I will enjoy still being able to manually change gear (daily cars are both auto (Ev and ICE))..
Would I miss PDK?
As you are thinking long term, keep in mind nothing dates a car faster than an automatic gearbox (as well as the PCM).
Some people raved about PDK in the 981 when it was launched, but compared to more modern cars (like the 718) it’s pretty dim-witted. The same will be said about the 718 soon, if we aren’t all driving EV by then.
Edited by SkinnyPete on Sunday 20th February 07:47
If you think of a PDK as an auto you are selling it short, a PDK is doing manual gearchanges better than you ever could, it is a masterpiece of engineering.
Once you understand how it works it is, for my two bobs worth, if anything more fun than a manual.
The only people who knock them are either blindly quoting what the experts(?) say or have never owned one.
Once you understand how it works it is, for my two bobs worth, if anything more fun than a manual.
The only people who knock them are either blindly quoting what the experts(?) say or have never owned one.
I’d have to disagree slightly. After years of fun manual cars, I really wanted to try a PDK car, so bought a Carrera T with PDK about 16 months ago.
Yes it is fantastic piece of kit and there is no question at all that it is faster in everyday use. It’s just so much easier to be in the right gear at the right time.
And I absolutely loved the T. It really is a fantastic 911.
But I just traded it in for a manual 718 GT4. The reality is that the PDK and the T is just too good for normal roads and normal road speeds. For me.
I would almost certainly have kept the T for longer if it had been a manual. But I’ve scratched that itch, and now I know that a fun car for me has to be a manual. My winter/daily can quite happily be a diesel smoker.
But as everyone else says, only you can make that choice. I’m glad I tried a PDK car over a decent period. Now I know.
Yes it is fantastic piece of kit and there is no question at all that it is faster in everyday use. It’s just so much easier to be in the right gear at the right time.
And I absolutely loved the T. It really is a fantastic 911.
But I just traded it in for a manual 718 GT4. The reality is that the PDK and the T is just too good for normal roads and normal road speeds. For me.
I would almost certainly have kept the T for longer if it had been a manual. But I’ve scratched that itch, and now I know that a fun car for me has to be a manual. My winter/daily can quite happily be a diesel smoker.
But as everyone else says, only you can make that choice. I’m glad I tried a PDK car over a decent period. Now I know.
981Boxess said:
If you think of a PDK as an auto you are selling it short, a PDK is doing manual gearchanges better than you ever could, it is a masterpiece of engineering.
Once you understand how it works it is, for my two bobs worth, if anything more fun than a manual.
The only people who knock them are either blindly quoting what the experts(?) say or have never owned one.
That last line is usually trotted out by people without the foresight to appreciate that for some, driving a manual is effortless.Once you understand how it works it is, for my two bobs worth, if anything more fun than a manual.
The only people who knock them are either blindly quoting what the experts(?) say or have never owned one.
To add further irony to your comment, I read it while sitting in my PDK equipped car
You say PDK does gear changes better than a manual ever could, is that true? Not entirely I don’t think.
Sure slow speed changes in PDK while mooching around are quick and smooth, but does that really matter? I can’t ever recall arriving at Tesco’s quicker thanks to PDK.
The difference becomes less tangible at higher RPM, and depending on the driving mode.
On a balance of smoothness and speed, a competent driver will shift better than PDK in sports plus mode.
For context, I’ve done a lot of miles in PDK cars (my cayman is probably one of the higher mileage cars on this forum). I’ve used it for daily driving, euro road trips, track days, and even a bit of light off roading across muddy fields…
I’ve also owned a manual cayman, so I can say with absolute confidence that I miss the manual gearbox, and that I would never buy another PDK car.
OP, can you heel and toe? Can you double declutch? If so, get the manual. If not; than the GTS would be a great car to learn in
Edited by SkinnyPete on Sunday 20th February 10:57
I think manuals will become the next beta max video for the upcoming generation with disposable income.
We know less and less are wanting to drive and those taking their test probably only do so in DCTs these days.
Manual will become very niche and age/generation related IMHO.
NOT that resale should enter the equation of course
We know less and less are wanting to drive and those taking their test probably only do so in DCTs these days.
Manual will become very niche and age/generation related IMHO.
NOT that resale should enter the equation of course
981Boxess said:
SkinnyPete said:
On a balance of smoothness and speed, a competent driver will shift better than PDK in sports plus mode.
Complete rubbish - but like the rest of us you are entitled to your opinion.I look forward to the return of gear levers in F1 very soon.
Sports plus is jerky, and ruins the car. I’ve met numerous PDK owners at track days who don’t use it for that very reason.
It’s like Doreen from driving school is driving.
As others have said - this is an entirely subjective question, The car itself is fantastic and both gearboxes are very good at what they do.
For me personally the decision is really easy. I want a car with a manual gearbox and 3 pedals. The PDK may well be objectively better and even more fun to some - but it's not what I want, so it's not what I ordered.
For me personally the decision is really easy. I want a car with a manual gearbox and 3 pedals. The PDK may well be objectively better and even more fun to some - but it's not what I want, so it's not what I ordered.
Thanks all for the continued responses.. I think I will try both - haven’t experienced PDK box before (have tried and tested ZF 8 speed at mo).
Nice first world problem to have, and fortunately won’t be stuck on the M25 in heavy traffic in it, and a car to enjoy and drive for pleasure.
Other thing in back of my mind is the longer term relatability of the PDK box - although will have a chat with a few local specialists..
Nice first world problem to have, and fortunately won’t be stuck on the M25 in heavy traffic in it, and a car to enjoy and drive for pleasure.
Other thing in back of my mind is the longer term relatability of the PDK box - although will have a chat with a few local specialists..
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