When I sat in a 991 I noticed the PDK shifter was a little on the higher side than I am used to like others have mentioned here.

I had asked my salesman about the manual position and he said something to me that makes a lot of sense ... when you sit in the car with the Manual it is going to be exactly where your hand will expect it. It will be a perfect fit.

If you think about it what is the possibility of Porsche putting the manual in a bad driving position ... they spent an insane amount of time developing this new 911 I cannot imagine them after all that time putting a manual and a clutch in a position that people wouldn't feel comfortable with.

I know some will say that Porsche is pushing the PDK but I don't think they are going to ruin a driving position with the manual so people reject it and go with the PDK.

With that said I hope I'm right since I ordered a Manual

BTW they happen to have a Carrera GT in the showroom and I noticed the manual in that car sat in what looks to be a similar position as the 991. Were there any complaints from the Auto reviews on that car ?

 

The 991 console is always compared to the Panamera. I think the design style and language comes from the GT.

Some side by side photos of the 991 and GT would be great. And then a few from the Panamera.

I too think think that it will feel great in your hand. Now if you have a 997 and 991 then I would expect a preference of one over the other but many will not have both and they will love the placement in the 991.

 

The entire console layout and shifter placement of the 991 was based on the Carrera GT so Porsche has had time to really analyze success or failings with that design.

When at our dealership reveal my buddy seriously analyzed whether or not he would like the manual in the new position - he sat in the drivers seat and mimic'ed as if he was shifting with the PDK lever being a manual **** instead - I remember he said "no issue - perfect".

 

I drove 1 yesterday but it was a PDK. The salesman said the reason they are pushing the PDK is A) times put down are better B) they noticed that many people in today's society can not drive stick...

 

Salesman talk out their a$$. Porsche owners in todays society cannot drive a stick...hmmm

I guess it's plausible they can't drive a performance clutch properly and were burning plates.. Maybe that's what he meant.

 

Driving a stick right, matching RPMs on downshift is not easy, and not quick, that's why I appreciate the refinements in the PDK.

ChuckJ

 

I ordered my base car with a manual as well and today after going to the book store adn reading several different reviews in different magazines, one gave a scathing and less than flattering review of the manual. It said something like "First thru fourth gears are fairly accurate, however 5th-7th are widely spaced etc." It also said the new 7 speed does not shift as well as the outgoing 6 speed. The writer felt some of the mechanical feel was absent in the new tranny. Another downside was the electronic parking brake which he felt was in an awkward position which is especially significant in the manual car since many PDK drivers will simply put it in park and skip the parking brake. I am really torn between walking away from my 991 on order and going with a proven commodity like the Carrera GTS which can be had at a deep discount. If anyone has actually driven a manual please post your experience so that we may put this issue to rest once and for all.

 

I want a manual but I can tell for me the stick seems to be in a bad position.

I have rotator cuff issues with impingement and having my wrist higher than my elbow may over time take its toll. I could feel the impingement flair up yesterday during the test drive when I placed my hand on the PDK stick.

Now I may be able to fix the seat to get better leverage but I will need to to see if this is possible.

 

T-

I saw that review and it was very negative. I think we need to see the finished product but it does give you some pause.

No one at my dealership had had driven a manual as of yet, so it may be some time till see some reviews.

 

I originally went to the PDK because of rotator cuff issues also, but now I just plain like it.

ChuckJ

 

GTS will always be sweet.

 

I admire those of you brave enough to order things undriven and untested. 10+ years ago after a little "surprise" upon delivery of my new car that EVERY mag raved about, I made a deal with myself NEVER to do that again. I've taken same-day round-trip plane flights to keep that deal and haven't wavered since. Mostly it's b/c I'm such a picky SOB. I read almost ALL the mags and watch web reviews and they are mostly right. I'm sure it will take more than one test-drive to decide if the 991 is for me. My dealer is doing their thing next Saturday and I expect only PDK cars. I'd much rather a manual for a 2-3 day/wk (if lucky) ride but that's BEFORE driving a PDK. We all know what manuals are like and there's not a whole lot to screw up. I do think there's enough that I wouldn't order one based on PDK test-drive and vice-versa. OP, I'm also on LI so who did you order from R,SS,H or other ? I wish you luck with the new car and look forward to seeing it on the roads around here....

 

ya probably lol ...

but I learned to drive stick when I was 16. since then have had tons of manual cars including a srt-10 viper, and a z06. which i can drive properly...

so thats why i would get manual

but I have driven with people who cant drive stick for sht... those people stay away from my cars !

 

Though I got trashed for saying it, I'll say it again. Four pedals (which includes the dead pedal) is going to be a very tight fit. They will have to offset the pedals towards the console. The 991 was designed around PDK and likely should be ordered that way (which IMO, sucks).

I can't believe that there aren't more questions being raised about why no one has driven a production level manual at this late date. I posted that recently, at the global launch for Porsche's dealer senior management in South Africa, no one was permitted to drive a production manual.

 

Irrepairable tear?