I alway downshift to first manually before is get under 10 MPH so you won't feel that jerk to a stop .

 

Great to hear you have gotten PDK to work for you. It has gotten a bad rap, but like any new process it takes time and experimentation to make it work for you. A manual is easier in some respects, but not having to shift in stop and go is a real bonus.

 

I am finding the PDK much more efficient. In manual mode it's the way to go . With a manual gearbox one still has to push a pedal and row his arm . The PDK is just a paddle and the preciseness is just incredible .

 

What you are experiencing with the harsh jerk from 2-1 in auto sport mode is normal. I have had the PDK software update and it helps to smooth out slow speed driving in general (more so in regular auto mode) but does not prevent this issue. I have found that manual sport mode does prevent this altogether. What's interesting is that sometimes in auto sport it doesn't happen. Keeping a foot on the brake and or stopping after more spirited driving seems to help. As you said, there's a lot to learn with this transmission. After 3,000 miles, I am still trying to figure it out.

 

I was test driving C4S with PDK today and did noticed the same thing, however it did not bother me at all as I had the same feeling with SMG on my M3 and not only in sports mode but in both, so this is totally normal for this car, as the matter of fact I kind of like it

 

I am totally digging the manual mode . From the start my biggest issue about even getting a PDK was feeling that technology can have its glitches , but I am finding that in manual mode I can still have all the decision making but assisted by extrordinatry efficient shifts . Like you said there is no jerkiness and the car just rips up the pavement.

There are two areas where the auto mode sound appealing :
1) Gridlock traffic . Pop it in auto /normal and the car is smooth and boring like any automatic . At stop and go 5MPH this is wonderful.
2) Launch control -I am not a drag racer and I don't even feel this is the type of car to drag race in but for those who want it launch control has it .

 

Yarrlis1, so now that you are getting a feel for PDK....bring it to the track and I will show you really how great it is.

 

The strange thing is that the forcefulness of the jerking can vary greatly. That's the part I'm still trying to figure out as I'm sure it's based on certain parameters.

On one extreme it can be a nothing more than a subtle thump with no jerking at all and on the other extreme it can jerk so hard it almost snaps your neck. I'm guessing somehwere in the middle is the feeling that you say you prefer as I don't see how anyone would like the very extreme jerking when coming to a stop. To me it feels like the drivetrain has stopped but didn't tell the rest of the car.

Anyway, I am starting to use the manual mode more now that I've been out of my break-in period for a while. During the first 2,000 miles, I mainly drove in auto switching to sport auto as I neared the last few miles. Since then I've also been driving it much harder which I think is helping the situation. I'll keep you posted.