Does anyone know how many 997s are sold with each? And, do you think the manual will go away one day in the not-to-distant future?

 

I don't know the stats but sadly, I do believe the manual will eventually go away. Ferrari and Lambo are both pushing their paddle shifters and as we all know Porsche just added a paddle optinon on the Turbo.

I think part of the problem is that there isn't many opportunities for new drivers to learn how to operate a manual any more. You can't even rent a car with one any longer. Even small economy cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Carolla and Mazda 3 are being built mostly with automatics these days. Manual shifting is becoming a dying art.

 

close to 90% of new porsches produce are automatic/PDK

 

Nothing works better for sales than to make a major component like the transmission evolve . Look what happened to the Tiptronic in the wake of PDK.

My guess is that both the current PDK and manual will BOTH go to the next level. PDK will grow in terms of sophistication and the manual is already seen in the Cup car with a sequential shifter. It's been out awhile .. but I think it's the next step . The tuners are already well into it too.

Here's the OEM Porsche one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us0nmNZfw6A

 

I realize the benefits to the auto, but it just feels strange to me to have a true sports car that doesn't have a clutch pedal.

 

The sequential shifter does have the clutch pedal . It only goes up or down rather than an H pattern .

 

why would a sequential be an improvement? part of the H pattern is that you can tell what gear you are in by feel. guess it's slightly faster...

 

So any paddle shift auto isn't a real sports car? Have you driven a 430 or Gallardo with paddles?

PDK is light years ahead of tiptronic. While PDK isn't your standard manual it is still a manual.

Both of my sports cars are standard manuals, but I would order my next 911 in PDK or Lamborghini in E-gear.

You don't have to evolve but cars and technology are. Do you still use a dial up modem? Cable is so much faster! Get my point?

 

Looks pretty darn fast in this Evoms test. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M216DVI-TgU

 

Ok I understand if you have never been in or seen a cup car up close in personal.

 

There are 2 transmissions - 6Speed manual and PDK. Pick one and be happy.

This is one of several threads initiated by 6Speed owners questioning transmissions. I wonder why they start this? Is it insecurity or doubt about their choice?

Re. sequential manuals... the PDK IS a sequential manual. The sequential manual used in the Cup/RSR cars will not come to the street car ever, I do not think. Those are straight teeth cogs that would not last long on the street. And the clutch is only used in those for downshifting. OTOH, it will not surprise me if some form of a double clutch transmission will migrate to competition...

But OT... pick one type, be happy, and do not worry about the other choice! I don't.

 

I partially agree . The only part I disagree on is that a lot of tuners are tinkering with it and when that usually happens .. it's here.
You saw what happened with the paddles and they are already here via OEM too.

My question is --who is going to develop a sequential shifter that satifies the hard core PDK enthusiast while still capturing the hand /foot on interractive aspects that manual lovers keep pounding the pavement on.

It's almost like there's an answer right in front of everyone on an open book test and yet nailing sentiment for a perfect 10 with the consumers and drivers misses -- thus it keeps opening up these debates and threads like the OP posted.

 

Larry: trannies are complex things. Tuners may bolt a sequencer on a STD Aisin/Getrag/ZF box but that only makes it a sequential wannabe (and it will not last long). What I hear from the people who know about it within PAG is what I stated above. The future will prove me right. BTW I do not think PAG will drop a conventional manual any time soon, but now being part of VAG, who knows?

It's funny that the insecurity always comes from 6-speed drivers... We do not see PDK drivers minimizing the manual.

 

I agree that transmissions are complicated but do you think when 09 sales had stalled in the first half of last year while at the same time the GtR was getting a lot of attention --Porsche slept through it ? I don't . The PDK was an obvious success and that transmission plus incentives swept away what could have been a dismal sales year.

If you read the Turbo anf Gt3 folders there is great resistance to the PDK (read after my post )
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...bo-thread.html

It's not just the original poster and cars do not sell if people are reluctant to accept change --especially if the strengths of the manual reveal the weakness of the PDK and visa versa.

In my opinion --BOTH have merrit and BOTH have to grow.
That will sell cars --because if BOTH are improved consumers will view their cars as being dated and people want the newer car enough to buy it .

Just because Nissan failed to knock Porsche off its throne doesn't mean they didn't get noticed and in order to stay number 1 it means one must keep ahead of rest . Porsche can not rest or someone else will figure it out.

In fact -- the mere fact that the tuners have taken these Turbos and pulled every single competitive number and blown stock away keeps their cars ahead of porsche too.

The PDK is still in its infancy .
So is the manual in terms of where it could be.

In my opinion -look at all the threads on it ... it's what the people want .
Unlike the "Bangled" BMW --Porsche tends to listen . That's a good thing .

I can only hope to see further improvements and would be very disappointed if growth stalls.

 

ive driven a race car with sequential shifter added (still had clutch, but sequential instead of H pattern.. i can understand its need for race car.. always in right gear.. no mistakes.. etc.. but it was just annoying.. would much rather have clutchless sequential.. i.e. PDK.

id your going to be **** over sequential versus H making it "faster" then you cant deny pdk is the fastest route...

i dont think sequential manual's with clutch will ever reach production cars.. would just be silly.