http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/2013-porsche-911-gt3-wont-be-available-with-a-manual-gearbox/ Ugh... I hope this is a joke...
If this turns out to be true, the GT3 RS 4.0 may become the most sought after 911 in the future... I don't believe this rumor though.
What's so bad about PDK? The manual is like the cassette tape and the CD, it's going to fade out eventually, you might as well get used to it now.
That analogy makes no sense at all. The CD player rendered the cassette tape useless because it took the good parts of the cassette, improved it, made it more efficient and accessible without ANY drawbacks. There's no advantage to a cassette tape over a CD. There is, however, an advantage to a manual over a PDK. They both have their place. The PDK is an amazing thing, as is the dual clutch technology on modern Ferraris. It's incredibly impressive, but it's not something for a purist car. I don't think I could own a paddle shift 911 GT3. It's just NOT natural. The GT3 is supposed to be a purist car. The GT3 (RS) is to me the F40 of the Porsche world, although not to the same extent - it's a no-frills, drivers car. It's a visceral experience and a challenge. There's a satisfaction that comes with a perfect rev-match/heel toe into a corner. With the PDK, it's always perfect and it's always done for you. You don't have to do the work. The PDK isn't a challenge to drive in any sense. It's boring. Have you ever driven a manual, Ashwin? I daily drive a manual and I wouldn't have it any other way.
what's the advantage of a manual over a PDK? it's more "fun"? a manual is slower, more error prone (read: driver error ), and wears out faster. personally I think the PDK is the way to go for the GT3. I'm actually surprised Porsche is bothering with the 7-speed manual in the 991 at all.
Yes, it's more fun. It's more of an experience. I don't think a cassette player was more fun or more of an experience compared to a CD player... That is all true. I think it should be an option. I'm glad they bothered with the 7-speed manual in the 991. Of course all of this will always come down to personal opinion. I understand why the PDK is better and there's no arguing that with logic. I personally prefer a manual... it's more involving.
FWIW, I wouldn't call an incredibly precise gearbox a "frill" -- it does make the car go faster, which should be OK for purists. A leather tissue holder on the rear shelf would be more of a frill, as would sat nav or a colored embroidered shield in the headrest. I enjoy the old three pedal manual box, the same way I like carbs. But if it's about going fast then sign me up for a GT3 RS with Porsche's best available technology.
I have, but that was for a <10 minutes and I was just driving around a parking lot. Sorry, but the beloved manual is going to be a thing of the past. I do agree that it should be an option. Also, how can it be more fun, the 7 speed gearbox in the 991 is for fuel economy, you'll probably never leave 2nd to 4th gear on a race track (I've driven enough cars on videos games around a racetrack to know that).
Spend a little more time with a manual... they are a lot of fun! I know it's going to be a thing of the past, I'm just voicing my opinion. How can it be more fun? It's more involving.
So is driving a Model T, but I don't want to hand crank my car every time I want to drive it. I do know they are more fun, the next car (S2000) will hopefully be one. That won't be for a while though, I don't need a new car anytime soon. It's like ripping on electric cars. I like them, do I see the point of the Prius, yes, but I don't like the way they try to sell you on it. It's not very energy efficient when the batteries and other components are outsourced and shipped on massive barges. It's still new technology, you'll get it one day.
LOL You're looking at S2K's for your next car? Awesome! Phenomenal car! Ehh... I hope to God I'm never forced to own an electric car.
What? There's just one point to a Prius. To make MONEY. Toyota and the green-tinged media have pulled the biggest automotive caper in history on consumers with this hybrid crap.
the new pdk's are much nicer than the previous generation. more "ferrari" like, imho. i never thought i would say this, but i believe i have "crossed to the other side" on this issue!
Interesting tidbit for me: per article, only 1/3 of 911s sold are manual shift. Writing is on the wall, it seems. I predict that the PDK versus manual will be argued for many more times. I actually don't have a problem with using a PDK to shift; it's long term reliability, however, is still in question for me. I've driven a 911 PDK in the street and liked it so far; I've not driven one outside of the novelty period. I've driven a PDK Cayman R in an autox track when it was first introduced; I liked it as well, but I felt a bit of hesitation/surges as I downshifted in a sweeper under steady state throttle. Hmmm, software refining needed, maybe. Then I started reading about malfunctions in some Porsche forums. Porsche AG must be feeling confident about the PDK now to put it in a GTx. I also suspect the IC engine versus electric motor debate will get more heated. Environmentally, I question the overall benefit of the electrics throughout the whole production chain. But I sure would like to try what responsive electric torque is all about.
+ 991 I drove one yesterday for the first time. Never thought I'd say this...but...the stick is a thing of the past...if you want to go fast. I never realized until yesterday that a stick actually interferes with the involvement of driving....at least in a car with this level of competency.
PDK while fast and the latest will one day be like the Sportomatic is now. It's hard to find parts for it. If you're in and out of your cars in say a couple of years it won't matter, but if you're looking to hold you might have wished they still made manuals?
I get that manuals are more fun and involving, I'm trying to scheme a way to get one for my next car. But in a track focused car like the GT3, the PDK is the only transmission that makes sense. The 7 speed manual works in the Carrera and Carrera S models, may sell like gangbusters in the Turbo too, but the PDK works perfectly for a track car. There's a reason Vettel isn't rowing through his own gears.
I have the tiptronic... was a hard decision to make and even harder to adapt. I love shift but I didnt want to stay way behind... After whille you start to get used... still miss the shift... what i don't understand is why the brake pedal is so far right. I like to use the left for braking... kind of hard on Porsches...
Why do flappy paddle advocates just not understand the term 'more involved with the car' and always keep going on about how much faster it is? Anything I'll say about a manual gearbox now will be pure repetition, so I'm not going to do it. I 100% understand why people like a flappy paddle gearbox so much, because on a track, it really is faster. But 99% of the people claiming that, hence their choosing said gearbox, won't use said car on track. Divide by zero. I've heralded the GT3 as one of the last true drivers cars, and applauded Porsche for it. I've never been the biggest Porsche fans (minus GT3/Carrera GT), but I really applauded Porsche for offering a manual for the 991. Last year they still sold 30% of 911's with a manual. I'll be pretty bleak if they offer the GT3 with PDK only for this model... As a European, I've learned to drive with a manual (as pretty much all Europeans do). If you're an American I can understand why you wouldn't choose a manual because you learned to drive in an Automatic, and you don't want to risk 150K USD on a car with in your mind, the wrong gearbox. At 22, I fear I'm going to look at the automotive world through rose tinted glasses. Already.
My GT3 was obviously a manual, it could be no other way. It was a very visceral 996 GT3 version (read: least encumbered by nannies) and anyone would have expected a manual box. But then the 997 Version came, and the platform softened (yet still a manual box). That softened edge suited many more buyers, but lost me (egad! a sunroof!). Then the 997.2 arrived, and the cars edge continued to soften. Still a very good car, but again it had lost me some time ago. Now the 991 version is introducing a PDK to the platform. This is to be expected no? But it will be a fantastic car, and it will suit more buyers than ever. Well done for Porsche. Of course it wont be the rabble-rowser the 996 GT3 was, and the 996 GT3 would not be the back-alley car the '73 Carrera RS was either. But they will all be considered very good cars as they were. Again, well done Porsche. I was never for or against a paddle shift car, and it made no difference to me that my Stradale only came with a F1 box. The car as a whole is fantastic, and the shifting action is very well suited to the machine. The details of how it is shifted would never be the end-all of decision makers on a car for me. You have to look at the big picture and how the car works as a complete entity. At least I do.
