991 7 Speed Manual

I drove a 7-speed 911 S few weeks ago...VERY nice car, good power, easy to drive, and the shift feel is pretty much what I've come to expect from late model porsches. Positive, but very smooth and not overly mechanical (though I like an overly mechanical shift feel The transmission works very well and is easy to get a lot out of, displaying not one iota of reluctance -- again, what I expect from Porsche as of late. The clutch has a nice bit of weight to it, too.

My only complaints are my perception of it's size from the driver's seat and a vague yet persistent feeling of detachment (though I hopped out of a 348 into a brand new Boxster S, then into the 911, so maybe that isn't a fair assessment). The fairly muted engine and exhaust notes contribute a lot to that feeling, I think.

Overall, great car, well built, beautiful, fast, and I'm sure a lot of fun once you get to know it. Sadly, I lack the $117,000 of play car cash to do so.

 

I've tested 991 S/PDK and 991/7M variants recently.

The shift action of the manual is lighter than the 997 manual and 7th is an additional overdrive gear. I'd like a little more heft to the shifter. Seven gears in a manual box is almost a novelty. In the 991 non-S, you really have to wind out each gear to get the car to move. I haven't looked at the power and torque curves, but it's like the engine makes all it's power at the top. Moderate to heavy clutch as Chupacabra says, typical Porsche.

The 991 S/PDK combination is perfectly suited to the character of the car. I think the upcoming 991 S4/PDK will be a wonderful package.

FWIW, I find the 991 more engaging than the 981 Boxster, primarily due to better steering feel.

Go drive a 991 manual, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

FWIW:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-porsche-911-carrera-instrumented-test-review

 

you could always just smack the firewall with your left foot every time you pull the paddle on a PDK....

 

You know...maybe I'm a troglodyte of some magnitude, but PDK annoys the hell out of me, especially dialed all the way up in sport mode, etc. I keep thinking, "NO! I wanted to do that!" Granted, it is THE best automatic transmission I have ever driven...but in my view, that does not make it THE BEST. The manual P cars are so darn easy to drive now that I really don't see choosing a manual as giving up much convenience.

Plus, a manual is so much fun, even if I think that 7th gear is a little bit superfluous. I know why they did it, but still...

Just my 2 cents, as always

 

the crisp "snick" of a well executed shift will always win the day for me.

 

I have ~8400 miles on my DD 991s with 7MT. The 7mt is an excellent transmission with buttery smooth shifts and easy to use even in heavy Atlanta rush-hour traffic. While the PDK may be faster on a race track, the 7mt is much more fun on a day to day basis.

 

wow, 8400 miles. well done sir!

 

back to the drawing board?

 

Don't laugh, I've done that by accident. Just out of habit, I tried to clutch in where there was no clutch...SLAMMED the break with my left foot in the middle of traffic. I felt, and looked, like a ****.


Mark

 

I do that sometimes switching between my 911 and the Jeep.

 

And, I have driven that 8400 miles since mid June 2012. I normally put about 25k miles per year on my DDs.

 

You're only as old as you feel. At 55 years young, I hope to have at least 25 more years with MT cars as well as my MT dirt and street bikes.

 

dude, just buy a close out 997 with a manual

 

It must have been the 991 you drove as I test drove a 997s 6mt and 991s 7mt back to back and bought the 991s as I found it had a far superior transmission feel as well as build quality, power, handling and looks.

 

That's exactly what I would have done had I not ventured into Ferrari land!

 

and now for something completely different

you have automotive ADD my friend