As above. I reckon they'll lose a fair amount of customers because of this, they'll just be buying up 997 GT3/RS's IMO.
sorry, but the manual transmission is dead. do you surf Fchat on a typewriter? do you send telegrams instead of emails? then why cling to a transmission that has been replaced by something faster, easier and more foolproof? GT3RS with a paddle-shift PDK would be killer on a track. sign me up.
There's an emotional appeal to a stick shift transmission. It's fun. I still love automatic/mechanical watches even though quartz is much more accurate.
Beat me to it... Me personally, I will always have a MT car next to an automatic, if I was going to get a DSG car.
What they said. Porsche/Audi is writing the plot, not losing the script. If you like retro -- and I do -- keep an older sports car in the other garage bay for when fast isn't the most important thing.
Anyone know the sales figures on the 911TT for PDK vs. Manual? I'd imagine that they are selling a lot more with PDK and are coming to the realization that Ferrari has. Traditional manuals may be fun (I was driving one in my dream last night) but it's not what consumers are buying anymore.
Dont know the numbers but as a side note the 2011 Turbo S only comes in PDK, showing that the manual option is not sought after. And you probably would have to shift EXTREMELY quickly in that beast. I think that the E-gear/F1/DSG/DCT among the other options are the 'only' options for todays super cars. With the amount of acceleration that modern day they produce, the 'auto' methods are the better choice. However, the manual options shouldn't go away. A change will happen where the manual 'becomes' the option and probably will cost more, if the company will even bother with it. I also read that the 2013 GT3 may have a possible mid engine layout. Type 'GT3 PDK' into google and one of the first links has a short article on it. Where is Porsche headed? I know this should have happened years ago but at this point just keep it in the rear and leave the manual alone. Here it is. http://www.zercustoms.com/news/2013-Porsche-911-GT3-Gets-Mid-Engine.html Dont know how much weight the site or info carries. But it certainly makes us guess!
A 3D rapid prototyping machine is more accurate than a pen knife, but people still whittle because they like the skill and feel of it.
GT3 series is for pure speed, so it makes sense to have the fastest transmission available. They'll still offer the true manual for the other lines of 911.
The GT3 racecar might be for pure speed, but that's because their purpose is to win a race. The road car's purpose, imo, is to use whatever elements available to please the driver. In some cases the PDK will be preferable to the driver, and in other cases it will be the manual transmission. I don't think it's a coincidence that the GT3RS beat out the 458 in evo magazine's recent shoot out. Even though the RS is slower and more difficult to drive than the 458, it had the more feelsome steering and a manual transmission. I'm scared of losing the manual transmission as an option on cars.
true. but it all comes down to the..err..bottom line. when will Porsche reach the point where it won't make sense, from production costs perspective, to make something that fewer and fewer will demand? we'll have to wait and see. as per EVO, word is there was more to it than that. the 'legit' reason they give makes sense, but the falling out with Ferrari certainly dices things
Only Porsche can get away with a lightweight stripped down car thus demanding a premium, then offer AC and radio as an option.
I'm no race car driver, and I much prefer a manual trans to a PDK or whatever they will call it. They way it is going, will the Corvette be the only sports car that offers a manual trans?
I think it's fairer to ask how many GT3 and GT3 RS they've sold compared to the price equivalent tiptronic/PDK 911s (within 10% of cost).
Also, just to add... If the 998 'normal' 911s will be available with a proper manual gearbox, surely it's not that difficult to bolt that gearbox onto the 998 GT3 and add a clutch pedal? If they're going to bother with a manual for the normal 911's it baffles me why they won't do it for the GT3 also. Have it as a 3-5K USD option.