991 7-Speed Manual Transmission a bit Rough?

I test drove a 991 manual today. I found the 7-Speed manual transmission to be a little 'rough'. The shifts weren't as smooth and slick as the manual 981 Cayman (different transmission) and I found the clutch pedal to be heavier. I was a little disappointed to be honest. I'm a die-hard manual guy so this is NOT another manual vs PDK debate (thank goodness) but just to put feelers out there if other folks that have tried the 7-Speed manual were a bit underwhelmed? I've heard that it's partly because it's built to interact with the PDK 7-Speed transmission so it's not ideal. I just found it a little rough. Not as slick and effortless as I was expecting.

It's a totally different transmission than the 981 , that's really just a stripped PDK transmission. But it'll probably be a little smoother after break-in.

IIRC, some reviewers have panned the 991 7MT--Chris Harris, maybe?

Yeah, unfortunately I've read a few reviews where they put in in their top-10 worse transmissions.

Interesting, never driven a manual 991, seems hard to find in the dealer's showroom floor. Almost all of them are PDK . Almost seems like PCNA doesn't care about manuals anymore. I have a 997 and the manual is a great transmission. So sad to hear.

I see you asked the same question elsewhere too and got responses that it was very smooth. I cannot speak about a 981 but can about a 987 and find little difference. As I noted here , in comparison to a 911 Carrera, "This clutch is light as a feather". So to me, the Cayman clutch was nothing. Yes, the 991 clutch does feel a tiny bit heavier to be noticeable but not like I remember back in the day. The only thing I don't like or care about is 7th, an obvious offering to the mileage deities. Can't go into 7th without being in 6th, the whole thing feels unnatural. Otherwise, ratios are about perfect and everything is smooth, to me. I just ignore 7th and pretend it doesn't exist unless at highway speeds. Here's the thing. They are doing their job, they need to make money and sell whatever. How many actually live with it day in an day out? They are just opinions, just like yours, or mine, or the guy down the street. That has nothing to do with PCNA. It has everything to do with your local dealer. When they buy cars for their inventory, they are going to stock their inventory with vehicles they think will sell. What sells today? Automatics. Just take a look at the color selections. Most are the same, silver, grey, and blacks. Why? Because people coming in off the street want those colors. If they wanted yellow, blue or red, they would stock those colors. The same is true with PDK. You stock what will easily sell.

I know what you mean but it sounds like the 991 manuals are not as good as the 997's. I'm not talking about inventory. Mercedes doesn't make many manuals transmission cars at all, less than 5% of MB's are manual here in the states but their manuals transmission is smooth and surprisingly good. It's sad to hear that the 991's manuals isn't as good.

It would be interesting to compare with the other 7 speed manual on the market.

Hi guys, well, Hawc started this same thread on a few different car boards. Over on the board beginning with the number 6, responses are a bit different than here. Myself, I find the 991 manual to be an absolute joy. One drive with the 991 manual was all it took for me, she came home a few days later. The gear you must be in to get to 7th is 5th, and it's an easy up and up over to 7th anytime and from 7th to anywhere else, 2nd, 3rd, whatever... it's effortless after getting used to the car a bit in my experience. Driven for 12K + miles now, really love it. Here are just a few youtube vids driving the manual, if you'll notice I just go to 3rd, 5th, and 7th on an entrance ramp. Bessy was born before October 2012 so she doesn't have rev-matching. :dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhsv6i3UJqw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMn7WPBhak8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVbHSOLRQDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfNz_aJQ7x4

Although I never drove a 991 MT 7 speed, your post makes sense to me. More gear ratios should make shifting smoother, not rougher.

I've driven two 991s with the 7spd (a used Carrera and a new Carrera S) and they both felt somewhat fragile. The shift action is rifle bolt-like (good), a little notchy but not as smooth as the 6spd in the Cayman / Boxster . My issue with the 7spd is that the synchros felt fragile, like I could beat them; perhaps that's the rough feeling you sensed. It's almost like being in an older car with a 915 transmission ... you had to shift them deliberately ... My real issue with the 7spd is that the non-S felt really soft; sort of gutless. I don't know if the ratios are less than optimal but the non-S feels a lot punchier with the PDK . I didn't notice a problem with the clutch; to me it felt better than the 2007 Cayman and 2008 Boxster I used to drive ... better take-up point, not too heavy (but not too light) ...

I absolutely love my 7 speed manual. Love the tight smooth feel. Makes it feel like a true drivers car. The owners manual makes a comment about the 6th gear being for speed and 7th is overdrive/fuel. IMHO

Fragile is a good word. I think that's a good description of the feeling. Yeah, the clutch on the 07 Cayman is really light. And very vague take-up point.

Me too. In fact at the last minute I switched from a Boxster S with PDK (that I had custom ordered) to my 7MT 991 cab. I am very happy with the tranny even during the breakin period now. Not a DD and I enjoy the control over the car's sounds. This what me decide on the 7MT.