First Test Drive 997 S PDK - Page 1 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Hi all We have been lurking on this forum for a while now with the intent of buying our first ever Porsche. Today, the wife and I went for our first test drive. (Many thanks Mark at stirlings Porsche). He only had a PDK car to try, but I had my mind set on a manual. Anyhow, we tried the PDK car, the wife loved it and I must admit it was very good indeed. The car was fantastic to drive and we are looking forward to purchasing our first Porsche. Big decision now, manual or PDK? Will probably go PDK as it may be easier for the wife to drive, but to be honest I think I will be very happy which ever one we buy. This is our first post on here and we will let you know what we buy. All the best John & Lyn

Auto vs manual is a pretty hot and controversial topic around these parts. Do a search on the forums and get yourself a drink! Seriously, just try both and buy what suits you.

There's a good reason mark only had a PDK in stock. It's the one to buy and manual cars are slow to shift.

mollytherocker said: Auto vs manual is a pretty hot and controversial topic around these parts. Do a search on the forums and get yourself a drink! Seriously, just try both and buy what suits you. For most people, PDK is the way forward and will be the right choice for majority of their driving time. For super petrolheads, manual is what driving is all about rather than just being transport. The new generation of PDK, as will be featured on the 991 GT3, will possibly be a game changer.

PDK is fine unless you are a real purist (nothing wrong with that) but I personally hate the stupid thumb push/pull levers.I'd try and find a car with a sport design wheel and proper levers

Dblue said: PDK is fine unless you are a real purist (nothing wrong with that) but I personally hate the stupid thumb push/pull levers.I'd try and find a car with a sport design wheel and proper levers Absolutely insist they swap if needed and they can.

Magic919 said: There's a good reason mark only had a PDK in stock. It's the one to buy and manual cars are slow to shift. OR he's sold all his manual stock & only has PDK left

It really does depend on what you're looking for - the PDK box really is very good indeed and, if you remotely use the car regularly in town and/or fast lap times matter to you, is probably the way to go. If however you relish the challenge of learning how to interact with the machine and develop the skills to really do so, then manual will likely prove more rewarding (if not faster) in the long run. After a couple of decades of fast manual BMWs and 'advanced' training I'd fondly (ie original meaning = daft) imagined that my gearchange/brake/throttle/steering skills were fairly decent. Running the 911 for the last year has made me realise just how much a 'normal' car masks clumsy inputs. The 911 doesn't, and I've absolutely loved the challenge of upping my game to use it properly - and that's very much a work in progress. I doubt I'll ever tire of it. I did start out looking for a PDK C4S but, after extensive test driving, ended up with a manual C2S with the short shift kit fitted. Given my parameters of wanting a car from which I got the maximum feedback and which would make me work at understanding and using it, I don't regret my decision in the slightest and continue to find it hugely rewarding - any frustration I feel is with my own lack of skill. I probably will end up with a PDK at some point in the future but I'll always make sure there's a manual car in my stable. Have fun in the choosing and, if you do end up with PDK, make sure it's got the Sport Design (?) wheel with the proper paddles - that makes a huge difference.

You wont go wrong if you buy one from Mark, Must of been a long way to travel as he's down in deepest cornwall, but if he's on your doorstep, you probably don't realise just how good he is,his reputation is second to none. Very pleased with my Gen 1 car and hoping to get a PDK from him in the new year

Hi hotpowner I only live 10 miles away from Mark. I think I will go PDK, the wife loved it! Regards John

That the worst reason to buy a car I've ever heard!

Just try a manual before you commit to buying. What harm can it do?

Hi ADH 1 The car will be ours, not mine. We tend to share the driving & wife contributes to the annual income of this household. We have a 200 bhp Caterham 7 which my wife has driven around Spa and the Nurburgring. In addition, she even managed to spin it at Spa! She is a bit of a petrol head too! As I said in my post I was very impressed with the PDK system as I think we have the best of both worlds. Finally, if it puts a smile on my wife's face I am happy too :-) Regards John

Hi all Went for the Carrera S PDK in the end. Great fun in sports plus mode. :-) Regards John

Congratulations .... and pictures please

Johnrosk said: Hi ADH 1 The car will be ours, not mine. We tend to share the driving & wife contributes to the annual income of this household. We have a 200 bhp Caterham 7 which my wife has driven around Spa and the Nurburgring. In addition, she even managed to spin it at Spa! She is a bit of a petrol head too! As I said in my post I was very impressed with the PDK system as I think we have the best of both worlds. Finally, if it puts a smile on my wife's face I am happy too :-) Regards John Welcome and you sound like a gent i.e. not a powerfully built wife beater like other will make you believe ;-) Edit - manual for the 997, pdk for 991 onwards...

A Picture from the advert. Regards John

As somebody who has owned both, I have to say PDK all the way for me. That's with the caveat of HAVING the sport design wheel with levers. I find myself slightly dismayed at how much I leave it in drive to do it's own thing, it has an uncanny knack of always being in the right gear, but manual all the way when out for a hoon. Best of both worlds.

Johnrosk said: Hi ADH 1 The car will be ours, not mine. We tend to share the driving & wife contributes to the annual income of this household. We have a 200 bhp Caterham 7 which my wife has driven around Spa and the Nurburgring. In addition, she even managed to spin it at Spa! She is a bit of a petrol head too! As I said in my post I was very impressed with the PDK system as I think we have the best of both worlds. Finally, if it puts a smile on my wife's face I am happy too :-) Regards John John, happy wife = happy life.... So very true. My wife loves my 991. she wouldn't drive my 997 because it was a manual, but she finds the PDK gives her confidence she didn't have with the manual. I thought about PDK V manual for a long time (and part of me still loves a good manual gearbox), but the PDK (with paddles) is the way to go. I have mine in manual mode about 90% of the time.... If you get PDK I would recommend trying to find one with Sports Plus too. However, I believe it can be retrofitted (for about £700). Tom.

Hi Findtomdotcom The car has sports plus which is great fun, though I think it would sound better with a sports exhaust. The wife loves it and it's great to drive around town. The new GT3 has PDK only and I think the next generation 911 will not have a manual box. We have a Civic Type R and a Caterham 7 with 6 Speed manual boxes, so we have all bases covered. It was great to finally realise my boyhood dream of driving and owning a 911. All the best John

Just seen this thread now - congrats! Lovely car. I bought my 997.2 C2S PDK from Mark a couple of months ago, an excellent experience and the car is superb so I'm sure your's is too.