Well then, I will be sure not to buy one.

If it has PDK, can it still be considered a true GT car?

 

I just hope PDK remains optional. If it's standard, the GT3 will no longer be a dream car to me.

 

While I know the PDK increases the cars performance, I would always miss manual shifting.

 

Those performance increases only matter in magazines. IMHO, it doesn't matter how fast you get there, but the experience that you have along the way. PDK will get you there faster, but a manual transmission will give you the greatest experience.

 

I understand the point of a manual transmission, and understood its place over the past 50 years+. Manual was preferred over automatic because it got you there faster. Yes, you had more control and it required more skill, but the reason that enthusiasts used to rag on autotragic transmissions was because they were slow, torque-converter laden, inefficient machines.

This is no longer the case. DSG/PDK and other similar dual clutch, even good single/sequential auto-manual transmissions perform noticeably better in real world scenarios. They are faster on the street and faster where i guess it is more important in this case, on the track.

My DD is currently a 6 speed. With my regular day-to-day driving, I don't get that much of an "experience" by shifting in stop and go traffic and driving around the city. Do I enjoy driving stick? Absolutely. But for me, it all comes down to intended use and purpose. I would have no problem DD'ing a DSG/PDK/DCT.

The 997TT which, remember, is the highest end "luxury-oriented" version of the 911 line, in DD form is the perfect mate for PDK. For weekend car purposes, a 6 speed would probably be better suited for the "experience."

I just love how the table has turned on the purists and the old arguments are now null and void. Now it is all about "experience."

 

It is just a feeling you have - Porsches should be 6Speed manuals.

I had never driven a manual regularly - outside of my old plumbing truck - when I bought my Turbo.

Nevertheless, I simply would not have even considered buying it in anything but a manual.

It was not the easiest car to learn to drive either!

Now I have a Sachs Stage II racing clutch and light-weight flywheel.

I just cannot imagine driving this car any other way.

Now, my Ferrari is different. I could not imagine driving it without an F1 gearbox.

It is just personal preference I guess.

I wouldn't kick a PDK Turbo to the curb, I'll tell you that much.

 

This tells me that there are external circumstances to your decision making like racing heritage, history, etc. You are obviously not completely opposed to automated transmissions, rather you have just a stigma related to 6 speeds and Porsches. I think you would be more easily persuaded to the modern alternatives in other cars, P-cars included, than some on here that would "NEVER" own anything that isn't 6 speed.

 

No, I am not that hard core.

I could not imagine driving a Porsche in anything else.

But - to be honest - I would and likely will drive almost any other car with a dual clutch.

The 458 is freaking amazing.

 

I don't know if I'll ever own a Porsche, but there is one thing that I do know: I will never own anything else than a manual car.

 

I would be willing to place a wager against that.