Report: New Porsche 911 GT3 To Feature PDK Transmission Only
#22
10-19-2012 | 09:13 PM
Teamspeed Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 122
From: Toronto
Posted this in another thread but guess this is related.. a good read.
Porsche: Next-Gen 911 GT3 Could Be PDK-Only…? « AutoInjected.com
Porsche: Next-Gen 911 GT3 Could Be PDK-Only…?
I’ve just read an article originating from Insideline that tells of the threat (yes, it’s ridiculous enough news to warrant it as such) according to Porsche 911 project chief, August Achleitner, that the next-gen Porsche 911 GT3 – remember now, the hardcore purists choice of 911 - could very well come with a PDK-only transmission…
According to Achleitner, both manual and PDK transmissions are being ‘evaluated’ for consideration in the next GT3 (and here’s where I roll my eyes) but apparently only one transmission will be chosen in the end for the hardcore GT3 and he reckons the boring-as-mud, poseur PDK will get the nod. Achleitner continues to blither on with false numbers and ridiculous statements, one of which being that ‘only’ 30% of 911 sales are manual stick-shift so therefore PDK is a no-brainer… huh..? That’s just poor business sense if you ask me.
The new 991-gen 911 - oh, how I squint further at thee...
The embarrassment continues when Achleitner says “When we launched the 911 Turbo S, we did not offer a manual, but we have not had a single complaint”. Sure you didn’t Achleitner… But then again, of course he’d say that as Porsche charges (and makes) a load of extra cash on each 911 that is ordered with the PDK. By that token then, I’d think I’d be safe in reminding Porsche that 100% of previous-gen 997 GT3 sales were manual transmission…? Despite what Porsche may think, not every 911 owner spends their time bragging about 0-60 times and impressing their friends with launch-control.
Seeing as how the next-gen GT2 and GT3 will also be fitted with the new (and highly-controversial) electromechanical power steering set-up that has already come under heavy criticism for its lack of ‘feel’ and reportedly synthetic feedback qualities, it seems an unnecessarily brash move against Porsche driving-purists (and proper drivers, in general) to come out swinging with this silly threat of ‘you can have this, or nothing at all’ type of statement.
Could there not be anything more 'wrong' in the sportscar realm than a Porsche 911 without a manual option...?
I call BS on the whole story – this is just Porsche, once again, ruffling-up the feathers of the automotive world and heaving mass attention in their direction for the sake of headlines and discussion…. Does Porsche really, I mean really, think that GT3 buyers will be happy as lambs with electromechanical power steering and PDK-only…? C’mon…
Porsche has been developing (and offering) a new 7-speed manual transmission for the new 991-based 911 already so I don’t exactly buy into Achleitner’s claims that this ‘populist’ PDK-only option/threat has any weight behind it at all.
The GT3 RS 4.0 - the last proper 911 aimed at driving purists/enthusiasts...?
And my friends actually wonder why the new plethora of sportscars continue to fail in exciting me anymore… So thank you, to all the flappy-paddle posers… you have now successfully contributed to the ruination of, what used to be, one of the greatest driver’s cars ever.
Porsche: Next-Gen 911 GT3 Could Be PDK-Only…? « AutoInjected.com
Porsche: Next-Gen 911 GT3 Could Be PDK-Only…?
I’ve just read an article originating from Insideline that tells of the threat (yes, it’s ridiculous enough news to warrant it as such) according to Porsche 911 project chief, August Achleitner, that the next-gen Porsche 911 GT3 – remember now, the hardcore purists choice of 911 - could very well come with a PDK-only transmission…
According to Achleitner, both manual and PDK transmissions are being ‘evaluated’ for consideration in the next GT3 (and here’s where I roll my eyes) but apparently only one transmission will be chosen in the end for the hardcore GT3 and he reckons the boring-as-mud, poseur PDK will get the nod. Achleitner continues to blither on with false numbers and ridiculous statements, one of which being that ‘only’ 30% of 911 sales are manual stick-shift so therefore PDK is a no-brainer… huh..? That’s just poor business sense if you ask me.
The new 991-gen 911 - oh, how I squint further at thee...
The embarrassment continues when Achleitner says “When we launched the 911 Turbo S, we did not offer a manual, but we have not had a single complaint”. Sure you didn’t Achleitner… But then again, of course he’d say that as Porsche charges (and makes) a load of extra cash on each 911 that is ordered with the PDK. By that token then, I’d think I’d be safe in reminding Porsche that 100% of previous-gen 997 GT3 sales were manual transmission…? Despite what Porsche may think, not every 911 owner spends their time bragging about 0-60 times and impressing their friends with launch-control.
Seeing as how the next-gen GT2 and GT3 will also be fitted with the new (and highly-controversial) electromechanical power steering set-up that has already come under heavy criticism for its lack of ‘feel’ and reportedly synthetic feedback qualities, it seems an unnecessarily brash move against Porsche driving-purists (and proper drivers, in general) to come out swinging with this silly threat of ‘you can have this, or nothing at all’ type of statement.
Could there not be anything more 'wrong' in the sportscar realm than a Porsche 911 without a manual option...?
I call BS on the whole story – this is just Porsche, once again, ruffling-up the feathers of the automotive world and heaving mass attention in their direction for the sake of headlines and discussion…. Does Porsche really, I mean really, think that GT3 buyers will be happy as lambs with electromechanical power steering and PDK-only…? C’mon…
Porsche has been developing (and offering) a new 7-speed manual transmission for the new 991-based 911 already so I don’t exactly buy into Achleitner’s claims that this ‘populist’ PDK-only option/threat has any weight behind it at all.
The GT3 RS 4.0 - the last proper 911 aimed at driving purists/enthusiasts...?
And my friends actually wonder why the new plethora of sportscars continue to fail in exciting me anymore… So thank you, to all the flappy-paddle posers… you have now successfully contributed to the ruination of, what used to be, one of the greatest driver’s cars ever.
#26
10-19-2012 | 10:57 PM
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 601
From: Dallas
Maybe a sad end to the manual GT3, but it makes sense from a performance perspective. And Porsche probably knows that they will sell as many as they choose to build. I have a 6spd in my GTS and have held off of the 991 love, but this 991 GT3 might do the trick, gotta see it in the flesh and take it for a spin first...
And Chuck, your 4.0 will probably be sold before you even decide to sell it...best 4.0 I've seen of them all.
And Chuck, your 4.0 will probably be sold before you even decide to sell it...best 4.0 I've seen of them all.
#29
10-20-2012 | 05:31 AM
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 252
From: Bahrain / Puerto Rico
great, now my grandmother can go around the nurburgring as fast as walter rohl.
if i wanted a fast car with and auto tranny i would just buy a GTR which runs circles around a GT3 (they are running 10.7 quarter miles stock.)
What made the GT3 special was that intimacy between the driver and the car... that connection that you just do not get with a flappy paddle gearbox.
Will it be faster? yes.. but the current Carrera S is faster with a PDK than a manual also and I would never order it with PDK. It really does nothing for me.
I really dont get why they cant give the option a manual... its like theyre forcing you to like PDK instead of offering it as an option and let you decide by yourself.
im disappointed.
if i wanted a fast car with and auto tranny i would just buy a GTR which runs circles around a GT3 (they are running 10.7 quarter miles stock.)
What made the GT3 special was that intimacy between the driver and the car... that connection that you just do not get with a flappy paddle gearbox.
Will it be faster? yes.. but the current Carrera S is faster with a PDK than a manual also and I would never order it with PDK. It really does nothing for me.
I really dont get why they cant give the option a manual... its like theyre forcing you to like PDK instead of offering it as an option and let you decide by yourself.
im disappointed.
#30
10-20-2012 | 08:12 AM
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,431
Maybe a sad end to the manual GT3, but it makes sense from a performance perspective. And Porsche probably knows that they will sell as many as they choose to build. I have a 6spd in my GTS and have held off of the 991 love, but this 991 GT3 might do the trick, gotta see it in the flesh and take it for a spin first...
And Chuck, your 4.0 will probably be sold before you even decide to sell it...best 4.0 I've seen of them all.
And Chuck, your 4.0 will probably be sold before you even decide to sell it...best 4.0 I've seen of them all.