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PDK - Comments by Owners

34K views 288 replies 72 participants last post by  NumberOne 
#1 · (Edited)
OK... The MT crowd has their own thread "6MT"; which is for those who own those transmissions to describe their joy of operation. And that thread has been somewhat successful in being non-combative. This is the "sister" thread for the owners of PDK transmissions.

Advance notice: This is NOT the place for negative comments about either PDK or 6MT or comparisons of the two, such as "I can't stand the ___ transmission because ___; so I got the other transmission." I see that "sarcasm" has recently become a trendy issue; so if you were wondering - sarcasm won't be welcomed here, either. This thread is for owners of PDK to describe what & why they really like their transmission.

Addendum
It's OK for experienced PDK owners to say if they have any disappointments or dislikes with their own transmission.

Cheers :cheers:
 
#64 · (Edited)
Right now there's some wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Rennlist 991 section about a recent software update that appears to have added some latency to the clutch takeup in PDK cars. Even apart from that, people were complaining about the fact that it doesn't feel like a Z06 Vette, or whatever. I don't think some of them realize that the PDK is still a manual transmission with a more-or-less conventional clutch inside. Drag strips are one place where traditional automatics with torque converters can still come out ahead, but geez, I sure wouldn't want one anywhere else. If I did, I'd have bought a Z06 to begin with.

That said, I do hope the rumors about Porsche degrading the PDK's real-world launch performance with a firmware update aren't actually true, and if so, that they aren't applied to the 981 cars. Right now I think my 981S PDK takes off as well as it could possibly be expected to under all conditions, and I don't want them to change anything about it when I take the car to the dealer for service.
 
#65 ·
Right now there's some wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Rennlist 991 section about a recent software update that appears to have added some latency to the clutch takeup in PDK cars. Even apart from that, people were complaining about the fact that it doesn't feel like a Z06 Vette, or whatever. I don't think some of them realize that the PDK is still a manual transmission with a more-or-less conventional clutch inside. Drag strips are one place where traditional automatics with torque converters can still come out ahead, but geez, I sure wouldn't want one anywhere else. If I did, I'd have bought a Z06 to begin with.

That said, I do hope the rumors about Porsche degrading the PDK's real-world launch performance with a firmware update aren't actually true, and if so, that they aren't applied to the 981 cars. Right now I think my 981S PDK takes off as well as it could possibly be expected to under all conditions, and I don't want them to change anything about it when I take the car to the dealer for service.
Do you know the name/number of the update?

The WD09 update affected the PDK programming: http://www.planet-9.com/981-cayman-...letins-workshop-campaigns-etc.html#post733013. Not sure if that is what they are talking about.
 
#69 ·
Don't know if anybody had mentioned this...stuff I figured out by experimenting.
Engaging "Sport" mode will disable the "cruise" mode (during highway cruising, RPMs drop to idle when driver gets off the gas pedal) and also the engine auto start-stop.

Cruise mode is enabled in PDK auto mode and disabled in PDK manual mode.
 
#70 ·
Yes, if you are in sport mode, you have disabled the "coasting" function.

Amazing transmission!:eek: I'm still experimenting too.
I still have a question unanswered:
I do not have "Sport-Plus" button (I know, bad decision).
But if I use manual mode, with a aggressive right foot and shifting close to redline, will this be similar to sport plus-mode?

Thanks in advance...

--Hal
 
#71 ·
Pretty much. Sport Plus also locks out 7th gear so just don't shift into 7th. :)
 
#73 ·
Thanks! Now I don't feel out of the fun!
When I drove a CS at the dealer, with the sport-plus, I was very impressed.
But circumstances (and $15K short), we wound up with a Cayman base with all of the great options we wanted...except sport-chrono and sport plus.

But...I got the PDK, PASM, and other options. PDK was the highest priority.
I'll save for the sport exhaust. Looks like you can add it later without drama.
 
#75 ·
By Far the Best Automatic transmission I'd driven. THis comming from years of driving Honda, Acura, Lots of BMWs, and some MB's. This thing is like no others, I had never felt this type of transmission. Its 75-85% feels of driving a manual, I only tried once today. I dont want to spoil everything yet.. heck i didnt even try Sport Plus mode.. im testing out little by little. loving the excitement =)
 
#85 · (Edited)
I find the PDK (last version) an excellent "semi-automatic/full-automatic" gearbox and a joy to use, either for comfort/daily drive or track/race use...

In fact, after 5 minutes drive I was already convinced/addicted, and this comes from a guy who has been driving manual gearboxes for over 40 years (and racing for half that time)... ;)
(Btw, this is my first automatic, ever!)

The only thing I really dislike - I'll have to get used to it, though, as I bought a PDK BS - is that you aren't allowed to choose the up&down shift movement. I explain:
PDK's |Up/Down shifting| for |Stick + Steering Wheel Shifting Buttons| should be user (PCM) configurable/toggled for push and pull.
This way you would get excellent compatibility with different cars (even with Porsche's own GT3... :naughty:) and extremely joyful use for your personal tastes... ;)

(...And I'm almost sure it's easy to implement - AFAIK, it's totally motherboard&firmware commanded... :))
 
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#105 · (Edited)
Before I purchased my car, my SA told me it's not possible to change - I thought it was just some wire change/toggle, notably for the rockers/push-pull paddles of the "Standard and Multifunction" steering wheels - but he confirmed, once more, that it's totally motherboard and firmware commanded, so impossible to do; he told me also that the same goes for the shifting stick... :(

I still find this hard to believe, at least for the mentioned steering wheels...
Hasn't anybody found a solution yet?!
:thanks:

Cheers,
 
#86 · (Edited)
I have to admit, coming from a 993, when I last drove a PDK Cayman S on the road, I kept it in Sport Plus with the sport setting on PASM. Otherwise the car felt a bit lazy and it upshifted WAYYY too quickly (at low revs). All this talk about "head snapping" acceleration is just that; talk. IMHO the most aggressive setup is still plenty civilized for the street.
 
#95 ·
An amazing transmission, I love the rapid up-shifts using the Manual Mode and the shift lever (not paddles). And without left foot or moment of interaction of accelerator/clutch.

But I do miss the interaction of the 6-speed MT, it does eliminate some of the fun part. And I kind of chuckle when "purists" attack PDK. I understand where they come from (and I came from there too). Don't make it a transmission a political arena. Enjoy both...PDK and MT! We are all Porsche drivers and we have one bond. :cheers:
 
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#96 ·
I have the multifunction steering wheel and I have the push/pull paddles. On my car to coast it is push motion not a pull. I have yet to see an issue. I will try again, but every time I coast and touch the gas it puts the car in the proper gear. Touching the brake for sure does, so I'm guessing you guys are rolling up to a light and never touching the brake? Even so mine would engage a gear as soon as touch the gas.
 
#99 ·
i wont be using the gear level to shift till they rectify it the problem :D

if this was ever rectified through a software tune, hopefully suncoast or any sponsor can make the trim with the + and - in the correct position
 
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#102 ·
i wont be using the gear level to shift till they rectify it the problem :D

if this was ever rectified through a software tune, hopefully suncoast or any sponsor can make the trim with the + and - in the correct position
Ditto... I also hope for a trim kit and mod to correct the shifter action... I would do this in a heartbeat !!!
 
#108 · (Edited)
I highly doubt, the factory will tell... :rolleyes:

There is a guy changing the steering wheel on an "old" 987...
(Porsche steering wheel replacement - YouTube)
It looks like you have 2 sockets - one yellow on green - with two electrical cables each; there is a third brown set with juts one cable, it seems.

My guess is the yellow or/and green command the "rockers", while the brown the horn; some electrical connection has to trigger the airbag, too...
If this is the case - and the 981 is the same electrical scheme - I think you easily could switch/toggle the contacts to fool whatever commands the PDK, basically inverting the push/pull function/contacts...
(Maybe it is just as easy as toggling the "yellow" or the "green" switch cables... Maybe it can be done at the "rockers" themselves!:banana:)
I imagine (and hope) the stick may be connected the same way, for what the push/pull is concerned... :crazy:

Somebody, somewhere, surely knows about this matter... :taunt:
Let's hope he can help (some of) us out! ;)


Cheers,
 
#111 ·
I'm having a blast driving my Boxster S with PDK in Sport Mode around town and listening to the Fabspeed Exhaust. The car is much more aggressive, idles faster/louder and sounds much better than with Sport Mode turned off. Slowing down it has a more aggressive automatic downshift when I come to a stop. Just a lot of fun and better sounds than in standard mode. Except for going around turns, I rarely use the paddles to downshift now (in Sport Mode). What a fun car this has turned out to be.

:cheers:
 
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#116 ·
I have found that I can use the paddles (Sport Design Steering Wheel) while in the AUTO MODE. The display switches to MANUAL and if you don't make any further input, after a few seconds, it will switch back to AUTO.
The PDK is simply as fine a piece of engineering as I have ever seen on any vehicle.
PASM is a close second.
The car can be a boulevard cruiser one moment and a track ready sports car the next!-Richard
 
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#123 ·
Is there any way to enable 'coasting' without auto start-stop??? I don't think there is, but I don't see why it would be an issue...

I don't mind the auto-start-stop at lights while driving conservatively, but its so hot here the AC is always on... and the car usually restarts within about 60-90 secs at long lights...
 
#124 · (Edited)
Is there any way to enable 'coasting' without auto start-stop???
Answer to your question is "yes"; as there's an 'on-off' button for Auto SS on the right side of the console.

As stated previously, both coasting & auto SS are disabled when the "Sport" button is turned ON. So, if you want the coasting feature enabled, you need to keep "Sport" in OFF position. Further, in my car, with the coasting feature enabled, it is RARELY activated when the trans is in Manual mode - for all practical purposes, coasting only works regularly when the trans is in Auto mode.
 
#125 ·
I think about everything that can be written about PDK vs MT has been said.
I'd just like to add this analogy.

Having PDK is like going target shooting
with a computerized - never miss- target acquiring and execution system.
Just push the button and you never miss and always hit the target perfectly. You don't even have to look or aim.
Leave it in 'full auto' and you don't even have to push the button.
More efficient-check- 'better' than you could do it manually - check.
Satisfying?- Hardly .
PDK is certainly more efficient and does allow faster track times and better concentration on controlling the direction of the car in whiz bang fashion. But-push a button - get a perfect shift every time- can get quite old when driving a world class sports car.
With a manual - at speed - every shift is a sequence of choice- anticipation- timing and execution. PDK - is a button.Repeat sequence- PDK is a button - repeat sequence- PDK is a button- Repeat...
 
#128 ·
A lot of truth in what you post. Just wondering how far technology will take us. Take an inventory of the skill sets that a race car driver required 40 yeras ago and compare that to what is required today, and the list will grow smaller and smaller in the future.
 
#129 · (Edited)
"Satisfying?- Hardly"

This is the 21st Century and your living in the past.
With PDK in AUTO, PDLS in AUTO, Wipers in AUTO and PASM, all I have to do is drive the car and concentrate on not becoming a statistic on the road and enjoy myself on what type of roads I choose to drive whether it be Chicago Stop and Go, or Wisconsin's back roads.
I plan on driving the car at Road America during DE events the same way.

BTW my preferred Mode has become leaving the PDK in AUTO all the time because I have found that activating either paddle causes the PDK to switch to Manual and shift as you command and the PDK will automatically switch back to AUTO if no driver inputs after a few seconds. Truly a remarkable work of Engineering!
You cannot of course use the PDK shifter in AUTO to affect shifts but it sure saves switching the PDK back and forth. -Richard
 
#130 ·
BTW my preferred Mode has become leaving the PDK in AUTO all the time because I have found that activating either paddle causes the PDK to switch to Manual and shift as you command and the PDK will automatically switch back to AUTO if no driver inputs after a few seconds. Truly a remarkable work of Engineering!
You cannot of course use the PDK shifter in AUTO to affect shifts but it sure saves switching the PDK back and forth. -Richard
This!!! Exactly what I do also. It is an amazing engineering feat and I hope Porsche doesn't change the programming on it.
It is what first grabbed my attention when I test drove the car. The other observations have come as time and miles add up but this PDK!!! Whew!
 
#131 ·
Budrichard has nailed it. PDK is not satisfying, and manual shifting is living in the past.
In the early 20th century, manual control over spark advance (via a lever on the steering column) was a critical part of motoring. Some folks became very adept. They could extract more power from their cars than others and were proud of their skills. Their collective rejection of distributors with centrifugal and vacuum advance was not widely shared as the Internet was still 75 years in their future, but I imagine that their arguments would be remarkably similar to the "I'm a man; I shift MANually" arguments that we are hearing today.
 
#133 ·
Something else I noticed recently... driving in Sport Mode, PDK in Auto... if I 'manually' downshift via paddle when coming to a light... the PDK will continue to downshift somewhat agressively all the way to first when stopped (that's normal).

But while stopped the PDK remains in temporary manual mode while stopped, even after 7-10 seconds... on drive-off its easier to get a big wind up in first, since PDK is waiting for input as it is still in temporary manual mode.

I've seen this a few times... have other PDK owners experienced this... i.e. PDK reamins in manual mode at stop after temporary manual downshift ????
 
#143 ·
Having been an admin of a programmer's online forum for 5+ years I've observed there are are some people that have a natural bent for inciting the wrath of others, not necessarily maliciously, just their gift, while others choose to be incensed rather than laugh it off or simply out joust them with humour, and these people always find each other. It's odd. Weirder yet, I find a strange fascination by it to the point it's entertaining. I mean really, a couple opinionated words about a electro-mechanical device and you're frothing? Dude lemme buy you some beers. :cheers:








PS: 6MT rocks.







PS2: So does PDK, for others. Cool beans, we have choices.
 
#144 ·
I find it hilarious how something so mundane as a transmission can turn some folk in to poop flinging, red butted baboons, seriously folks its a tranny, so some like to row and some like to click, these threads never lead to constructive dialogue. Even if one asks a legitimate question regarding operation, maintenance, reliability, etc. it ends up in a poop fest, some have a hard time just answering a direct question without injecting an opinion with no bearing, no wonder the mods hate these threads, I find the degeneration exhausting and beneath the quality of this site. But, to each his own, both systems bring joy to their owners, at the end of the day it's a preference, lets leave it at that and keep the flinging to a minimum..........
 
#148 ·
"Aye."

If I had the money, I'd own identical Caymans. One PDK and the other would be 6MT.

Since I am a "MT purist", I love driving manuals.
But I also see the advantages of the PDK.

So, if I had ONE Cayman, it's the PDK.

Now remember, that's MY situation. My wife does NOT like driving MT's.
I have a weak left arm. So I have a disability. (My excuse?)

I love it that we have the choice of trannies.
(I would not like it when Porsches take away our choice. :()
 
#150 ·
I have PDK. If I was a purist I have a have a hand crank at the front if car so I wouldn't need a battery.

I'd also not have syncro mesh in the manual transmission.

I would have only a single plate clutch as well.

I'd have no power steering at all.

I'd also have opens wheels, and an open cockpit.

That would be a drivers car, and I could live lost in nostalgia, lamenting how tactile and connected I am.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
 
#153 ·
You forgot to mention wooden wheels. In about ten years I wonder if the same argument will be presented to those who insist on driving their cars rather than allowing computers to do so. Will those who insist on manually driving their cars be charged with being a Neanderthal?
 
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