Planet 9

Dear friends,
I hate Porsche for the PDK. It is just great and very hard not to consider so I did include it in my original list of options. But you know what, I have been thinking for awhile if I have made the right choice. I kept asking myself why I am even considering such a small car with only two seats, noisy, not exactly practical, not luxurious as other cars in the same price range or even cheaper, not cheap to maintain, etc. And you know what? It came down to pure enjoyment. A car I will enjoy driving for the sake of driving only, nothing else. I am not buying it to go shopping, go to work, or to show off. And to be honest, it looks odds driving such a car considering my age (over 40), what I do for living, and the fact that it is not exactly PC where I live; Mercedes S350, BMW 5 or 7 series is more like it.
So yesterday I contacted the Porsche dealer and decided to go with my heart: I am going with a manual tranny with a sport shifter. I do not believe traffic is an issue and should not distract me from what I truly wanted to start with: MANUAL.
BTW, I stopped driving manual in 2002 when I bought a 330i BMW with step-tronic. Last summer I was in Europe and needed a car so I rented one. To my surprise it was a manual; all auto were gone! It took me a couple of minutes to recall back all the skills I have not used in years. Four days later I returned the car with 1500 Km I put driving around mainly in traffic. Traffic did not bother me as much as not finding a space to park the car. The funny part when I returned to my my auto car, it took me a couple of days to recognize it is auto; I was trying to find the clutch every time I got in.
Sorry for the long story.
My advice: If you are buying a sport car (fun car, toy), go with your heart regardless of anything else; it should not matter auto. or manual.

Good choice bro!

Do whatever it suits you and you'll be fine.

I still want the PDK

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2010 Porsche Cayman S PDK

In business we follow our heads every minute of every day. Throughout life in general we tend to emulate this process too often in our private lives. This increases as we mature and when expectations from all around are to be wiser, more rational and less emotional in our decisions.

You, my friend, have seen the light and taken the path to self-fullfilment in an aspect of your life that deserves...No, Demands.... an emotional response, a heart felt decision. After all, this is not a family car or a company car that is being bought. They are already taken care of. This is a reward for many years of self sacrifice and hard work.....perhaps even the realisation of a long held dream.

Congratulations! And, at the very least the manual will enhance your satisfaction for no other reason that it provides the complete sense of engagement and control over your driving pleasure. Just as Porsche intended.

Good choice to do what will bring you the most emotional satisfaction. For me it is a manual as well, but I don't begrudge anyone choosing any car in any combination they enjoy. The great thing is we have so many choices.

I really like your story and you sound like a true Porsche driver who is buying the car for the love of driving! I think you made the right choice and the Porsche manual gearbox is great.

Congratulations on following your heart
This is a great story. I always do the same when it comes to buying bikes or cars and on many other aspects of my life.
Sometimes (only sometimes...) the purely rational route gives you better results, but, IMO, the "following your heart" route is usually the way to go and gives you sooooo much pleasure and fun

Good choice. A sports car is not a rational decision to begin with, so you should go with your heart. I went with the manual in 2008 when I could have waited for a 2009 with PDK. I wanted the manual for many of the same reasons you stated, and I have never regretted the decision. I think you will be very happy.

You will be addicted, hooked... and in love with the best buy you ever did in your life; that is buying a Porsche!

Welcome to the club

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www.Hassaan.com
Mine: Cayman S '06
Mine: Land Cruiser '10
Bro's: GT2 '03

Forty isn't really that old! I was already over 50 when I picked up my Cayman, it was used, so the price wasn't too steep. I didn't buy it to impress anyone, or pick up women, I just love driving it, it is the best road car I've ever owned.

You listed some of the shortcomings of the Cayman; small, two seats, impractical, expensive, noisy, but to me 'fun to drive' trumps all of those. With this kind of vehicle I think it is quite logical to consider how much pleasure it will give you to drive it.

Die hard manual transmission fan...
Downhill, threshold braking, heel toe, downshifting, throttle blip, match revs, snick gear...when it goes well (not every time for me) it is very, very satisfying. I just don't think you can get that kind of reward from a Tip or a PDK.

Cheers,
Chuck

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Good call going with your instinct, you'll be glad you did, like you mentioned about it not being practical and with tight quarters, little noisy, it just makes all one great package for me, blast to drive, enjoy. PDK or manual whatever works for the individual, sounds like you got it, doubt you'll hate P once you get your car....manuals great.

These are exactly why I love my CS!!!

small: I hate big large cars.
two seats: I am a single man... that's what I always dreamt of driving!
Impractical: this car is for fun not for work!
expensive: I see it exclusive
noisy: Ahhhh... and I even open the windows to hear her ROAR!!!

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www.Hassaan.com
Mine: Cayman S '06
Mine: Land Cruiser '10
Bro's: GT2 '03

To each their own, buy, drive and enjoy what fits you best. For me it is a manual shifter, even in a GTS. Even if slower, less acurrate etc.

I have owned 4 automatics in my entire live, 2 Mini vans and 2 SUVs.

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VIDS
Cayman Turbo 520HP

What some people view as liabilities, others view as assets!

Small: = nimble, the only down side is the car is kind of hard to get into, I use the keep both feet on ground, butt first, then swivel method.

Two seats: More than two people going out to lunch...somebody else is driving.

Just nitpicking, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Love this car.

Cheers,

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