997S Cab2 PDK Drive test
This week I had the chance to test drive a 997S Cab 2 with PDK. Well, I took the car for a mountain road I know very well, and started to test the S properly All I can say is that I just started to play with PDK buttons, as if I had this system on my car for 10 years, I´m really stuned by all internet criticism towards the "counter intuitive buttons" , they are perfect and feet like a glove for me. I made many miles on mountain roads for the first time on PDK car, and not for a single moment, I even thought on which gear I was or should be, I was having fun and driving the hell out of it in manual mode SC+. I was like " what the hell those guys were talking about, these buttons are as intuitive as making a turning signal". Really, I´m bummed why so many people are having problems with this system.
As to the PDK, it´s fast indeed, but up-shifts aren´t lightning fast as many as stated, you still have a very small delay, even with SC+ on. Down-shifts are really fast. PDK gives the chance to choose several settings for several kind of driving moods, which is great, and it works like a limo on normal automatic mode, being very smooth between gears. Even when I was with steering wheel almost locked, I could easily change gears due to this wonderful push/pull buttons system. I had already drove Gallardo e-gear and M5 and loved the padlles system, didn´t had absulately any dificulty with it either, so after all the "PDK drama" I really wasn´t expecting to drive it and use it in such intuitive way.
The fact you can use the stick, can give you some how the placebo feeling you´re driving a manual so...
As to other general aspects, I find the chassi to be far more solid and stiff than my previous 996 Cab, very rigid for a Cab. Tires were a bit worn but even so the S was glue to tarmac, it felt very communicative, predictable and safe to drive fast, GREAT GREAT chassi. Engine sound at idle is a desgrace, kind of dieseling kind of sound, but after 3000rpm is pure joy.
I played and slide with it easily (safe area) but when I tried to make a 180º slide, it wasn´t easy, with a manual, I would have drop the clucth with half accelerator and the job was done, but with PDK is not so simple.
Car I tested was a demo. It had 19000Km of test drives including some days at the track, and the feeling this car had, was amazing, like a brand new product. Everything felt solid and robust , which goes in favour of Porsche build quality. I just hope these new DFI engine to be bullet proof, has even the 997 I Gen. are having some isseus on this regard.
One last word for the white color this car had. I always hated white on a sports car, it´s a color suited for Bentleys, Rolls and big Mercedes, although now, it´s the fashion color to have on any car. I really liked to see the Carrera in white , it showed very well the beautiful lines this car has. I still can´t order a white car for me, but definitely changed my mind about this color, i´ts beautiful indeed, specialy at night where it stands out much more than any other.
After the test I place an order for a Black/beije 997S Cab2 PDK, with LSD for end July delivery Always had manual Porsche before this one, but decided to go for PDK to try the new driving aproach PDK provides.
Enjoy the pics...
J.Seven