Re: Collected my GTS today
reginos:
Budster:
Yup, I'm also still loving my new GTS, but probably behind the curve in that as my first 911 (and first Porsche) I'm still getting used to everything about the car. Everything. After a holiday break, I'm only at 2000km after 6 weeks...
I must admit, I'm battling with the PDK still. You all refer to "instant", but it's only "instant" in terms of power - it's not instant in terms of reaction, i.e. there's what I'm finding is an annoying half-second (?) pause after clicking the paddle before the change happens.
Now, I'm sure that it took a little longer to clutch in, change gear and clutch out, but in the manual process, you were engaged in the thoroughly engaged in the process throughout, so you didn't feel like there was any delay, even though there was obviously a delay in the power. (And as opposed perhaps to the extreme example of an old diesel motor where you had to pause in neutral before engaging the new gear.)
I'm finding it similar to the turbo lag in my old Audi RS2, and I'm definitely not used to it yet, even in manual with the sports button on.
I'm also finding that the power goes from almost sluggish to warp-speed, again like my old RS2, whereas in my manual S4 the power came on very smoothly. (If that sounds like a contradiction, remember the Audi RS2 Avant was turbo-sluggish in the extreme, even though once it got going it accelerated to 60 kms/hr faster than Villeneuve's F1 car of the same year...).
Do my observations make any sense to anyone?
Some comments:
1. Your car is hardly run-in at 2000km. Expect a big jump in power at around 10.000km and again at 30.000km.
2. There might be some delay in gear change in Normal mode but in Sport and especially Sport +, changes are instant, whether up or down. Definitely, infinitely faster than any leg and hand would be able to change.
3. I've had a chance to drive a manual 997.2 S (a rare specification these days) and compared to the PDK car it felt very much slower in acceleration and "heavier" in perception (although lighter on the scales). With PDK the power transmission is so smooth and uninterrupted that it gives the impression that there is hardly any friction between the engine and wheels. It makes the car feel very nimble and effortless and compared to the manual car it feels at least 100HP more. I find PDK a wonderful innovation. It is in its first generation on the 997.2 and by definition there is a scope for further development and refinement.
4. I appreciate that there is a kind of pleasure in manual gear changes, double clutching, blipping the throttle etc. But for me from now on manual is only for my motorcycles. Not on a car anymore. I hope we get the 991 GT3 with PDK very soon.
I agree with Reginos...
If you're getting that sort of delay, especially in the Sport modes, then a trip to the OPC should be on your agenda - it's not normal.!
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"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."