I had a 997.1 4S manual I drove for 68'000 km.
Now I have been driving my 997.2 S PDK for 30'000 km
The PDK is more efficient and a lot faster. On track you can keep up with cars a lot more powerful or more sporty. For example I go faster around a track then a GT3 996.2 with my PDK.
So, there is no doubt the PDK is VERY efficient. Straight acceleration is also a real joy with it. Shifts are so fast you feel as driving a 996 Turbo, or near it ;-)
PDK is the future , as it can combine lower fuel consumption and better performance + adapt to many different settings . A 6 speed manual does feel obsolete compared to it. It is also rewarding on very tight mountain roads, as you can concentrate better on the road and still have a nice feeling when shifting in sports plus mode.
But, it is also very boring in day to day driving. You end up driving it mainly in automatic . And I do feel ' embarrassed' each time I drive off with my car and I hear/feel the automatic change , exactly like in any boring/comfortable automatic sedan. It does not suit a sports car .
It is the same on a fast track with not too many gear changes or when there is no 'faster' car to try to overtake. It takes away some of the fun of having to master good shifting.
So, after 30'000 km, I am still 50/50 about PDK... sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. These days it bores me to death !!!!
--
997.2 C2S, PDK, -20mm