Well, I guess that they are in the final stages of testing the cars, also trying to put as many miles on them as possible, to see if any long-term issue appear. Additionally, it is important from a marketing perspective to keep the buzz alive. I wish we would see some nearly uncammoed examples though!
May 31, 2011 7:42:05 PM
991 to get 7-speed three-pedal manual transmission?
check this link out to Motor authority's article (from Car and Driver)---
With my former C2S 6-gear stick manual I almost always skipped 5th gear and moved from 4th to 6th. This was mainly because I'd always exceeded the speed limit in 4th and there was no need to use 5th for further acceleration.
PDK uses 7th as an overdrive in normal mode.. and that's acceptable for economy, but I really can't see any benefit in having 7 forward gears with a stick!
"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."
John H:
PDK uses 7th as an overdrive in normal mode.. and that's acceptable for economy, but I really can't see any benefit in having 7 forward gears with a stick!
There's a big advantage on the track (certainly for the GT3). The current GT3 has its gears too far apart (big gap between 2nd and 3rd and 2nd is a bit too tall for many slow corners. Being able to re-stack the gears lower and closer will bring big performance gains.
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs). Former: 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550 Maranello
I say do 1-2-3-4-5-6 in the first 3 set, and then have the 4th set R and 7th. That way 7th will make no intrusions with the gears that should be focused on. Maybe don't call it 7th, call it "E", so the tranny is still a "6 speed". I like that Porsche is trying to make the manual transmission better and more efficient, instead of forgetting about it and the enthusiasts, and just bringing in this double clutch bull$^^t.
No, I like the picture abover (and the old 901 gearbox). Reverse and the grear youonly use for a second (1st) are off by themselves. The gears you "row" through are all together.
That said, if they do come out with a 7 speed and 6th gear is an overdrive as well it would be annoying. I think this will be the next big "found performance" gig that many companies do. Few people need a GT3RS to do 190+ mph. But if it was geared to do 165 mph you could use all of the gears on the track (where the car would be much faster becauseof the lower gears) and still have fine gas economy. A super tall 7th for gas economy and 2-6 gear good for 30-165 mph would make for a much faster car over-all.
Far too many gates for manual.
I would suggest putting the shifter on the steering column and then separate up shift and down shift on either side with paddles that are easy to reach while holding the steering wheel with 2 hands.
Since we are modifying the process of shifting, why not put a electronic clutch to speed up shifting and match revs up and down? The driver still needs to select the correct gear himself but much faster than conventional methods.
I think I am genius in revolutionizing car transmissions. But then again it sounded awfully like what is offered in PDK.
Jun 1, 2011 5:35:02 AM
Whoopsy:
Far too many gates for manual.
I would suggest putting the shifter on the steering column and then separate up shift and down shift on either side with paddles that are easy to reach while holding the steering wheel with 2 hands.
Since we are modifying the process of shifting, why not put a electronic clutch to speed up shifting and match revs up and down? The driver still needs to select the correct gear himself but much faster than conventional methods.
I think I am genius in revolutionizing car transmissions. But then again it sounded awfully like what is offered in PDK.
7th gear on a manual gearbox, could be activated by a button on the shifter.
I saw a 70s Triumph Spitfire that had the H pattern and reverse, but with a button on the knob you could select overdrive gears 3 1/2 and 4 1/2. If the button was on, you could go from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 directly, if you wished. So it was 6 gears but with an H gate.
Since the 7th gear will be an overdrive for fuel economy and lowering emissions, electrical selection is the best way IMO.
--
"Form follows function"
7th can be engaged electrically. It is an overdrive gear for highway economy and to lower regulation consumption and emissions, which you won't need on the track. The other 6 and reverse are like in a normal manual gearbox.
"Form follows function"
Guy:
I don't see how 7 gears works on a manual on track, unless 1st gear or 7th is on some sort of lockout or electronic only shift, otherwise where does the gearlever centre to, since you have 4 'planes' of gears?
Exactly. It's a conspiracy by Porsche, to move all of us luddites into the PDK camp. A couple of years of confusion trying to master this new 7-speed manual, and we will all start wishing for an automated version.
reginos:
7th can be engaged electrically. It is an overdrive gear for highway economy and to lower regulation consumption and emissions, which you won't need on the track. The other 6 and reverse are like in a normal manual gearbox.
It seem`s to be more logical.
Volvo 740 in the 80`s add a similar solution.
Guy:
I don't see how 7 gears works on a manual on track, unless 1st gear or 7th is on some sort of lockout or electronic only shift, otherwise where does the gearlever centre to, since you have 4 'planes' of gears?
You have to press down to access the last gate (like the way you select reverse in an old Golf)
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs). Former: 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550 Maranello
If anyone is about to try to upgrade the traditional manual for a new age, perhaps better to just use an in-line sequential gearbox - maintain the need to shift up and down, allow very fast shifts, but eliminate the clutch pedal. I know these are mostly racing-oriented now, but could be re-engineered to be more road-usable.
2011 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
Grant:
Guy:
I don't see how 7 gears works on a manual on track, unless 1st gear or 7th is on some sort of lockout or electronic only shift, otherwise where does the gearlever centre to, since you have 4 'planes' of gears?
You have to press down to access the last gate (like the way you select reverse in an old Golf)
So you're saying that every time you want to pull away in first gear you'd need to push down and go through a clunky engagement like you describe on older cars for reverse? I cannot see that being acceptable in a Porsche (might be ok in a truck that rarely uses 1st gear unless fully loaded and on a hill).
Jun 4, 2011 6:53:12 PM
No, it was a little clunky getting into first on the older gearbox, but it was designed to spring right up to second when you shifted. You could literally do it with two fingers.
I'm speaking of a late 1960s box.
--
"We all love the music. What we hope is that the music loves us." -- Tom Waits
Jun 4, 2011 8:02:40 PM
Jun 6, 2011 9:37:18 PM
Carrageous:
No, it was a little clunky getting into first on the older gearbox, but it was designed to spring right up to second when you shifted. You could literally do it with two fingers.
I'm speaking of a late 1960s box.
My 914 was like that. 1st was left and down (dog-leg first); a spring pushed the shifter to line up with the 2nd-3rd gate; perfect.
KMM:
My 914 was like that. 1st was left and down (dog-leg first); a spring pushed the shifter to line up with the 2nd-3rd gate; perfect.
Yeah, I had a BMW 635CSi (Euro) like that too - great car and great gearbox (close-ratio with LSD).
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs). Former: 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550 Maranello
CPA4S:
i still think the new Boxster is looking really good. the rear end has more agressive look
Note the camouflage panel on the door and the rear fender. My guess is that there is some kind of depression (concave curve) in the door skin, leading to the side vent in the fender.