Re: PDK buttons, is an after-market solution possible?
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reginos said:Quote:
STRADALE said:Quote:
reginos said:Quote:
STRADALE said:
[Huh? I own a car w/ paddles (F1 F430), also own a 6-speed stick so my opinion is not based on "internet forums" or
"pre-conceived ideas". That's a lot of mud slinging and accusations, how bout you besides test driving a PDK, do you have some sort of vast car collection where you have gained all this first hand ownership experiences?
I never said anything about anyone elses likes or dislikes of buttons on the steering wheel, never said anything about them being "ignorant idi0ts". My remarks were directed at the type of system, not the people who would select it. IMO button type shifters on the steering wheel suck compared to stationary paddles on the column & I'm disappointed in the direction Porsche took that's all. I guess my opinion seems to be shared by some here & it doesnt surprise me that the comments on PDK from recent tests so far have been far from favorable. But if you feel compelled to promote it, be my guest, I'll never accuse you or your opinion of being "dangerous", after all it's just people talking about their opinions on an auto-forum not some vast conspiracy against an auto maker were talking about here. Porsche will survive no matter what I say so Chill bra..
No, I don't have a vast collection of vehicles and perhaps it is one of the reasons I don't get confused between systems.
Anyway,I've tried the PDK and I enjoyed immensely in all 3 modes. each mode has its purpose very logical very Porsche.
I didn't have a problem selecting gears using the buttons and additionally flicking the stick instead of selecting via the buttons is a very handy alternative in certain driving situations.
Moreover, I haven't read any negative comments on the PDK in the auto press (European and US), just some moaning about the buttons, which amounts to a different thing from what you wrote above.
I can appreciate that some people might prefer another system for their own reasons, valid or not. However, of all the posters here who object to PDK I doubt if more than 1 or 2 and maybe none have tried the system. This is where my objection comes that people shouldn't be led to form opinions by a minority of influencers whose credentials we don't know. Unfortunately this attitude extends beyond cars and to more serious matters in life in general.
We differ on this matter but as long as we enjoy ourselves with our respective preferences that's what matters.
You could be right, perhaps that's the reason. Can I ask have you ever owned a Ferrari or other car w/ an F1 type shifter? Because that is my basis for comparison vs. shifting buttons on the steering wheel. Do you own or have you owned a Porsche? I'm just asking because when it comes to understanding someones opinions I think it helps to understand what their real life experiences are like & because you brought it up regarding what people read on the internet & "pre-conceived ideas".
Yeah I know PDK is not tip but I'm not referring to the actual tranny just thumb button shifting which is very much the same for both PDK & Tip. I can understand peoples opinions here about being upset Porsche mounted thumb shifter buttons again because they're upset w/ the feeling of shifting w/ your thumbs on a moving steering wheel which is essentially the same thing as a Tip only worse probably because you actually have to push w/ your thumb while accelerating & pull w/ your fingers while decelerating; the very OPPOSITE to what your body naturally wants to do in those circumstances.
There's been a few articles already that have been less than favorable on PDK, I was reading one this past weekend where the writer said he'd still select a stick over PDK.
That's all I was saying - There isnt a right or wrong, just personal preference but like I said I know A LOT of people that disliked the way shift buttons on the steering wheel performed, wishing Porsche would go the paddle route but so far havent really heard F1 style owners wishing that they could have thumb shifter buttons on the steering wheel. That's why I was asking above re: your experiences w/ F1 paddles just curious if you've been an owner of that type.
I've never owned a Ferrari and I am not an expert on this Italian chariot of gods. I have owned several Porsches since the 80s and I still own one but all manual. Moreover, I get the chance in the course of my interests to drive all Porsche models. My experience with paddles comes from our family VW GTI DSG a very competent cross country car with an excellent double clutch system. I've driven on occasions a friend's M3 with the SMG automated manual system and I prefer the VW double clutch much more.
When I tried PDK extensively I've had none of the problems many of you mention, like buttons/paddles , counter-intuitive press/pull blah blah blah.
Honestly, driving the car I was left wondering what was the reason for all this hostility towards this innovative
engineering tour de force.
Compared to a good Porsche manual it can be somewhat more detached and less immediate and I can see why someone might opt for manual according to his own set of parameters. Similarly a Ferrari driver can prefer nanual to F1 and this doesn't make the automated system bad.
I don't want this to carry on forever because we will end up going in circles with the same line of argumentation.
But many posters give me the impression that they have already decided that they don't like PDK without trying it ,based on rumour(and this is my objection) and try to find reasons to justify this pre(mis)conception.
Anyway, there is no end to prejudice
There is only one problem-you are die hard Porsche fan.
All car magazines said that PDK steering wheel puddles are wrong design and I agree with them... Even German magazines(AMS and AZ) claim that puddles design is not the best idea at all...
On sunday I finally get the chance to try 997.2CS with PDK. I must admit it was just two hour drive... BUT, I got the impression about PDK.
Normal mode-even worst then normal mode on VW Golf GTI, shifts to seventh gear in NO time. Throttle response like 80hp Fiat Punto and all in all only good for heavy slow traffic.
Sport mode-prettyy good with nice throttle bips at downshifts and fast/smooth upshifts. Works almost excellent in D mode. In M mode sometimes it can override your manual input and hold a gear(it happened once when I braked hard in front of the tight corner, I wanted to downshift to second but, PDK AI override and stayed in third. I wanted to use all traction for exit but, in third I was as safe as possible)...
Sport Plus mode-BMW SMGIII like mode... It use much more revs(almost above 4000rpm at all times) then Sport mode. In M mode it is sometimes jerky at upshifts(!!!) and you get a kick in rear axle. Honestly, I did not feel entirely safe with this behaviour... I can drive fast and safe with manual gearbox, extra DRAMA that PDK provide in this mode is pure moronic addition IMHO. In D mode this mode works very best.
Overall? PDK is NOT any better then BMW's M-DKG in M3. In fact not better at all IMO. Only mode that I truly like is Sport. Drive from stillstand require little bit more throttle then any manual 997... Creep mode works pretty strange-they need to learn a lot here...
PDK is definitely better then TIP! Just it is not what I expected. It remaind me more to VW DSG then to Ferrari F1 Superfast.
PDK steering wheel puddles? I got used to it but, it is big NO, NO IMHO.
Want a PDK? If you are impressed with VW DSG or BMW M-DKG or you drive both these gearboxes and your impression is positive then why NOT?
BUT, if you are manual driver... Then test drive is a MUST! PDK can be very different then you expected from Porsche marketing material.
One last thing-PDK lever on car that I drove was pretty heavy, much heavier then lever on M3 with M-DKG.