I don't get it....

[AKnowles]

For my two cents worth ... a sports car - any sports car - should be a manual transmission. For me the definition of sport is interaction and if you don't feel it then why bother at all. I will admit, that I've been a major rider of motorcycles for years (about 35 years of ownership/riding) and I'd still be doing it if my body could manage it. The interaction of listening to the exhuast noise, the whine of the transmission, the vibration of the motor, and the feel of the ride is what makes the desire to ride so powerful. I get about 80% of that in the boxster.

I'll be honest, I'm not going to buy a PDK model, a tiptronic model, a steptronic (almost did once), or any other variation of an automatic. As someone told me a few weeks ago ... if it doesn't include a left pedal on the floor don't even both to show it to me.

An automatic is an automatic. It's designed to make getting from point A to point B easy and efficient. It's just no d**n fun to drive. It's just transportation.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by AKnowles

An automatic is an automatic.

That is your opinion, and from a technical standpoint false. The range and scope of autotrans on the road today is large; they are far from the "all the same"... As far as your mention of sport bikes, PDK is the closest thing to sport bike shifting a car will ever see... I used to speed shift my KZ900 all the time with out engaging the clutch.

As for PDK not letting the driver make mistakes... BS, PDK will smack right into the rev limiter and bounce up against it until the dolt behind the wheel up shifts. It actually took me about an hour to get somewhat proficient with the PDK manual mode, and I'm sure I could be better with it.

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

As for PDK not letting the driver make mistakes... BS, PDK will smack right into the rev limiter and bounce up against it until the dolt behind the wheel up shifts. It actually took me about an hour to get somewhat proficient with the PDK manual mode, and I'm sure I could be better with it.

+1 that...once one goes into manual mode i.e. they touch the paddles and it thinks you want full lunch power it will redline until you back off for 2 seconds in which case it will call their bluff. It takes a little getting used to.

I personally never thought I would get it, but as mentioned I had no choice. I will say I really enjoy both. PDK is a whole lot smarter then me most of the time, the only thing it can't do is look down the road and anticipate like I can.

I find it good at two things, in sport mode driving aggressively it is amazing how it knows how many gears to down shift going into a corner for full lunch out of the apex. Tap the brakes lightly you get one downshift, press them a little harder and you get two or 3 downshifts, it's pretty kewl. The second thing it does well is save gas when just cruising around. Sport Plus mode is a whole other animal.

All that being said for mid aggressive driving I will enjoy getting in my 986 manual and taking control. It is nice to have both.

[AKnowles]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

That is your opinion, and from a technical standpoint false. The range and scope of autotrans on the road today is large; they are far from the "all the same"...

Yes, it is my opinion. And I'll still stick withthe same commentary. No left pedal and it's an automatic. All the same as far as I am concerned. They have no value to me. And I have no desire to own one in a sports can. Ever.

Originally Posted by shadrach74

As far as your mention of sport bikes, PDK is the closest thing to sport bike shifting a car will ever see... I used to speed shift my KZ900 all the time with out engaging the clutch.

Another good way to beat up on the internals. You can do it, but I doubt if anyone would agree it is a good idea for a longe term practice. But what you do with your vechiles is your business. I would not treat a fine motorcycle like my last few BMW's that way.

If I were racing and had the financing and tech team to go with a teardown and repalcement after each race then sure. It's all about the win. But for my personal vehicles and equipment, I treat them better than that.

I will not be purchasing a new(er) model Porsche with an automatic. It's a preferance. As I stated, if it is an automatic, there just is no interaction and fun for me to be behind the wheel. It's just transportation. I can buy that from anyone.