Anyone encounter new Porsche PDK yet?

[kthacher]

So I have a track day coming up in August, and an acquaintance is bringing his brand new Turbo PDK. That thing sounds scary fast - sounds like I should just get out of the way? Have any of you guys tracked with that car yet?

[gazza1]

Insanely fast car,but the driver is always the weak link no matter what car.

Would have to be one of the fastest if not the fastest off the showroom floor currently.

[Bodhii]

Porsche's new PDK is rock solid, and blazing fast. Human manual 6 spd shifting, in comparison is not in the same league. (However the PDK is heavy, adding an additional 70LBS to the car).

But as Gazza stated, the driver is really the big difference maker, and amongst the average HPDE participants, the differences in skill and what they will risk,.. are huge. When I think of most HPDE's, almost always the 'fastest'. and most expensive cars are never out of the intermediate groups. And if a very expensive super car is in the 1st group, they are usually one of the slowest in that group.

Sometimes this is due to the inexperience of the owner/driver, but it is almost always in huge consideration of the risk/ benefit to driving such an expensive car close to its real performance envelope.

I would expect that you would see several Lotus Exige, BMW sedans, Porsche Boxsters, and maybe even a Mini Cooper all go faster than the TURBO PDK at the track. This is not meant as a dig to such owners. They usually have as much fun as anyone. And they make good smart decisions for themselves and for their property, irregardless of outside peer pressures. Bravo!

[R84ME]

I have been on a DSG quest over the last few months. I ran down DSG versions of the Cayman S, Audi S4, BMW 135i and new 5.0 Mustang GT in two states and would have to agree with everyone - the Porsche PDK wins this contest.

The next best would be BMW's. Again, extremely quick and great in the automatic mode just not quite as sharp and "on" in all situations.

The Audi S4 was extremely rough. I really didn't care for it's antics when pressed and at or near full throttle. Really banged into gear. You have to dial down the sport mode to get reasonably comfortable shifts and by then,you were in 6th gear.

Lastly, the new 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0. Honorable mention but, no.

In the end, I drove and ordered a 2011 BMW 335is DSG. Extremely fast shifts and a much better daily driver than the Cayman, which is what I need now (DD).

[CPBRI]

My other car is a C2S cab with PDK. With only 385 hp, the thing is amazingly quick. I would imgine the turbo with 500 hp would be tough to beat, drivers being relatively equal.

Lots of guys on Rennlist have tracked their PDKs and have had nothing but great things to say about it.

[RXBG]

depends on driver. few owners will go beyond 8/10th with these cars, R8 included. strictly speaking about times- since on track days you are actually not racing but simply running against the clock it will depend a lot on the other traffic. on paper the V10 and TT PDK are very close re: track times.

PDK has two problems, though.

1- it doesn't look like a spaceship

2. it only has two pedals- which means that the "driver" is not driving, just guiding.

'nuff said

[R84ME]

it only has two pedals- which means that the "driver" is not driving, just guiding.

That's what those funny looking paddles on the steering wheel are for - responsibility shifts (pun intended) from LEFT FOOT to THUMB! I guess some have problems with this transition.

[kthacher]

2. it only has two pedals- which means that the "driver" is not driving, just guiding.

?? Thought you were a big advocate of PDK/DSG finding its way into the R8

[RXBG]

?? Thought you were a big advocate of PDK/DSG finding its way into the R8

as a matter of market competition, yes. as a matter of personal ownership no. in a sports car the purest joy and rewardment of driver skill requires a true manual transmission. i take issue with F1 and LeMans for that reason- what happened to actual driving???? it is a reason i am disappointed in great cars like the GTR. but the market (i.e. technowizardry and the poseur-set have dictated the manual being left out- as in Ferrari).

i would beg Audi to let me have a manual option in the next R8.

leave the DSG for my daily driver, so i can hold my coffee and drive smoothly while I shuttle back and forth from hospital to clinic all day in peace. saturday mornings and at the track--- give me a manual- i want to really drive my car. not just guide it the way minivan moms do.

ps- i predict manuals will make it back to Ferrari in 5 years.

[kthacher]

RXBG - call me old school, but I agree entirely with you on this. In a car of this caliber, I have no interest in anything but a manual. I know that many disagree, and that this is a personal choice, but if a future R8 has no manual option, then I will not be a customer. I enjoy the challenge associated with the "complete" driving experience.

I will however, be trying to get behind the wheel of this guy's new Turbo. We swapped rides once before - I would like to see what the PDK is all about, as his last Turbo was a manual - and a sweet one at that.