[Lelandjt]

Has anyone heard of a tuning shop that has added a clutch pedal to PDK cars? I'm tempted to get the PDK box but really don't want to give up a clutch pedal.

It sounds like some Porsche models will clutch when you pull both paddles but that's still kinda meh, as in more difficult to modulate and it maybe sounds like the Cayman requires an additional pull to re-engage the clutch.

Another semi-related question: Does the PDK have an actual neutral or is "neutral" just disengaging both clutches?

 

[DriveInHouston]

Are you sure that you understand what PDK is and how it works?

 

[Westcoaster]

Has anyone heard of a tuning shop that has added a clutch pedal to PDK cars? I'm tempted to get the PDK box but really don't want to give up a clutch pedal.

It sounds like some Porsche models will clutch when you pull both paddles but that's still kinda meh, as in more difficult to modulate and it maybe sounds like the Cayman requires an additional pull to re-engage the clutch.

Another semi-related question: Does the PDK have an actual neutral or is "neutral" just disengaging both clutches?

Welcome to the forum, interesting first post BTW!

Add a clutch pedal to the PDK, doubtful and then I am curious as to why?

I do believe that you are correct, disengaging both clutches is as close as you get to neutral.

 

[Viffermike]

Welcome to the forum, interesting first post BTW!

Add a clutch pedal to the PDK, doubtful and then I am curious as to why?

I do believe that you are correct, disengaging both clutches is as close as you get to neutral.

I suspect this is why (courtesy of Matt Farah via TheDrive.com):

Here’s How to Clutch Kick a PDK Automatic-Equipped Porsche 911 GT3 RS

OP (Welcome, BTW): The PDK is electrically controlled and extremely complex -- more so than the engine itself in some ways. Adding traditional clutch operation to it is, on its face, a basic impossibility because actuation in a dual-clutch automatic setup would require two independent clutch assemblies -- meaning two clutch pedals. Furthermore, even that likely wouldn't work in a PDK-based assembly because the PDK is a multi-plate design per clutch stack. What would control the plates in between the clutch disc and the driveline?

I would think some entity, combined with some customer with beaucoup bucks, would have tried to manual-ize a DCT by now. I've never heard of such a thing, irregardless of marque.

 

[Lelandjt]

Are you sure that you understand what PDK is and how it works?

Yes, with the exception that I don't think DCTs have a neutral but I'm not sure. (Now I do, thanks)

 

[Lelandjt]

Yes, a clutch pedal would be an electronic gadget that would do the same thing as pulling both paddles in the older GT3.

Am I correct in understanding that in the 718 pulling and releasing both paddles will not have the same effect as the older GT3? Rather, after pulling both paddles to put it in "neutral" you have to re-pull the right paddle to re-engage the clutch of the gear you were just in?

As to why I want it? Over my 40 years I've only owned manuals, many non sports cars and a STi. There's plenty of times that I clutch without changing gears. I'd love all the benefits of the DCT (PDK) without giving up anything. (I don't consider the physical moving of the shift knob or occasionally messing up a "thing")

 

[DriveInHouston]

PDK does not have a neutral because it does not sequence the gears like a manual transmission. You can emulate neutral by pulling both paddles and declutching both clutches to both input shafts. I ‘ve done this stationary on mine.

Then, standing still, you can press either paddle and will select first gear.

The question is, what does it do if you do it in motion. I’ve done it once, with PSM on, and the PDK would not re-engage. I can’t remember the sequence (I think manual, back to auto, up to neutral (maybe park?) and back to Drive). I am not doing this again...

Any volunteers wishing to enlighten us on what happens if you put it in neutral doing 60 and then press One paddle? It would be interesting to see what gear it picks! As I said, I am not doing it...

 

[Lelandjt]

The safe move here is for me to order a manual. I know exactly how to operate it to make it do what I want. However, I'll always have that nagging feeling that I'm missing out by being a ludite, especially when I mis-revmatch. I guess I really need to test drive a PDK while warning the salesman that I'll be doing some weird stuff with it, but I really appreciate you guys reporting on your experiences, especially relating to hooning and play driving it. I come from a rally and dirtbike background so I'm used to modulating the clutch, throttle, and rear brake (hand brake) to make the car do fun stuff around tight turns.
At this point I'm not even sure a J-turn is possible in a PDK

 

[DriveInHouston]

Test drive a PDK. Don't tell the salesman anything...

Drive it on Sport, PDK on Auto (not on Manual) and only downshift with the paddles, the way you'd normally drive a stick. Don't worry about upshifting, rev-matching, the PDK can do it better than you. Note that when you downshift the PDK shifts to Manual and stays in Manual for 6 sec if you start accelerating, or longer if you use the engine for braking.

Don't floor it, but rather modulate your acceleration in a smooth (if you can) manner, to appreciate the PDK. Brake hard, I mean HARD... to get the downshifts on PDK, no paddles. If you manage to get a double downshift, like BaBoom, then you will get it. If you manage to get a triple downshift, it will be one for the books and tell your lawyer to tell us where you are being held to bring you a carton of cigarettes...

It took me less than 30 minutes to forego my lifelong dream of a 911 Carrera MT and join, ululating, the 718 PDK camp!... My wife felt the same way... (She didn't have a 911 fixation, she just wanted to get rid of my Mustang GT (MT) which she hated... She likes manuals better, by the way, but she likes the PDK betterer...)

EDIT: PS: Hand brake? What hand brake? We don't have no stinkin handbrakes... We have an electric brake immobilizing thingy...

 

[Lelandjt]

Will the PDK open up the clutches when the handbrake is pulled, then re-engage as soon as you let off? I'm worried the salesman will flip out if I do a handbrake turn during a test drive and the dealer is in the city. I only do those kind of antics in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Westcoaster]

Will the PDK open up the clutches when the handbrake is pulled, then re-engage as soon as you let off? I'm worried the salesman will flip out if I do a handbrake turn during a test drive and the dealer is in the city. I only do those kind of antics in the middle of nowhere.

Honestly, I don't think that the PDK is for you... You do know that the 981/718 cars have an electric handbrake right?

 

[Westcoaster]

Wait just a minute... you're pulling our chain right, you really can be thinking of buying one of these as a drift/hoon car!?

 

[Lelandjt]

Oh, I did not know that they have an electric hand brake. Too bad, my STi had great hand brake feel. But yeah, I was gonna buy this as a play car, daily driver, very occassional track car. The short list for my next car was down to the Evora and Cayman. Between those the Cayman has a lot going for it. I want mid-engine, not big and heavy (no C8), and not underpowered (no MR2 or C4). I can maybe learn to live without the handbrake and clutch kick antics but I'll miss them a little. I started the thread hoping I could have all the speed and refinement of a CS PDK and still drive like a kid now and then.

 

[DriveInHouston]

You drive this thing like a kid and you may not reach adulthood...

 

[Lelandjt]

I appreciate the sentiment but I've already made it to 40 and still racing downhill mountain bikes in the pro class. I did some professional "extreme" skiing competitions and I've dabbled in dirt bike and rally car racing with success. Getting squirrelly and coming out of it by the skin of my teeth is pretty much my MO

My girlfriend is just ready for our daily driver to be something more refined than a gravel prepped 450hp STi.

 

[CupraLeon]

The safe move here is for me to order a manual. I know exactly how to operate it to make it do what I want. However, I'll always have that nagging feeling that I'm missing out by being a ludite, especially when I mis-revmatch. I guess I really need to test drive a PDK while warning the salesman that I'll be doing some weird stuff with it, but I really appreciate you guys reporting on your experiences, especially relating to hooning and play driving it. I come from a rally and dirtbike background so I'm used to modulating the clutch, throttle, and rear brake (hand brake) to make the car do fun stuff around tight turns.
At this point I'm not even sure a J-turn is possible in a PDK

The manual has a “auto” rev match in sport/ sport+ always the perfect revmatch while downshifting?

 

[Viffermike]

My girlfriend is just ready for our daily driver to be something more refined than a gravel prepped 450hp STi.

As the former owner of a WRX (and a few other drift-able cars), I can relate a little ...

... but as someone who only owned manuals (15 cars and four motorcycles) until six years/three cars ago, I can relate more.

My advice: Give up on manuals and embrace the DCT wave while you can ... because sooner or later, both will be gone thanks to EVs.
Or: keep the STi for when the 'urge' arises.

 

[Westcoaster]

As the former owner of a WRX (and a few other drift-able cars), I can relate a little ...

... but as someone who only owned manuals (15 cars and four motorcycles) until six years/three cars ago, I can relate more.

My advice: Give up on manuals and embrace the DCT wave while you can ... because sooner or later, both will be gone thanks to EVs.
Or: keep the STi for when the 'urge' arises.

It is for this reason that I am standing in line for what might be my last MT car, a 2020 Spyder.

 

[Lelandjt]

EDIT: PS: Hand brake? What hand brake? We don't have no stinkin handbrakes... We have an electric brake immobilizing thingy...

I just had to look at an interior photo to confirm that. Huh, I went to the dealer twice and never noticed the lack of a hand brake. Seems like an odd deletion for a sports car.

 

[Lelandjt]

Any volunteers wishing to enlighten us on what happens if you put it in neutral doing 60 and then press One paddle? It would be interesting to see what gear it picks! As I said, I am not doing it...

I just found in another thread a guy said he does this frequently but you must be in auto. Pulling the + paddle puts it in the "most appropriate gear". That's what I wanted to hear. Now I want to hear that if while at a stop you pull both paddles it goes to neutral. Then if you rev it up and pull the + paddle it shifts to 1st and allows a burn out. When pulling out onto a remote street I like to occasionally do a little clutch dump and drifty burnout.