[Guaji]

Hello....just joined. I have a 2018 Cayman GTS on order in Carrera White. This will be my first Porsche. My neighbor has a Macan which I get to drive often...love the PDK, which is the only auto that I would actually be very happy to have. However, I went with the manual. Delivery is tentatively scheduled for April 25th, with a January 3rd date unitl which I can make changes to the order. I hope to learn from the other members.

I have previously owned a 2000 TT Audi roadster, Ford SVT Focus, Ford Fiesta ST and Focus RS. I am a fan of rally type cars and “hot hatches”. I presently own the Focus RS and Fiesta ST, but the Fiesta satisfies my hot hatch thrills, so the RS will be sold. I don’t need two hatches. So, I decided to buy a proper sports car designed from the ground up as such and not an econobox that is later modified to be “sporty”. I look forward to the Cayman....always liked them.

 

[Gallatin]

Welcome to the Forum!!!

 

[johan]

Welcome !
GTS in White, gonna look awsome
How much have you added to the spec?

 

[Guaji]

Thanks....my options are

Carrara White Metallic, Power sterring plus, PASM, Smoking Package (though I don’t smoke), painted rear side air intake grills and Porsche connect.

 

[TEST DRyVer]

Welcome to the Forum, buddy! And a personal Thank You for choosing to keep manual transmissions on the road! I also appreciate the PDK, but manual is king till they all manufacturers stop producing them... Maybe you can help remind some of the old farts here what the 3rd pedal is for =)
Great choice on a GTS build

 

[Guaji]

Welcome to the Forum, buddy! And a personal Thank You for choosing to keep manual transmissions on the road! I also appreciate the PDK, but manual is king till they all manufacturers stop producing them... Maybe you can help remind some of the old farts here what the 3rd pedal is for =)
Great choice on a GTS build

Yes....gotta keep the manuals alive.....my dealer had no manual 718s in stock when I test drove the PDK last week. I loved the rapid fire shifts....very impressive, performance wise and the sound of the rapid shifts. However, if I occasionally take it to the track, it will be just to enjoy driving it and less about the times. I’ve never owned an Auto transmission, but this time it had me thinking since my daily Fiesta ST is a manual also.

My dealer should be getting a manual in this week, so I hope to go back and take it for a drive.

 

[TheLip]

My dealer should be getting a manual in this week, so I hope to go back and take it for a drive.

You will not be disappointed, I assure you. The first Cayman I test drove last year was a unsold 981 with a 6MT. It was amazing. However, the car was not optioned the way I wanted, and the dealer was sure that it was worth far more than its sticker price because it was the last 6 cylinder they had in stock, so I walked away. The first 982 I drove was a PDK because I couldn't find a 6MT. It handled better, accelerated harder and was amazing, but the PDK took all of the driver involvement out of the car for me. I started looking for other cars that I could find with a manual transmission. Then I got to drive a 982 with the 6MT. Clouds parted allowing golden rays of sunshine to kiss the glistening waters of the Pacific. Orchestral music rose to a crescendo. Angels wept. And my order was placed.0

 

[Guaji]

You will not be disappointed, I assure you. The first Cayman I test drove last year was a unsold 981 with a 6MT. It was amazing. However, the car was not optioned the way I wanted, and the dealer was sure that it was worth far more than its sticker price because it was the last 6 cylinder they had in stock, so I walked away. The first 982 I drove was a PDK because I couldn't find a 6MT. It handled better, accelerated harder and was amazing, but the PDK took all of the driver involvement out of the car for me. I started looking for other cars that I could find with a manual transmission. Then I got to drive a 982 with the 6MT. Clouds parted allowing golden rays of sunshine to kiss the glistening waters of the Pacific. Orchestral music rose to a crescendo. Angels wept. And my order was placed.0

That’s good to hear your impressions of the manual. I stopped by the dealer today but they still have not received the only MT they seem to have on order. I also wanted to confirm my options, I added two things since I was last there. The salesman showed me the tentative date for arrival in Jacksonville, which is April 6th. He told me that he wouldn’t be surprised if it arrived earlier, like the end of March.

The last date to make changes is Jan. 10th.

 

[TheLip]

I ordered my car August 23rd and it was scheduled for arrival at the dealership the second week of December. I took delivery on November 25th. They definitely build some extra time into the schedule to accommodate for unforeseen delays.

 

[TEST DRyVer]

You will not be disappointed, I assure you. The first Cayman I test drove last year was a unsold 981 with a 6MT. It was amazing. However, the car was not optioned the way I wanted, and the dealer was sure that it was worth far more than its sticker price because it was the last 6 cylinder they had in stock, so I walked away. The first 982 I drove was a PDK because I couldn't find a 6MT. It handled better, accelerated harder and was amazing, but the PDK took all of the driver involvement out of the car for me. I started looking for other cars that I could find with a manual transmission. Then I got to drive a 982 with the 6MT. Clouds parted allowing golden rays of sunshine to kiss the glistening waters of the Pacific. Orchestral music rose to a crescendo. Angels wept. And my order was placed.0

May God continue to Bless and watch over you manual loving people. May he also put the manual praises on your lips, for others to hear and maybe consider buying a dying art. 000

 

[UNIQPERFORMANCE]

Welcome

 

[NXM]

Out of interest Guaji, did you buy from Champion Porsche? I was in South Florida last month and went to Champion Porsche which was quite something. The biggest dealership in the US.

They have over $10,000,000 of stock at the dealership including something akin to an aircraft hangar full of every type of Porsche in every colour. The place is so big they took us round in a golf buggy.

Just amazing to see that many beautiful cars in one place.

 

[Guaji]

Out of interest Guaji, did you buy from Champion Porsche? I was in South Florida last month and went to Champion Porsche which was quite something. The biggest dealership in the US.

They have over $10,000,000 of stock at the dealership including something akin to an aircraft hangar full of every type of Porsche in every colour. The place is so big they took us round in a golf buggy.

Just amazing to see that many beautiful cars in one place.

I’m dealing with a sales guy I know at the Collection. I’ve bought from there before and my neighbor too. It’s close to where I live.

 

[TheWaitingGame]

Welcome to the Forum, buddy! And a personal Thank You for choosing to keep manual transmissions on the road! I also appreciate the PDK, but manual is king till they all manufacturers stop producing them... Maybe you can help remind some of the old farts here what the 3rd pedal is for =)
Great choice on a GTS build

Yes....gotta keep the manuals alive.....my dealer had no manual 718s in stock when I test drove the PDK last week. I loved the rapid fire shifts....very impressive, performance wise and the sound of the rapid shifts. However, if I occasionally take it to the track, it will be just to enjoy driving it and less about the times. I’ve never owned an Auto transmission, but this time it had me thinking since my daily Fiesta ST is a manual also.

My dealer should be getting a manual in this week, so I hope to go back and take it for a drive.

Got a MT cayman on order too (base though...). I live in Belgium and called nearly all dealers.. Not a single one had a manual I could drive with! I think the ratio MT vs PDK is something like 20/80... Just hope they keep making the manual! Great to hear you enjoyed it so much. I agree on the driver involvement point. Although you can use the paddles with the PDK, I probably wouldn't do that on my way to work (in Brussels...) so that would only leave manual work for weekends... plus, my left foot would feel left out, haha...

 

[CDH]

My local dealer took about 10 days to get hold of an MT that I could test drive.
My Cayman 6MT replaced a 2009 Audi TTS S-Tronic. I pretty much always drove in automatic, expect when overtaking, as the TTS has a bigger turbo than the base TT and hence massive turbo lag. A Dacia Sandero could beat it in a 30-50mph race in automatic. So a couple of pulls on the paddle and it was off like a scalded cat!

The other thing I REALLY didn't like with S-Tronic was braking to a complete stop - you had to press the brake pedal until the car jolted to a stop, it's irritating especially in traffic. In a manual you can release the brake and allow the car to roll to a stop for the final ¼ down to 0mph. Is the PDK better at coming to a stop than the Audi S-Tronic?? I did read that PDK has a "coast" function - what does that do?

 

[Porsche2018]

May God continue to Bless and watch over you manual loving people. May he also put the manual praises on your lips, for others to hear and maybe consider buying a dying art. 000

Drove manuals for 30 years......I was good but I was never as good at shifting as the PDK. Long live technology. Though I am considering a 911 GTS manual....we shall see.

 

[GregW]

My local dealer took about 10 days to get hold of an MT that I could test drive.
My Cayman 6MT replaced a 2009 Audi TTS S-Tronic. I pretty much always drove in automatic, expect when overtaking, as the TTS has a bigger turbo than the base TT and hence massive turbo lag. A Dacia Sandero could beat it in a 30-50mph race in automatic. So a couple of pulls on the paddle and it was off like a scalded cat!

The other thing I REALLY didn't like with S-Tronic was braking to a complete stop - you had to press the brake pedal until the car jolted to a stop, it's irritating especially in traffic. In a manual you can release the brake and allow the car to roll to a stop for the final ¼ down to 0mph. Is the PDK better at coming to a stop than the Audi S-Tronic?? I did read that PDK has a "coast" function - what does that do?

In standard mode it disengages the clutch and allows coasting when letting off the gas. In coasting to a stop the stop/start will operate below 5 Kph. Neither coast nor stop/start are active in Sport mode.

I've had no issues with the PDK in coming to a complete stop. If you really want to coast, neutral is gained by pulling both gear paddles toward you. When coasting in neutral you re-engage by using either paddle (the computer will choose the correct gear for the return). If you are stopped you will need to engage the brake to allow the selection of 1st gear.

 

[Guaji]

Well, I’ve done alot of agonizing between my first post and last week. I originally ordered a 718 GTS, with manual and Alcantara and very few options. Then the second guessing began.....long story short, I was “convinced “ by the “help” of a few friends who have Porsches and whom I respect. They suggested or encouraged me to get it with a PDK. So, I changed the order to PDK before the freeze date. Thats when I starting worrying. I still dont mine the Alcantara. I don’t have a dislike for it, like it seems many people do. I started searching for a manual GTS and found one locally at another dealer. I test drove a Cayman S manual and loved the feel. The best clutch and shifting that I have experienced. The car came with more options than I considered, but they were nice options. MSRP was almost $4000 more than the one I ordered. I made an offer that was $1000 less than the car I ordered and they accepted the offer. I love it!! Last photo is with its “little brother”, a Fiesta ST.

Next week I take it in for PPF, ceramic coating and tints. I already had the yellow side lights replaced for the clear ones.

SORRY IF THE PHOTOS APPEAR SIDEWAYS....NOT SURE WHY

 

[ZuffenHouseRules]

Nice! Welcome another member to The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society. We have a pretty high percentage here...

 

[Guaji]

Nice! Welcome another member to The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society. We have a pretty high percentage here...

Yes....I felt guilty selling out my manual brothers & sisters Though if there is an automatic to make me give up a manual, it would be a PDK.