In “normal” mode, yes, this is the way PDK acts. Normal mode should be labeled “Pass TUV/EPA emissions test mode.”

The solution is:

• manual mode
• Sport mode
• heavier foot

Might as well always run in Sport mode or program “I” mode appropriately if your 718 is equipped with Sports Chrono.

EDIT: With your GTS, SC is standard. Program I mode:

• Auto Stop/Start off
• Sport mode
• Chassis - your preference
• PSE - your preference

And then flip the steering wheel dial to “I” when your start the engine.

 

Had our ‘22 BGTS PDK for 2.5 years and would have said that isn’t how she behaves….until last weekend when I forgot to put her in Sport mode. I was shocked to see 7th at 35 mph, so literally thought something was wrong with the PDK. One glance at the mode dial revealed the problem. Rotated dial to Sport and all was copacetic….perhaps that’s your issue.

 

I went from a base manual 986 to a 17 pdk S (sport chrono) and was initially struck by the same thing. I generally shifted somewhere over 2500 in daily driving and would rarely ever get beyond third, and suddenly I’m in sixth just going out for groceries. If I’m just going around the corner I’ll leave it but if I’m getting near a freeway or twisties I’ll go to sport or + every time.

 

Pretty much what @bmsamson has just said. With both our Cayman and our Cayenne I get out of the neighbourhood in normal / hybrid (respectively). Those modes are great for in traffic / suburbia. But once on the open road it’s into Sport for both.

I augment that with shifting manually when I need it. The majority of the time throttle control and the PDK in sport / sport+ mode is always going to make choices I approve of.

 

Totally normal. To get later upshifts, use more throttle.

 

FWIW, the center gauge pod displays "Sport" when you are in Sport mode. At least mine does. It means you don't have to look at a dial on the steering wheel or the LED in the Sport button to see if you forgot to switch modes. Or you can just notice that the PDK is shifting very early.

There are times when non-Sport is useful. Running at highway speeds means it can use 7th gear without you having to hit 80 mph and also engage Coast mode. That saves engine revolutions, i.e. piston excursion and bearing rotation, which might make a difference when you've owned the car 15 years. It makes a moderate improvement in gas mileage, though some here say it isn't much. It makes the engine oil run a bit hotter, more like 220F instead of 194F. Some here argue that that is bad for the oil and the oil being thinner might mean more engine wear instead of less, though I would expect Porsche to have taken those factors into consideration.

Sport mode inhibits Auto-Stop. In urban traffic Auto Stop means the engine isn't idling but doing nothing, so in principle that is good. However I find that urban traffic is where the better responsiveness of Sport mode is valuable, so I am conflicted about whether to use Sport mode.

Enjoy the car!

 

I usually drive in normal mode when I leave the house for the first couple miles to bring the oil and everything else up to temperature. Then I switch to sport mode and leave it there. If I am cruising on an open road or interstate I will switch to normal mode.

PDK is brilliant. When driven in a spirited manner on a twisty road it seems to perfectly pick the right gears, leaving me to concentrate on braking and steering. The harder you drive, the better it works, matching your level of aggression. However, shifting with the paddles in manual mode is a lot of fun too!!

 

modern automatics and dual clutch transmissions are programmed to upshift (light load) as quickly as possible to achieve higher mileage ratings

I noticed this in the loan '24 Macan (base) that I had - first PDK I'd driven and by the time you've crossed a big intersection, you were in 7th gear

 

If it makes you guys feel better, I get prompted to upshift my manual at ridiculously low rpm's as well. I keep getting the "up" arrow if I'm driving gently to where it wants me in 6th gear somewhere around 35mph.

 

You can kill the upshift arrow in either MT6 or PDK manual mode by coding:

Disable Upshift Indicator

 

Completely normal. The car upshifts as soon as possible to maximize fuel economy. On my manual, I coded out the upshift arrow the second day I had the car.

 

In my 2018 CS with PDK, in normal mode mine will not go into 7th unless it’s doing 47mph.
Slight uphill and will drop into 6th, not that I want it in 7th below 50 but just feeding back for reference.

surely in 7th at 40 it will struggle !
on holiday now but will play when I get back

 

After 2.5 "PDK Years" in my 2016 718 BS my conclusion is that Normal mode should be labelled "ECO" mode, it is good for urban traffic and speed camera controlled roads, especially Camera policed Motorways/Freeways and little or nothing else.
Sport Mode seems to be designed to produce theatrical exhaust effects and a bit more throttle response, but is otherwise pointless.
Sport Plus is the real deal. a linear throttle response, lightning fast gear changes and best of all it can be driven as a full automatic or a paddle shift manual, again with lightning fast gear changes. The upshift light isn't there in Sport Plus.

More and more I use Normal to warm up and go straight to individual, which for me is Sport Plus and Normal suspension. Roads in the UK make this the logical combination.

 

I always get a buzz when I flip it into Sport+. She sounds so angry.

 

Does PDK operate a little differently on the 718 than it does on the Macan? I wondered about that after reading some of the comments people have written about the way their car responds when it’s in normal mode. On my ‘15 Macan Turbo, I drove around in normal mode 98 percent of the time. If I went to full throttle it would downshift several gears to get the revs up, and when I let off the throttle it would hold the lower gear for a few seconds before (reluctantly) up shifting. If I continued to “drive it like I meant it” it would do the rev matching downshifts when braking and turning. In other words, even though I had it in normal mode, it automatically acted like it was in sport plus as soon as my right foot asked for all of the power. Does Macan still do that? Does the 718?

 

Does PDK operate a little differently on the 718 than it does on the Macan?

The transaxle in the Macan isn’t PDK. It‘s Audi’s DSG architecture from the Q5 (and everything else Audi…)

To answer your question directly: mostly. Yes.

 

Both are wet clutch automated pre selector boxes.
Audi, and most other VAG brands use theDSG, developed by Borge Warner for a mass market.
Porsche uses the ZF/Porsche PDK supplied only to Porsche for use in performance cars, not SUVs.

 

Both are wet clutch automated pre selector boxes.
Audi, and most other VAG brands use theDSG, developed by Borge Warner for a mass market.
Porsche uses the ZF/Porsche PDK supplied only to Porsche for use in performance cars, not SUVs.

Interesting, I didn’t know that about the transmission in the Macan….what I know about it is that Porsche called it a PDK in all of their brochures and owners manual, and the dealer wanted $800 to change the oil in it, so I thought it was a PDK. To be clear, I’m not saying you or Worf are wrong, I’m saying Porsche mislead me.

 

Sport Plus is the real deal. a linear throttle response, lightning fast gear changes and best of all it can be driven as a full automatic or a paddle shift manual,

AFAIK at every mode the PDK can be used as a progressive 'stick' manual, a paddle shifter, or full auto with an over-ride facility. Not having SC I can't comment of the "+" mode but my old base Boxster shifts much faster than I've ever been able to do.

even though I had it in normal mode, it automatically acted like it was in sport plus as soon as my right foot asked for all of the power. Does Macan still do that? Does the 718?

Again AFAIK the power in all modes is identical—you just have to ask for it. Sport modes change the throttle and shifting processes but don't add any more horses.

 

Again AFAIK the power in all modes is identical—you just have to ask for it. Sport modes change the throttle and shifting processes but don't add any more horses.
[/QUOTE]

I know that sport mode doesn’t change the power or torque available. What I was saying, apparently not clearly, is that when driving my Macan in Normal mode, the car automatically changed engine and transmission management into Sport+ mode if I floored the accelerator pedal. I didn’t have to push the button to put it in Sport+, the car did it for me.

 

I’m not saying you or Worf are wrong, I’m saying Porsche mislead me.

Correct. Look around your Macan - in particular the trim around the shift lever. If it’s like ours it doesn’t have “PDK“ logo on it whereas your 718 may - if it’s the same as the 991/981.

What I was saying, apparently not clearly, is that when driving my Macan in Normal mode, the car automatically changed engine and transmission management into Sport+ mode if I floored the accelerator pedal. I didn’t have to push the button to put it in Sport+, the car did it for me.

No, it doesn’t change to “sport+” mode, it’s simply downshifting based upon throttle demand. The ‘real’ PDK will do the same thing but it may require more lead in your foot. It’s all software and Audi (BW) software is very different from Porsche (ZF) software. For example: your 718 can be shifted into neutral with the paddles and the Macan cannot. And the DSG doesn’t rev-match as well as the PDK.

 

So referring to previous posts - what do I need to do to see if my CS 2.5 can get into 7th gear before 47mph 🤔😊 or is it a GTS feature?

 

Reading around this topic on the web the biggest difference between the DSG and PDK is that the DSG was developed for FWD and AWD, the PDK was not, it was intended for RWD vehicles. and, AFAIK, the DSG can be fitted to FWD vehicles in a transverse orientation. The DSG range are made by VAG, the PDK by ZF. Recent evolution of the DSG. means it is very similar to the PDK, including the use of 2 different fluids that need to be changed.

I suspect that from the drivers. perspective the main difference is the software program, controlling the box, with the Macan designed to be less sporty.

 

I suspect that from the drivers. perspective the main difference is the software program, controlling the box, with the Macan designed to be less sporty.

PDK was programmed by people that like manual gear boxes.

DSG was programmed by people that ride the bus to work. (Macan, Audi, doesn’t matter.)

 

Typical if not stepping on the gas too much or have it in S or S+. I drive mine in manual mode unless I’ve got coffee or something else in my hand or on highway.

Congrats, BTW! I made the same jump in ‘21, and I love my GTS 4.0 PDK.

 

I switch to my individual mode at startup. Its currently set to: normal, PSE on, start stop off, soft PASM

once the oil reaches operating temps (70c), I then switch to sport mode