[GregW]

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.

 

[Spencer]

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.

 

[Spencer]

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.

 

[worf]

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.

 

[grasmere]

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?

 

[224 PJ]

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.

 

[worf]

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.)

 

[Spencer]

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.

It sounds as though the DSG folks may have spent the time to make the Macan gearbox more refined - it would be hard to say without driving them both, and I’ve never driven a PDK 718. I can tell you that a Macan doesn’t roll back when starting out on a hill, and when driving sedately the gear changes are imperceptible. When it’s put in sport mode the Macan holds gears longer, and the shifts are harder, and it does exhaust crackles and rev matched downshifts under hard braking. It doesn’t do any of those things in normal driving mode…..until you floor it. When you really give it the beans the software automatically puts the car in sport mode programming. When you go back to driving sedately the car maintains the sport mode behaviors and holds the revs for a few seconds waiting for you to give it the beans again, then it up shifts at least two gears and reverts back to normal mode parameters. It seems almost disappointed to do this, you can almost hear it sigh . Does your PDK do the same thing, or do you have to push the sport button to get all of the sporty response?

 

[224 PJ]

It sounds as though the DSG folks may have spent the time to make the Macan gearbox more refined - it would be hard to say without driving them both, and I’ve never driven a PDK 718. I can tell you that a Macan doesn’t roll back when starting out on a hill, and when driving sedately the gear changes are imperceptible. When it’s put in sport mode the Macan holds gears longer, and the shifts are harder, and it does exhaust crackles and rev matched downshifts under hard braking. It doesn’t do any of those things in normal driving mode…..until you floor it. When you really give it the beans the software automatically puts the car in sport mode programming. When you go back to driving sedately the car maintains the sport mode behaviors and holds the revs for a few seconds waiting for you to give it the beans again, then it up shifts at least two gears and reverts back to normal mode parameters. It seems almost disappointed to do this, you can almost hear it sigh . Does your PDK do the same thing, or do you have to push the sport button to get all of the sporty response?

My feeling is that the 2016 PDK in my BS doesn't give the full Sport Plus mode unless the car is switched into Sport Pl
In normal mode it does as you describe.
In full Sports Plus it increases idle speed. kills all fuel saving features and keeps revs between 2,000 and 5,000, where torque is maximum. So it rarely goes above 4th gear when left to its self.

 

[Spencer]

My feeling is that the 2016 PDK in my BS doesn't give the full Sport Plus mode unless the car is switched into Sport Pl
In normal mode it does as you describe.
In full Sports Plus it increases idle speed. kills all fuel saving features and keeps revs between 2,000 and 5,000, where torque is maximum. So it rarely goes above 4th gear when left to its self.

That makes sense, thanks for answering. The PDK and DSG gearboxes are amazing tech, and they make the cars a lot more engaging to drive. Before I ordered my Macan in 2014 I test drove an Audi SQ5, and although it had reasonable pep, I was underwhelmed. The Mac was a much better fit for me.

 

[dkreisb]

Had a S manual lately, now have ‘24 GTS with PDK. Only 200 miles so far and wondering if this is normal transmission operation, the car seems to upshifts awfully early. Can leave a stop sign in normal fashion and it be in 7th by 35/40 MPH. Is that typical? Of course this is at light acceleration however, seems like that would be lugging the 4.0. I’ve been using manual shift more because of this. Is this normal operation? Thanks

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.

 

[718 GTS 4L]

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