[BookItBoxster]

I have a question about downshifting before a bend in the road with my 2019 718. I'd like to manually downshift a gear or two approaching the bend, then let the PDK take over automatically as I accelerate through the turn. It works fine by moving the selector lever to the left, downshifting, then quickly moving the lever back to the right. When I've tried it with the left paddle, it stayed in manual. Is there a way, only using the paddles, to get the PDK back into automatic mode as quickly as the lever does? Thanks for any info you can share.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

It will go back to auto mode after you've engaged the paddle. The problem you're having is that it's not happening quick enough for you.

So here is what you do to fix that. When you are approaching a corner, downshift with the left paddle [EDIT: Wrong info and when you are ready for full auto again pull and hold the right paddle. You're now back to motoring in full auto mode!]

It can still take a second or so to fully change back, but this is the easiest way to do it.

Side note... If you pull both paddles you'll go into neutral. Pull right paddle to re-engage.

EDIT: Holding the paddle does NOT return transmission to auto mode as confirmed by @GregW

 

[jimmuller]

When you are approaching a corner, downshift with the left paddle and when you are ready for full auto again pull and hold the right paddle. You're now back to motoring in full auto mode!

Pull and hold makes it go back to auto? Hmm. Is that pull on the right or pull on the opposite side?

IIRC the owner's manual (a.k.a. Good To Know) says that when you shift with a paddle will hold that gear for 10 sec. I think I imagine that I believe that the release time also depends on how you are driving.

When I want to downshift, or upshift too for that matter, manually and I want a different gear before the PDK is ready to take over, I just use the other paddle.

Mostly I let the PDK do its thing. The same sort of shift-back-up-when-it-wants-not-when-I-want can happen from punching the loud pedal. It downshifts but when I let up off the gas it thinks I want to slow down so it holds the lower gear.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Pull and hold makes it go back to auto? Hmm. Is that pull on the right or pull on the opposite side?

IIRC the owner's manual (a.k.a. Good To Know) says that when you shift with a paddle will hold that gear for 10 sec. I think I imagine that I believe that the release time also depends on how you are driving.

When I want to downshift, or upshift too for that matter, manually and I want a different gear before the PDK is ready to take over, I just use the other paddle.

Mostly I let the PDK do its thing. The same sort of shift-back-up-when-it-wants-not-when-I-want can happen from punching the loud pedal. It downshifts but when I let up off the gas it thinks I want to slow down so it holds the lower gear.

Pull on the UP shift or RIGHT paddle and hold.

Now you've got me questioning this... I'm 99% sure that is accurate for the 718. I do it so often in all my vehicles I can't think of a specific instance to say I'm 100% confident on the 718. I know on any other car I've had or driven it is true.

I'd go out and test it, but my car is at our storage facility 30min away.

 

[DriveInHouston]

It will go back to auto mode after you've engaged the paddle. The problem you're having is that it's not happening quick enough for you.

So here is what you do to fix that. When you are approaching a corner, downshift with the left paddle and when you are ready for full auto again pull and hold the right paddle. You're now back to motoring in full auto mode!

It can still take a second or so to fully change back, but this is the easiest way to do it.

Side note... If you pull both paddles you'll go into neutral. Pull right paddle to re-engage.

That was Method #1

I am sure you are aware that in about 6 sec after you downshifted it will revert to full AutoPDK...

Method #2 (not recommended to use in the twisties, until you are thoroughly familiar with the PDK behavior).

Instead of using the left paddle to downshift, you punch the gas pedal.

Here comes the hard part:

Depending on how 'deep' the punch was, and how short in time, one of the following will happen:

1) Too shallow and short punch (you have to figure out what this means): The car will accelerate, possibly anemically, since it is in low revs for the downshift.

2) Just the right depth and duration punch: The car will downshift one gear and stay in automatic.

3) Sublimely correct punch: The car will downshift two gears and you wanted to downshift two gears, and stay in automatic

4) Floor and hold the gas pedal: All **** breaks loose, the car will downshift as many gears as it can, taking the engine to or near the red line , you suddenly have to deal with close to 300 screaming horses and the upcoming turn (that's why you wanted to downshift, right?), the fauna around you will be distressed, and if you don't deal successfully with the horses and courses above, the flora will be distressed too (...if you get my drift... )

Fun!

 

[jimmuller]

(...if you get my drift... )

Emphasis on "drift", I take it.

I don't know about the hold-right-paddle thingy. As with many controls it depends on whether an action takes place when you first pull the paddle or on when you release it. (In most cases a computer mouse click takes effect when you release it. Otherwise it would not be able to detect a click-and-hold action.) I believe I think I imaging that the paddles and the lever-in-manual-mode act immediately, not on release. That means when you pull the right paddle it should upshift immediately. If it then detects that you are holding it it may revert to automatic control. But by then the whole world might be different, especially if you drifting, so to speak.

 

[GregW]

I'll have to give the 'hold right' a try. ?
Generally I only downshift one gear in sharp corners/bends and then manually shift back up when I've reached the speed I want, and then let the auto take over. This does seem to set the PDK up for its more sporty shifting.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Emphasis on "drift", I take it.

I don't know about the hold-right-paddle thingy. As with many controls it depends on whether an action takes place when you first pull the paddle or on when you release it. (In most cases a computer mouse click takes effect when you release it. Otherwise it would not be able to detect a click-and-hold action.) I believe I think I imaging that the paddles and the lever-in-manual-mode act immediately, not on release. That means when you pull the right paddle it should upshift immediately. If it then detects that you are holding it it may revert to automatic control. But by then the whole world might be different, especially if you drifting, so to speak.

This holding application would not work with the shifter in the manual position.

I'm talking... car in drive, grabbing the paddles for a short period of manual control. As I indicated to OP, his problem is that he's ready for the car to go back to auto mode before the computer decides he's no longer providing input and reverts back to auto. The work around (I believe) is to hold the upshift paddle and it reverts back to auto now rather than waiting for the manual mode to time out.

BTW - I was sent this video of DIH practicing his "Drift" habit!

 

[duegatti]

I don't know about this pull and hold the upshift lever - I haven't found it in the manual. What is in the manual is:

"Manual selection mode is deactivated again in the following cases:

1. Automatically after around 6 seconds (not in overrun)
2. After driving off"

My "recommendation" would be to keep shifting manually - I mean, you're half way there already.

But I did have a thought that might help. What about slapping the selector on the console back and forth from "D" to "M" and back to "D"? Would that get you a fresh re-start in "D", with the temporary manual mode cleared? Just spit balling here.

 

[johan]

Try to use the stick in manual mode for down shift and flip the stick back in to auto.
I cant remember how fast it changes back to auto tho.

H-Daddy suggestion might be faster.

 

[GregW]

Tried it all out today--
Holding the upshift paddle doesn't cause a reversion to auto.
Flicking the stick to manual and back causes immediate auto.
Kick-down keeps it in auto.
I still prefer the manual downshift to the kick-down (to give me more control over the acceleration out of the corner) and then upshift if I want to and let it go back to auto.
As always YMMV.?

 

[jimmuller]

Flicking the shift lever to manual and back does make the PDK switch to auto mode. I have done this before. The OP asked if it could be done using only the paddles.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Flicking the shift lever to manual and back does make the PDK switch to auto mode. I have done this before. The OP asked if it could be done using only the paddles.

I’ll try it out today in the cayman... now that I’m thinking about it, I could have tried it in the Macan yesterday. (Insert a Homer “Doh”)

 

[johan]

Flicking the shift lever to manual and back does make the PDK switch to auto mode. I have done this before. The OP asked if it could be done using only the paddles.

I just added a suggestion to go back to auto....

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Confirmed 100% Confirmed...

HooosierDaddy is giving bad info!

Guess that the other cars being normal auto transmissions is the difference?

Sorry for the confusion... please return to your regularly scheduled program!

 

[BookItBoxster]

Thanks to all of you who responded. Your expertise is appreciated!!

 

[jns211]

With the PDK transmission, you can also double tap the gas pedal to downshift 1 gear without having to change in & out of manual mode.

I didn't know about this trick with the PDK until a 718forum member posted it about 6 months ago.

I frequently use this trick to downshift from 7th to 6th on interstate entrance/exit ramps.

 

[girarcat]

My problem with the PDK in auto mode is quite the opposite. When driving on the highway, every time I drive through a toll station I need to reduce the speed to let's say 15-20 mph. Normally the PDK shifts down to 2nd gear, which is the best gear to pass through the toll and when you start to accelerate again the engine response is good and comfortable. However, sometimes the PDK decides to shift down to 1st gear which for normal driving conditions is quite excessive, making the drive through the toll sort of jerky and the subsequent acceleration too abrupt.

I'm starting to use manual mode every time I reach a toll station to prevent the PDK from shifting into 1st gear. Any way to avoid this excessive gear reduction while staying in auto mode?