Porsche 718 Cayman S with PDK?

Hey Guys, I'm loving the Porsche Packs 1 and 2, and I was a bit surprised to see the Boxster get both a Manual and PDK version, and not the Cayman.. While the 6-Speed manual is brilliant, I think this car would be perfect with the PDK as well. And ideas if this might be a possibility?

 

Yeah, not quite sure why this is. Offering both means more work for Kunos but they already did the work for the Boxster - probably because it was required for Porsche anyway but then they would probably do it for other models too. For the Cayman at least it should be easy to implement as it's the same platform as the Boxster.

It's good to have the choice either way.

 

Imho the Boxster manual wasn't necessary, they are 99% the same car, so a PDK Cayman makes no sense if we have the Boxster PDK.

 

True, they do share a lot of parts. I personally own a 2006 CS with the 6-Speed, and its such an epic car to drive, I figure if they did want to add the PDK to the 718 CS it wouldn't take much work, for the sake of completeness. But then again I'm a Porscheholic

 

What is the difference in driving the boxter manual and PDK ? I drove the PDK with H-shifter I believe..

 

I disagree. The Boxster with a manual is what I want to drive.

Cayman with or without PDK, I don't care, up to Kunos.

 

Uuuuuh, what?

 

Well, that's also what I was thinking I tried too many I can't remember. Then I must have driven the manual instead

 

Hehe, the main advantage with the PDK is the shift speeds, with that being said, the Manual's gear ratios are spot on IMO. And while there is a certain Finesse to driving a Manual, which I personally love, there is something to be said about the engineering masterpiece that is the PDK hehe. I don't think one is better than the other per say, but more of a personal driving preference.

 

Well I did some races against the AI on Brands Hatch GP and I must say that the manual is faster around that track, IMO.
First you have more control over 2nd to 3rd gear which is vital for some of the corners with the manual even if you go a bit on the red rev zone.
Also on the Pilgrim's drop you get more top speed on 4th with the manual before blipping for 5th before the corner.

PDK is more leisure version for sure though.

Just my thoughts.

 

That doesn't really make that much of a difference, at least not in the simulator. The gear ratios are more important and there the manual indeed has some advantages, at least on some tracks.

 

My times of the three cars at Magione under same conditions and same stock setup (on semislicks, with toe adjusted close to zero) are as follows.
1:24.808 - 718 Cayman S Manual
1:25.034 - 718 Boxster S PDK
1:25.297 - 718 Boxster S Manual

So I would say at least from my unscientific, completely unprofessional testing that there isn't that much in between them.

 

Well, my times are on Nürburgring GP (GT Chicane):
Boxster S Manual: 02:20.077 (99% grip level)
Boxster S PDK: 02:20.337 (100% grip level)
Cayman S Manual: 02:21.106 (100% grip level)

But for the Cayman, I didn't really push (that time is from 2 weeks ago, thus with v1.9.x, in case that makes a difference). I could do the same time as with the Boxster S Manual.
I do however think that the Boxster is a bit faster due to the better balance and lower COG the car brings with it.
From the deltas, I'm pretty sure that with 100% grip level I could get to 2:19.0 or at least close.

While I'm sure I could get below 2:20 with the PDK as well, I'm not quite sure if I could reach the same time as with the manual.
I think the manual is faster, mainly due to the better gearbox ratio and because you can use the engine braking for better braking and brake balance.
The difference won't be big, maybe 0.3 to 0.5 s, but still, I think it's there.

Maybe I'll give the Coxster a try tomorrow, but I like the Boxster much more, feels better balanced while still being alive.

 

Bear in mind the Boxster likely has a fair bit more drag than the Cayman, and the weight distribution is different too. Quick test:
Boxster -
Drag ~0.8CD (~99KG @100mph)
Weight distribution ~46.6% front

Cayman -
Drag ~0.62CD (~77KG @100mph)
Weight distribution ~46.6% front

Ok, so weight distribution seems pretty identiacal, but drag is quite different.

 

@Berniyh Yes, I also think there's a slight difference in-game between PDK and manual but I don't think it's substantial and I especially don't think the manual is faster in terms of lap times on your average circuit, which is why I posted my times. I believe if I recall that correctly in real life the manual transmission allows for a higher top speed but that's about it and the PDK-equipped car will get to its top speed faster, even if the PDK car is slightly heavier and has potentially a greater power-loss (or so I heard).

The Cayman being slightly quicker than the Boxster with the top down seems reasonable and as it should be. Nice data garyjpaterson.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I thought there might be a difference. It's hard to judge how much it means, though.

Looking at my lap in comparison to that of archii16, it looks like he does indeed hit higher top speeds with the Cayman:
http://managerdc5.rackservice.org:50120/lapdetails?lapid=38273#

Still, my lap was faster, so I must have made up that difference in the corners or under braking.
Maybe I should take another go in the Cayman for comparison.

@Epistolarius: No doubt that in a drag race the PDK would be faster.
Also, I wouldn't drive the manual gearbox as hard IRL as I do in AC, because of the value of the car. So there, you would have an advantage with the PDK, pretty certain about that.
In AC though, I don't think it makes too much of a difference and because of what I wrote above, I see actually a tendency towards the manual, at least at the Ring.
Might be a bit different for other tracks (Zandvoort maybe), where a lower gear ratio could be helpful.

 

Nice article about the PDK Transmission

http://www.excellence-mag.com/issues/226/articles/the-pdk-transmission