twobone Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 The other night over a few pints, a friend and I extoled the virtues of analog versus digital world. The carb versus FI. Tube versus transister. Then today I see that the Porsche GT3 only comes with an automatic! WTF. I know it is to compete with all of the paddle shift super cars. I think this is a step too far. Where is the connection to the past? GT3 owners should be thinking 917 not Bugatti Veyron. Where is the recognition of the manly joys of getting a down shift right. The challenge of learning heel and toe? I'm so sad by this change. I appreciate that technology makes it faster. 470 normally aspirated HP is incredible. However the driver interface needs to stay "analog". What's next, automated steering? Are we going to end up fat slobs riding around checking our text while Porsche drives us around in a fully autonomous 2020 GT3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Not really surprising. Porsches are made now for doctors, attorneys, TV starlets, Paris Hilton, hairdressers and retired semi-executive flunkeys/wankers. I doubt any of them know how to change gear! Porsche shifted from being a sports car manufacturer for drivers to 'mainstream aspirational' as dumbing down the brand makes more money for them through being a status symbol. And thats what it is all about - money. The problem with appealing to this demographic is their general ineptness behind a wheel that comes with such low-brow personalities. They dont know how to time revs, clutch and shifting. Heel and toe is now something you see in a shoe store. The variety of electronic driving aids is intended to allow you to get to a Starbucks to have your mega-grandee cinnamon latte in quick time. Cornering? Needed to be able to be able to turn into a parking space at 15 mph to beat grandma in her Buick. Their natural habitat is the clogged arterial roads of Los Angeles or New York City - who wants a stick shift for the 0 - 5mph sprint in a traffic jam? I think I will stay with the purists and continue to drive a seven - you feel the breeze through your thinning greying hair, smell the hot oil, feel the throb of the engine through the ball of your right foot on the throttle, the friction rubbing from applying the brake, the kickback through the steering as it loads up on a spirited corner, and enjoy the challenging finesse required to navigate the gears smoothly at high revs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 (edited) There was an article the other day (http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/porsche-admits-manual-gearbox-could-die-20130214-2efl8.html) that stated that the only reason Porsche still offers any manuals at all is that the US market demands them. Without us there would be no more MT Porsches at all. Ferrari has already gone to all flappy paddles. One potential saviour for the manual gearbox could be the United States market. While Americans generally prefer automatics, most Porsche sports cars sold in the States have a manual gearbox. “There are some Porsche enthusiasts who prefer [a manual gearbox] and we will continue to offer this in the meantime. But we are constantly looking at the customer behaviour and maybe the time will come when the manual transmission is an old style. Maybe one day it will become irrelevant.” Edited March 8, 2013 by scannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Keep Old School alive! Grab some gears. Shiftless cars are for shiftless people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Just looked at the 997/991 GT3 Cup and RSRs. They are all sequential dogboxes now. I know a couple of the local 996/997 GT3s from the autoX regulars are still manuals. probably the 997.2 made the switchover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 My dentist has a Porsche .. I asked her if it is a stick and she said, "oh no!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Then today I see that the Porsche GT3 only comes with an automatic! As well it should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 As well it should. Burn him at the stake!!!! Traitor!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayseven Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I'll bet you wanted a buggy whip and a hand crank with your first car too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Porsche "911s" (I think it is funny that they are still called 911 and not 9xx or whatever) are for posers. They should all come with automatic late machines and a coupon for a face lift/hair transplant! In the Porsche world I would like a Boxter with an auto box (so my wife would drive it) as a daily driver. I really would like one, 2003 or newer. On the other hand all Se7ens should have I-4 engines & skinny tires. That's just how I think the world should work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 The automatic allows you to use your right hand to adjust the A/C and shuffle your Iphone music . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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