PDK or Automatic on the Track
 

I'm new to my 2016 Cayman (base model with PDK). I've not yet had an opportunity to do an HPDE yet but I look forward to it next spring when it's offered. I have had an opportunity to do a "Track Attack" evening at Dominion Raceway. Lots of fun and I intend to go back. I'm curious, though: do most folks use the PDK paddles to shift on HPDE or DE events or do you just let the PDK automatic handle the shifting for you? Someone told me to let the automatic shift for me while I learn the racing line and the course. But I find I have better control of upshifts and downshifts with the paddles. In automatic mode, I have to stomp on the accelerator to make the car downshift to hit the revs; there is a noticeable lag doing that and I suspect I lose time on the course.

I do love this car! And I love the engine note.

I let the Cayman R shift for me when I had it - it's much better than you will ever be in keeping the revs in the right place. Sport/Sport+ is a must, though. If you didn't get it, you can retrofit it.

Back to a manual transmission now - miss the PDK sometimes.

ed

It has Sport mode, not Sport +. I almost always keep it in Sport mode, unless I’m on the highway cruising long distances.

I have a 2014 Cayman S with PDK and Sport +. I track it in Sport + and never need to touch the paddles. The mapping of shift points is smarter and faster than me, both up and down shifts. The only time I run in Sport mode on the track is when it's raining and the speeds are way down so can't really compare. My guess is you will be just fine letting it do its own shifting in Sport mode and if you need to downshift for a turn and it isn't downshifting fast enough you can pull the left paddle.

In my experience, a PDK in Sport+ is fantastic. In Sport, not so much. I would agree with Ed, that you might want to look at getting the Sport+ shift points.

Sport < shifting yourself < Sport+

+1
In Sport + mode the car is intuitive. I would be careful "stomping" on the gas pedal to get it to downshift, particularly exiting a corner which can create problems even PSM can't fix.

Stephen

Ditto. There is a noticeable difference between Sport mode and Sport Plus. The shift points are not great in Sport mode. How aggressive you are driving in a particular corner also affects the shifting, even in Sport Plus, a bit. When I used to drive in Sport mode, there were times when I needed to downshift with the paddles (e.g., bottom of the hill at Pitt Race after turn 3), but it was rare. Sport Plus is fantastic and definitely what I always use now -- the throttle is much more responsive though, so I'm not sure it's the best thing to use when learning smooth inputs.

Slippery track best in normal street mode exactly that throttle response. Had a very experienced driver coming back to the track now in a Boxster and insisted in the wet to putting it in sport+ throttle response and shifting nearly put us off the track till he relented and put it in street normal.
Dirk

X2. Early in my instructing career, I had a student with a newish 911 Turbo with manual, but also had Sport (+?) mode. He insisted on using it. Behavior was bit herky jerky, but I couldn't talk him out of it. Mike Levitas happened to walk by in the paddock, and poked his head in to ask how the owner liked the car. Driver mentioned he was new to the track, and was trying to get used to the car. Mike saw that Sport mode was activated, and suggested he turn it off, because the throttle mapping, etc. really worked best with an experienced driver. Whala!....turning it off made the car much more docile, and my student was able to focus more on driving the track, versus fighting the car.

PDK Sport PLUS mode holds the lower gears longer(holds engine at higher rpm) which IMO is good for most situation on dry track. PLUS mode bundles sharper throttle response which is achieved by advancing the throttle plate angle. For example, in PLUS mode the driver pushing the gas pedal 30% will achieve 60% throttle opening at the engine. Basically full throttle opening at the engine is achieved with 50 to 60% at the pedal. This is why it can feel abrupt when using the throttle to balance the car in PLUS mode. Why was it designed this way? Probably to impress a potential car buyer on the first test drive...like damn this car feels fast at only half throttle I'll buy it now! ;)

I would be nice to have factory PDK PLUS mode without the engine throttle advance feature bundled with it. No worries though, aftermarket has a solution COBB Accessport allow tweaking of shift points and throttle sensitivity.