If that’s not a title to incite a flame war, than I don’t know what is. However, from a completely objective standpoint it’s hard to argue. Stay with us for a minute and we’ll explain.
By now, most of you know all about Porsche’s PDK transmission. Hopefully, you’ve even had a chance to try it at some point. If you haven’t, I would encourage you to visit your local Porsche dealer and take a sports car equipped with PDK out for a test drive. If you want (or need) a deeper technical understanding about PDK, then read this post about the original PDK or the this post about the new 8-speed PDK currently found in the Panamera. Otherwise, carry on.
Youtube’s Nick Murry’s most recent video is a comparison of a Porsche 911 Carrera equipped with PDK vs. his 911 C4S equipped with a 7-speed manual transmission. And even though he’s wearing a t-shirt that’s less than flattering toward drivers of PDK transmissions (I’ll let you figure out what it says) he does go on to list 6 reason PDK can be seen as better than the manual transmission:
- 1. It’s Simply Faster
- 2. PDK is easier to use. Anyone can drive one well and drive one fast
- 3. Better fuel economy
- 4. Launch control. It requires the optional Sports Chrono package, but man is it fun
- 5. Better suited to new Turbo powered engines found in most new Porsches
- 6. Lower maintenance costs. Assuming no catastrophic failures, should easily last the lifetime of the car with no need for clutch changes
As for the benefits of a manual transmission, he’s quick to point those out, too.
- 1. It’s a less expensive option than the PDK
- 2. Perhaps, most importantly, and what most will agree with, it’s a more engaging transmission to drive
Nick says that more than 80% of Porsche sport cars come equipped with PDK.* What say you?Do the benefits of PDK outweigh the driver involvement you get from a manual transmission or do you prefer to row your own gears despite the fact you might be slower?
*We couldn’t confirm that number independently, but it seems accurate based on our anecdotal evidence.
View Comments (11)
The #2 advantage was actually the reason I bought a manual! :)
The #2 PDK advantage, that is. Surely the challenge is in doing somethats more difficult.
There's no doubt the manual is more challenging and more engaging. However, there is no doubt the PDK is faster, too...
Actually, from an objective point of view, it's easy to argue. Why do you own a Porsche? If a significant part of the answer is driving pleasure and you enjoy a manual more, then in objective terms PDK would be a poor choice.
The 'faster' thing with PDK is misleading, too. PDK delivers better acceleration times because of faster shifts. It doesn't make the car feel more accelerative in-gear. In fact, PDK is heavier. So given the same gearing, acceleration in gear would be lesser. The gearing isn't the same, so the comparison is complicated. But the 'faster' thing in the context of road driving rather than lap times is fundamentally misleading.
His gear changes are slow, and to long coming of the clutch.
I could come far closer to a PDK and have more fun going into gears by just dabbing the clutch for less than a second.
It can be done.
I now have two 911's with PDK and one 98 911 with 6 speed. The PDK cars are much more fun to drive than the manual. I will never own another manual tranny car unless it is another classic.
If I was drivng (racing) at the Nurbering, Spa, etc, I would take a PDK hands down, to gain the multiple seconds per lap. However for enjoyment on the street, only those who can't or shouldn't be driving, want an automatic. BYW, I am very familiar with the design technology. But I ask, how many pedals at re there?
I've driven standard transmission cars all my life, and i'm not about to change now. For me, driving my car is emotional, not rational. Besides, I like the fact I know how to use three pedals - most don't. The world is becoming more and more wussified every day.
All our Porsches, other than our Cayenne, are manual. However, haven driven many, many PDK variants, I think if we purchase a new one, we'll be going PDK. They can be just as much fun and if our new one is a daily driver the PDK will be welcome in traffic.
Yes PDK is better in every way especially on the track
However 99% of the time in day to day driving the manual is more fun and engaging
So I will stick with the OLD SKOOL transmission !!
Russ DeJulio
Pittsburgh PA
The PDK has opened up Porsche automobiles to a much larger customer base. Just look at the number of 4 door vehicles they are selling. It's not just performance or which is better, because customers dictate. Personally, I think PDKs are great in SUVs and touring cars, but I wouldn't want one in my sport's car. But most drivers theses days cannot drive a manual, so the automatic gives them a way to experience a Porsche. It doesn't make it good or bad, just personal preference.
I think it comes down to most sport's car enthusiast feel high performance driving, racing, is about the connection between man and machine. The control over the machine to achieve the best time.
Yes, computers have enabled new levels of performance, automating various aspects that drivers used to have to adjust for, I just see PDK an extension of that trend. It's personal preference.
So what next? Autonomous sport's cars and I can sit in the passenger seat and experience what it's like to have a pro drive my car?