Seven reasons PDK is better than manual
It’s the perennial debate: what’s the better transmission for your Porsche 911, PDK or the old-fashioned manual shifter? PDK sales are currently usurping the manual choice across the 991-generation’s Carrera range (as it’s currently the only 911 where you’re even given the choice) and for good reason, too. Of course, those who hail from the draconian era of automotive operation will invariably battle fiercely in favour of the manual, yet they are quite obviously (and ever so humorously) wrong. Here’s seven of the best reasons why:
1) PDK is faster
Porsche’s double clutch (which is quite literally what ‘doppelkupplung’ translates to) gearbox can switch gears in less than 100 milliseconds. With even the best will in the world, that’s a figure that’s never going to be challenged by a manual shift in a competition-spec sequential ‘box, let alone on a road-going sportscar. Changing gears quickly means keeping drive supplied to the wheels, which propels you up the road faster. In a car such as the 911, which has track capabilities in mind, this is a good thing. A very, very good thing.
2) PDK is more economical
Like it or not, we have to care about the environment these days (it’s why Porsche is having to adopt turbocharged engines for the 911 in the autumn, after all). With that in mind, PDK is again the winner: the car’s intelligent ECU is adept at saving fuel and eeking out MPG while not taking too much away from the driving experience, even if that does mean Carreras now have that annoying coasting function jumping into play as soon as the driver jumps off the accelerator pedal. Having a better MPG means you don’t have to visit the petrol station as much, which means you’re using less fuel today, which in turn means more fuel will be around for longer, enabling you to continue using your pride and joy on the road long after your 991 is considered a ‘classic’.
3) PDK promotes longevity in a sportscar
Nobody wants to buy a used 911 with battered teeth on the transmission cogs through missed gear changes. Even worse, nobody wants a GT3 with a documented history of over-revs (a quick plug-in and you’ll be able to check these days, remember). PDK eliminates these grave problems rather nicely. It means you can sell your 911 with confidence when the time comes, and if you’re on the other end of the bargain, you can buy with confidence that your expensive transmission is in rude health, too.
4) PDK makes performance cars useable day-to-day
Ever tried driving a high-powered performance car around town and winced at the weight of the pedal every time you’ve tried to deploy the clutch? Again, PDK eliminates this, making high-powered 911s such as the Turbo, Turbo S and GT3 useable day-to-day. You’ll have to give that left thigh a workout elsewhere.
5) PDK is still engaging
Believe it or not, you can still have fun in a 911 equipped with PDK. Simply use the paddles (on a Sport Design wheel) to keep the super-quick 991 Turbo or Turbo S in it’s impressive torque band, or get the left peg involved in using the brake pedal for even quicker driving. Carrera Cup drivers still have fun competing without a manual shifter for company, so you should be fine, too.
6) PDK is simple
PDK means no more missed gears, which is quite an achievement in the seven-speed manual 991. Also, Porsche has (perhaps deliberately?) muddied the experience of the manual gearbox in 991s by making the driver constantly battle across clunky gates, with an overtly weighty throw on C4 models. With PDK, you can still enjoy ‘manual’ mode, using the shifter like a sequential ‘box, pulling it ‘to’ for change ups and ‘away’ for lightning-quick change downs in a GT3. Remember though, it’s the other way around in Turbo/Carrera models.
7) PDK is the future
Quite simply, the days of the manual shifter are numbered. As I’ve already mentioned, even the Carrera Cup and Supercup drivers have done away with the manual gear shifter, and the road cars are the spiritual essence of these track-focused thoroughbreds. Sure, the manual transmission is fun in a traditional, romanticist automotive manner, but technology has evolved and it is us who must also evolve with it.
Do you agree? Comment below or tweet us @Total911 with your thoughts.
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