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Porsche 997: PDK vs. Manual

Lighting quick electronic gear shifts or mechanical manual shifts - the choice is yours. Find out more about these two very different transmissions.

By Jerry Perez - May 5, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 997 (911) (2005-2012).

The iconic 911 — there is no other car that offers a more visceral and engaging driving experience. But times have changed, and computers have taken over, which means even the most fundamental concepts at Stuttgart have shifted. Up until the early 2000's, all Porsches were offered with a manual transmission, but with the introduction of the Boxster, it was a great chance for Porsche to offer something to appeal to a broader audience. The Tiptronic automatic transmission, with an option of controlling shifts, was born. Since then, the Tiptronic has evolved to the next generation dual-clutch automatic PDK transmission, which is now the primary choice of Porsche, and customers are left to decide how to equip their dream machines. Hence, the "Manual vs PDK" debacle was born. Below are the facts, including the pros and cons of both transmissions, which should help guide you to your beloved Carrera.

Figure 1. Porsche manual transmission vs PDK transmission.

Manual vs. PDK Transmission

Manual Transmission

Porsche's manual transmission is the venerated, praised, and desired choice by many purists and enthusiasts around the world. Requiring three pedals and two feet to operate, it originated with 5 speeds, then 6 and even 7 on modern Porsches. Many argue this is the only way to drive a Porsche, as the feeling of the clutch and shifter allow the driver to bond with the car and feel all of its internal parts make their magic

Pros
Cons
  • Traditionally the iconic transmission for a Porsche
  • Less costly than PDK at the time of purchase
  • Higher engagement and involvement from driver
  • Driver gets to manually override or manage shifting as he pleases; no intermediaries
  • Some would say it's more fun
  • Cheaper maintenance over the total ownership of the Porsche
  • Shift times and acceleration times are slower than PDK
  • Could take some time to learn for manual transmission rookies
  • Depending on driving style, clutch maintenance cost could add up
  • A real pain to drive in heavy traffic
  • Not a comfortable choice for daily commuting Porsche owners
  • Figure 2. Porsche manual transmission shifter.
  • Figure 3. Uninstalled Porsche manual transmission.

PDK Transmission

The PDK, or Porsche Doppelkupplung Getriebe, is a high-tech automatic sequential transmission that features double-clutch, or "twin-clutch" technology. It was thoroughly developed by Porsche's many racing programs around the world, and it seems to be getting better and better with every new Porsche. Think of two transmissions put together inside one casing, and as you are cruising on third gear, the twin clutch and gears have already pre-engaged 4th gear; this results in gear changes of 35 milliseconds. Try counting that, but more importantly, compare that to the nearly whole second it takes a traditional manual transmission to shift gears. With such a disparity in timing, you can quickly realize why PDK is the transmission of choice for enthusiasts racing Porsches and even Porsche's new hypercar — the 918 Spyder.

Pros
Cons
  • Lighting-fast gear shifts
  • Better fuel economy
  • Effortless top-notch performance
  • Hundred times more comfortable for everyday driving and traffic situations
  • More expensive at the time of purchase
  • May require more constant maintenance
  • Not as engaging or bonding as manual transmission
  • Still holds a stigma of not a "true driver's choice"
  • Figure 4. Porsche PDK transmission shifter.
  • Figure 5. PDK transmission is also equipped with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Conclusion

It all comes down to how you plan on using your Porsche. For weekend drives on country roads and highway sprints, the manual guarantees a smile on your face. But for squeezing the last ounce of performance without breaking a sweat, or giving you a tired clutch leg, then PDK is by far the best all-around transmission choice.

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