Merc1
Premium
Is This Two-Pedal Paradise?
Only about 10 seconds elapse in our drive of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet before we realize that we've just begun a love/hate relationship with Porsche's most brilliant piece of technology in the last 20 years — the Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, which, roughly translated, means "badass tranny."
Seriously, Porsche's PDK (Porsche Double Clutch) transmission — a new addition to the 911 model range for 2009 — is as spectacular at changing gears as it is awkward to use. This transmission has won our hearts with ridiculously quick shifts and immediate throttle response, but also doused our spirits with its frustrating interface.
Still, once you start winding corners together after adjusting to the shifting characteristics of the PDK, you'll quickly realize that the 2009 Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet's combination of newfound power and a best-of-both-worlds transmission enables it to satisfy the hard-core performance nerd and Newport Ned alike.
New Powertrain
An all-new 3.8-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with direct injection now powers Carrera S models. The new engine utilizes some of the same technologies as Porsche's previous mills (VarioCam Plus intake valve timing and lift), but the efficiency of direct injection and reduced engine friction allow it to produce an additional 30 horsepower and an additional 15 pound-feet of torque while consuming 12 percent less fuel (when the engine is matched with the PDK). This engine also manages to avoid the gas-guzzler tax and meet the EPA's LEV II emissions standard.
The best news, however, is that Porsche folks (especially those within Porsche itself) can now quit pretending to be fans of the Tiptronic automatic. Because it's gone, and good riddance. The PDK's seven gears and two clutches replace the five-speed Tiptronic's torque converter as the optional transmission (a six-speed manual is standard) for the 2009 Porsche 911.
Everyone will win, thanks to the PDK's flexibility. Those who care less about pure performance and want a Porsche because, well, it's a Porsche, will be thrilled with the PDK's ability to act like a smooth-shifting automatic. In fact, they probably won't even know the difference.
At the same time, the PDK's distinguishing feature is its ability to snap off shifts 60 percent faster than the Tiptronic and faster, in fact, than any human using a manual transmission, and those who relish pure performance will love this. The details are complex, but the speed is achieved by disengaging one clutch as it engages the other. Most impressive is the fact that tractive force (drive to the wheels) is never interrupted — kind of like an automatic transmission in a way, except without sucking. In comparison, there's always an interval in which a car with a manual transmission is effectively coasting, regardless of how quickly you move the stick and the pedals.
Two modes, Sport and Sport Plus, offer more aggressive calibrations for hard driving. Pushing the Sport button holds gears longer and increases downshift frequency under deceleration; Sport Plus calibrates shifts for the quickest possible speed and quickens response time to shift requests.
Full Test and Video: Edmunds Inside Line - 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Full Test and Video
M
