Motor Trend February 2006


Porsche is reportedly ironing out problems with its new twin-clutch transmission. Insiders say engineers are unhappy with the shift quality of the new tranny in full auto mode. The problem now is that Porsche was banking on the PDK to serve double duty for those customers who wanted an automatic and so didn't bother to adapt ZF's smooth six-speed auto-manual, which is why the 911 automatic [and the Cayman] are still five speeders. The irony, of course, is that Porsche was first to prove out the twin-clutch concept, using it in its sports racers during the 1980s.

If that's the transmission in the Audi TT with DSG then I love it. It is so much fun down shifting with it. Very fast gear changes. Hoped I could get a Cayman with it but maybe in a few years. Porsche will have to offer it in 911 as well as Cayman if they don't want the flagship's lead set back.

If I read this right the Tiptronic will eventually be phased out with either the stick or PDK being the "automatic" offering. I did not think that Porsche would want to offer three different transmission choices. I'd be interested in hearing more about this because I would choose to lease the Cayman w/ the Tip rather than buy it because the PDK may make the Tip totally obsolete and much less desirable even for those who need an automatic. Thanks mpollard, always appreciate your timely info!