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For an automatic transmission, Tiptronic isn’t too awful. However, the 987 gives a purer sports car experience while driving in manual. Locate a few samples of each to try out, then decide what you think.
PDK excels. But I find it a little monotonous. I don’t care about rapid shifts or fast launches in these “slow” autos. I’m concerned about how the automobile feels mechanically.
Having saying that, tiptronic shouldn’t deter you if all you want to do is buy a Cayman.
BUT after a year, you might realize that a manual car would have given you the Porsche-designed driving experience. more so considering that you just stated that this is simply a weekend automobile. I could see using an auto for a daily commute, but having three pedals on a Sunday afternoon is just fun.
Consider it in this manner: If you desired a Mustang, you could go out and purchase a 4-cylinder Ecoboost and be happy with your choice. However, you’d always question if you should have waited for the V8 GT experience in the back of your mind. I’m not saying your choice won’t make you happy. But if you’re already having second thoughts about this decision before making it, you’ll probably have them again in a few years.
In This Article...
What you should know about Tiptronic
One can easily discover frequent, acrimonious disputes about the advantages of manual versus automatic gears by browsing automotive journals and websites, and nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of sports vehicles. The 997 Turbo S and 991.1 GT3 are two examples of cars Porsche decided to only offer with the PDK transmission (launched with the 997.2 generation), therefore the 911 hasn’t been exempt from such arguments.
But since the transmission we’re talking about here was the first to give the Neunelfer a true automatic (as opposed to the Sportomatic, which was released in 1967 and was a manual transmission with the clutch controlled by a microswitch in the gear lever), that problem is more recent. Tiptronic made its debut in the 964, a car that already represented a generational shift for the 911.
The four-speed electro-hydraulically controlled Tiptronic gearbox, which was created in collaboration with ZF and Bosch and debuted in 1988, was dubbed “revolutionary” by Porsche at the time. It was a typical torque convertor transmission that seemed to provide the best of both worlds: when in “Drive,” it would automatically shift ratios as with any other automatic transmission, but by sliding the selector lever to one side, the driver could engage in manual shifting by pushing the lever forward to change up or backward to change down.
The mode or gear that was chosen was displayed on the speedometer. The variety of ratios was larger than was genuinely desirable because the Tiptronic ‘box only had four speeds, but Porsche somewhat compensated for this by giving it a “Intelligent Shift Programme.” One of five shift programmes that altered gear change points according to whether the driver wanted to cruise or get the most performance was selectable from an ECU that monitored inputs such vehicle and engine speed, throttle position, and longitudinal and lateral acceleration. Additionally, this electronic control has other advantages, such as preventing gear changes at inconvenient times, including when cornering, and preventing over-revving by automatically upshifting at maximum revs.
What distinguishes PDK transmissions from Tiptronic ones? – PCA Tech Tips
Why is the Porsche Cayenne lacking a PDK whereas the Macan has one? Why does Porsche still produce a Tiptronic when the PDK transmission is so much better?
As PCA’s technical director, I get asked these inquiries frequently. Understanding the differences between the two broadcasts will provide the solution. They both have automated transmissions, therefore there isn’t a clutch pedal. A Tiptronic is also widely renowned for its dependability and need for little maintenance, despite the fact that the PDK is quite sporty and quick to shift.
The Tiptronic has the strongest resemblance to a “typical” automatic transmission. Although it’s simple to write it off as a “slush-box,” Porsche has benefited greatly from it. Manually shifting through the gears is possible, but choosing a lower gear at the incorrect rpm won’t hurt the engine. The torque converter is what it has in common with other automatic transmissions, like the one in your dad’s Buick. The torque converter doubles the torque when transferring power from the engine to the transmission. Towing high loads effectively requires torque converters. The Macan has a lower tow rating than the Cayenne principally because of this. The Cayenne is rated for 7700lbs, however the Macan is only rated for less than 5,000lbs. This video provides a better explanation of the torque converter’s operation.
The Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission functions somewhat like two gearboxes combined into one, with one clutch engaging even ratios and the other engaging odd gears. The software is so clever that it already has the next gear selected and ready for you to shift into. The shift mappings are modified in the Sport and Sport Plus modes, along with the suspension dampening and throttle response. Shifts happen more quickly, and if the automatic transmission is on, the engine revs up more before upshifts. Many drivers have realized that letting PDK handle the shifting is the quickest method to navigate curves.
Porsche initially used the renowned 956 Le Mans prototype race vehicle for PDK testing. The fact that PDK maintained the car on boost throughout upshifts was a significant improvement.
The two gearboxes that make up the PDK transmission are thoroughly explained visually in the video link below, explaining why it shifts so much more quickly than a Tiptronic.
Tiptronic is only available in the Cayenne lineup, which includes the incredibly sporty Cayenne Turbo GT, when looking for new Porsches. The Panamera is the only Porsche with an automatic transmission option other than PDK.
The Tiptronic originally made an appearance on the 964 in 1991, subsequently on the 968, according to the used car market. Mercedes-Benz provided the automatic transmission option for the 928. Along with the 986 and 987.1 Boxster models, the Tiptronic option was still available with the 993, 996, and 997.1 models. The Porsche PDK transmission made its début in 2009 in the 997.2 911 and 987.2 Boxster/Cayman, becoming the only automatic transmission available for the two-door sports car models. The Tiptronics have demonstrated to be extremely durable and dependable. Simply replacing the fluid as directed in your owner’s handbook constitutes maintenance. Although the PDK is just as dependable, track-day drivers should do more frequent fluid changes.
Porsche Tiptronic: What is it?
The function that enables the driver to manually manage an automatic transmission is known by the brand name Tiptronic. The technology was created by the Porsche firm in 1990 and was first only installed on Porsche vehicles.
When did Porsche make the changeover to PDK from Tiptronic?
Porsche unveiled their first automatic transmission way back in 1968. Porsche introduced the Sportomatic transmission in order to appeal to the market that didn’t want to manually change gears.
This transmission wasn’t an actual automatic. The driver was able to change gears by operating a vacuum-controlled clutch with a gear lever similar to one found in a manual transmission car. The absence of a clutch pedal was what made a difference, though. This transmission, which was utilized in Porsches up until 1980, represented an early attempt at a semi-automatic transmission.
The Tiptronic automatic, which was a ZF product, was the next. Porsche altered the ZF transmission to make it more responsive and athletic. Like modern automated vehicles, it also had a manual mode. The Tiptronic transmission was first employed in the 911 of the 964 generation in 1991, and it has since undergone modifications.
Porsche’s racing engineers had been working on a dual-clutch transmission known as the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK, during this time. Porsche eventually installed the PDK transmission in production vehicles starting in 2005 after nearly 30 years of use and development in racing.
When did Porsche PDK start to excel?
First PDK for sports cars debuted in the 911 Carrera in 2008. The PDK was able to change speeds up to 60% faster than an automatic gearbox right away. It made gear changes easier to do without losing any propulsion and used less gasoline.
How does a Porsche Tiptronic transmission function?
An automated gearbox with manual gear selection is known as a tiptronic transmission1. It gives you more control over when you shift gears, which is perfect for climbing hills quickly or for maintaining better control when passing on a motorway.
Porsche still use PDK?
Today, PDK systems are featured in more than three-quarters of all delivered Porsche 718 and 911 cars. For the Panamera and Macan, where a manual transmission is no longer an option, the percentage increases to 100%. The PDK transmission gives better comfort and efficiency without sacrificing sportiness, something that a manual transmission simply cannot do, whether it has eight speeds in the Panamera or seven in the Macan. The PDK offers an even more sporty setup for the 911 GT3 RS, including shorter gear ratios, appropriately stepped gears, and quicker response times. What about the purists, for whom even a PDK cannot match to the wonders of a manual transmission? Porsche still provides what people want. For instance, the new Porsche 911 Speedster is exclusively offered with a manual transmission.
What causes a Porsche to overrev?
When you go over the redline, you get over-revs. There are 5 ranges, from innocuous to possibly disastrous. Over time, a lot has been written and discussed. Your car obviously didn’t have over-rev information when you bought it, but your DME may already have some over-revs logged in it.