Weekly Top 3: Things To Do In Sicily When You're At A Porsche Boxster PDK Event
When I was offered the chance to fly to Sicily for a 2009 Porsche Boxster PDK (Porsche's new dual-clutch automated manual transmission) event, I said I'd have to think about it. I spent three excruciating milliseconds internally debating the pros and cons, finally acquiescing with a grudging "AreYou****ingKiddingMeOfCourse!" Once I got there, though, I did have to come up with some things to do. As it happens, I only came up with three. Not really, but keep reading anyway.
3. Pick a Boxster.
Hey, easier said than done. Did I want the demure white one? The distinctive copper one? The garish lime green one? The copper one was my choice, but it was gone by the time the list got around to me, so I ended up with a red Boxster S (see lead picture, above). Kind of hackneyed, I know -- a Guards Red Porsche -- but under the circumstances, I wasn't going to complain. When I hopped in, I found a road map of Sicily on the passenger seat. The drive to the hotel was estimated at two hours. It was 3 pm; dinner wasn't till 6:30. To sum up, I had the keys to one of the best-handling sports cars on the planet, a map of a sparsely inhabited and police-cruiser-less land, and three and a half hours to kill. So what's the first thing I decided to do?
2. Launch it.
Seems like you can't go anywhere these days without hearing the phrase "launch control." The GT-R has launch control. The Evo MR has launch control. Next thing you know they'll be designing a launch control for the U.S. Army's Cougar MRAP
. The optional launch control on the Boxster S is calibrated a bit differently because the midmounted 3.4-liter, 310-horsepower flat-6 isn't turbocharged, so the optimal clutch-dumping point here turns out to be a lofty 6,800 rpm. In any case, Porsche claims to have utilized it 40 times in a row without issue, unlike the GT-R's notoriously high-strung launch mode. So I launched my Boxster -- early, often, and with abandon. And it was rather fun.
1. Twiddle your thumbs. Because, let's face it, that's what these automated manual transmissions are all about. Alright, that's not fair -- in the GT-R and Evo, which have a superior column-mounted paddle design (Porsche employs wheel-mounted buttons), you twiddle your fingers. Whatever. Point is, you're not doing much more than playing a video game. Look, the performance of PDK is absolutely brilliant. Shifts in automatic mode are imperceptible, and manual downshifts and upshifts alike are so quick and smooth in Sport mode that hardcore Sport Plus and its tangible *thunks* between gears seem superfluous. I can't wait for the day when conventional automatics have been phased out in favor of PDK-like automated manuals. But that's what these contraptions are -- automatic substitutes, nothing more. I don't care how much faster they make you around a track; I'll sacrifice a second or three and match my own revs, danke schoen.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com
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- Josh Sadlier January 30, 2009, 3:00 AM
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The Boxter's white gauges have always annoyed me. Looks like a fun trip though. I like the Weekly Top 3, keep it up.
Sounds like a great time. I have no idea why Porsche decided on the button implementation, paddles are so much better.
dougtheeng - I agree, I hate those white gauges. However, if you have a couple of hundred extra bucks, Porsche will gladly change them to black or something awful like Terracotta.
"I don't care how much faster they make you around a track; I'll sacrifice a second or three and match my own revs"
Luddite.
re: mnorm1
Right, just because someone doesn't prefer dual clutch automated manual over stick/pedal makes him/her a luddite, huh? Very insightful.
Luddite - One who opposes technical or technological change. (Definition from Dictionary.com)
Mr. Sadlier clearly states the performance of the PDK (specifically) is "brilliant". He is rejecting a technological change he admits is superior in performance to a manual transmission. I think technological changes that improve performance, of "performance" vehicles, should be embraced.
re: mnorm1
example: I have iPhone and old Nokia. iPhone is technologically brilliant, with multi-touch screen and loads of software but as far as calling people goes, I prefer the tactile feel of real keypad and focused functionality of comparatively primitive Nokia.
Mr Sadlier is NOT opposing PDK because it is new and brilliant, he's just saying he likes stick and extra pedal more. Same as significant portion of auto enthusiast crowd(including yours truly). I wouldn't care about PDK, DSG, SMG or whatever unless I was competing on Monaco grid or in rush hour traffic in LA or New york(but then I would prefer torque converted auto in rush hour).
In the Long Term blog Mr Sadlier says the PDK is no manual and never will be; he also refers to this blog as a "rant". So my take was, he is "anti" PDK or any similar transmission.
mnorm1,
I'm certainly not anti-PDK. To wit:
"I can't wait for the day when conventional automatics have been phased out in favor of PDK-like automated manuals."
My argument was that these things aren't adequate substitutes for stickshifts. They don't give the driver the same sense of involvement and accomplishment.
However, your "Luddite" gibe above was well-taken. You're right -- I am a Luddite in this case. And proud of it.
-Mr. Sadlier
"I can't wait for the day when conventional automatics have been phased out in favor of PDK-like automated manuals."
Point taken.