Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmissions are so good at changing gears that very few owners ever miss the more tactile interaction of a manual 'box. However, the German sportscar brand remains a purist car company at heart and, to that end, the Zuffenhausen-based brand remains committed to offering 'stick-shift' on selected models.
If you would like your new 8th-generation Porsche 911 with an H-gate and 3rd pedal, that choice is now available… Porsche will be offering its 7-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option on the latest Carrera S and 4S variants.
That means you get one less gear than a comparative PDK-equipped derivative, which has 8 forward ratios, but the reward of developing proper clutch-brake-and-throttle coordination is worth the sacrifice for some…
An interesting technical change that differentiates the 7- and 8-speed 911s is that they employ distinct rear differentials… A PDK-equipped 911 has an electronic slip-mitigating differential, while the manual version features a more traditional mechanically actuated limited-slip diff at the back.
Porsche is yet to release detailed acceleration statistics, but there is no way that even the most skilled driver will be faster from 0-100 kph with a manual-shifting 911 compared with its PDK equivalent. The discrepancy in 0-100 kph times should be about 20%, which sounds like a lot, but in reality, it averages to 5 or 6 tenths of a second. Porsche claims a 0-100kph time of "around 4 seconds" for the manual-box 911 Carrera S and 4S.
One aspect in which a manual 911 is superior to any PDK sibling, is mass. The absence of additional clutches and shift mechanisms mean that Porsche’s 7-speed 911s are 38 kg lighter than the dual-clutch transmission cars.
Although Porsche is willing to configure its Carrera S and 4S with the 7-speed manual, you won't be able to order the most basic 911 with a manual.
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