Porsche Boxster S Manual or PDK? 

I enjoyed your review, perhaps because it mirrors my experience and my brother's experience, exactly. And I also happen to agree. I sold my manual transmission Boxster s (it had a cayman s engine in it) and bought a 2009 Cayman S with PDK, wanting a new experience and because of the reviews it received. You're spot on. It's exhilarating, just in different ways than the manual. It's lighting fast, allows you to concentrate on your line(s), you can play with the 'paddles' if you like or leave it in D, which shifts in 40 milliseconds. I'm having a blast with it. To combat the lethargy of the regular mode with the PDK I picked up a Sprint Booster, which allows you to modify the throttle response. I'm nearly in heaven now, except for one thing. The buttons, instead of the paddles, just seem silly and difficult to manage easily. So I'm close to pulling the trigger and purchasing a paddle wheel, where right paddle shifts up, left downshifts - as it should be. Again, thanks for the video. Well done.

yeah, It's definitely a personal preference. I think what you realized is that the pdk just fits more with your style of driving vs your manual stick shift style of driving. I have no complaints about the quality and performance of the pdk and it is the best automatic tranny in the business, but I still got a little bored with pdk on the canyon roads after about 15 minutes. I think what surprised you and why you felt pdk was faster is because the pdk gear change right off the bat is programmed to shift more aggressively and at higher rpm where the power band is stronger. Just my observation, but in the video when you drove the stick shift boxster you seemed pretty slow with your shifts and you also kept shifting way below redline at what seemed like 4000 rpm or lower. These cars rev out to 7500 and, to be fair, shifting well below the power band will make any manual car feel slower. You also never revved out the 6 speed like you did in the pdk. There are no wrong decisions here. All Porsches are special cars to own and drive.. manual or automatic and you have to go with your gut and what best compliments your driving style. I drive manual porsche cars aggressively and usually shift near redline or close to it and have a blast, but that's just me and I will take a manual every time. I am sure the next guy will take a pdk and so it goes.

I want to add that my Porsche Boxster S 2009 on the track (Mont Tremblant, Quebec) goes just great with PDK... And it is not boring, believe me.

with the PDK the sports steeringwheel option is a must!! i don't know why Porsche has that stupid + - on a same button shifter thing its so bad. + should be on the right - should be on the left...

I am buying a porsche boxster for my first car but what do you guys mean when you say "it depends on your driving style?" which driving style is a manual better for? and which driving is a automatic better for?

Stinking good video

Get the PDK. Then swap the "button" steering wheel for the Sports steering wheel with the big aluminium flappy paddles - it's superb.

If you go for the PDK, don't take those button-shifters at least!

I know you really wanted to make this video because it is a life long argument between manual enthusiasts that a manual is always better, but I’m finding it hard to take your reaction and your thoughts on the matter seriously, because I don’t know who you are, and most importantly, I don’t know what kind of cars you’ve driven extensively in your life, to persuade me of your views in this video. What I mean by that is, if you haven’t driven any cars with great hydraulic steering systems, I can’t take your opinion on how you think that this electric steering in the Boxster, is great, as a serious opinion. Unless you have driven an amazing hydraulic steering system in a car, such as older Porsche’s and BMW M3’s for example, you wouldn’t know how numb feeling this electric steering feels. If you haven’t done this, I would advise you to start with older cars, and review them, so that you can actually get a feel for how cars are supposed to feel, and then go to the numb’er feeling newer cars, so that you have a true opinion on the matter.

I'm trying to make this decision right now. ;) thanks Sadly Dream Makers is no more.

PDK is great yes but I prefer the manual. Fortunately my wife can drive the manual. I'll stick to the manual. Thanks anyway.....