http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/230040/911_pdk_vs_aston_vantage_sportshift.html
They say racing improves the breed "" but car buyers have to be patient to feel any benefits of motorsport programmes. Just look at Porsche. Even though the German supercar company first developed a twin-clutch gearbox for its competition entries back in the Eighties, 0the technology has only now filtered down to the legendary 911.
The clever new PDK set-up is billed as an alternative to Porsche's excellent manual gearbox, but it effectively replaces the old Tiptronic automatic. Few cars deliver the driving thrills of a 911 "" so does this transmission get the thumbs-up?
To find out, we've put the recently revised 911 Carrera S "" complete with direct fuel injection and improvements to the cabin "" up against some talented opposition from much closer to home. The gorgeous Aston Martin V8 Vantage needs no introduction. It delivers a blend of raw speed and stunning looks to rival any ultra-high-performance model in the world "" and it's now available with the latest generation of the company's automated manual transmission.
The single-clutch system is called Sportshift, and it promises to provide the Vantage with a sportier driving experience than the conventional manual model "" but which of these race-inspired cars will take the chequered flag first?
Not many modern cars can trace their roots back 45 years, but this is the kind of rich heritage that makes Porsche's 911 so special. The legend has evolved into a hugely capable sports car, and the German manufacturer has just unveiled a raft of improvements designed to keep it at the head of the field.
From the outside, only the revised rear light clusters and LED daytime running lamps give the game away "" the company has wisely left the trademark looks well alone.
Designers have followed the same approach with the beautifully crafted cabin, although buyers now get the option of a superb touchscreen interface to control the stereo, sat-nav and phone, as well as improved ventilation controls.
The big news comes under the skin. The distinctive flat-six 3.8-litre engine now features direct injection technology to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions. It works: the 911 returned 15.3mpg during its time with us and officially produces 240g/km "" giving it better economy and CO2 output than its more powerful rival.
But this car is all about its new transmission: the catchily named Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetrieb, or PDK. This translates as double-clutch gearbox, and the set-up "" a £2,338 option "" works on the same principle as VW's DSG system.
It's certainly easy to use. Select Drive using the conventional shift lever and away you go. The creep built into the system as you release the brake arrives smoothly and progressively, so it feels like an automatic when manoeuvring at low speeds and in stop-start traffic. Left to its own devices, the PDK makes Porsche's old Tiptronic feel clunky "" gearchanges in auto mode are well timed, and are barely noticeable compared to the more mechanical shifts provided by the Aston.
Seize manual control, though, and the PDK reveals some irritating flaws. Our biggest gripe concerns the gear selection buttons on the steering wheel. You push them to change up and pull them towards you to change down, which is counter-intuitive because as your weight is pushed forwards under heavy braking you need to pull on the buttons to downshift. It's also easy to catch these buttons with your thumbs during cornering, causing an unwanted upshift at just the wrong moment.
As an alternative you can use the shift lever on the centre console, but its beautifully spring-loaded action is configured to operate like the fiddly steering wheel buttons.
Our other complaint is that the PDK software kicks down too readily, robbing the driver of ultimate control. Enthusiasts will no doubt prefer the more tactile and rewarding manual gearbox, although the 911 PDK is quicker against the clock "" and it can show the Vantage a clean pair of heels.
While the Porsche has 35bhp less power than the Aston, it covered 0-60mph on a wet track in 4.4 seconds "" seven tenths up on the British car.
The PDK is an impressive piece of engineering, and it makes exploring the 911's excellent handling, huge grip and tremendous brakes easier than ever. As a replacement for the old Tiptronic it's extremely effective. But is the Porsche package good enough to win?
If the 911 is the quintessential Porsche, the V8 Vantage looks every inch an Aston Martin. With its distinctive grille and sleek headlamps, the entry-level car is guaranteed to turn heads "" it gets far more admiring glances than its understated rival here.
Climb inside and the cabin follows the glitz of the exterior. Glossy piano black trim features on the centre console and the instruments have a hi-tech metallic backdrop. There's even a pop-up screen for the optional satellite navigation system, although its controls are more complicated than the touchscreen set-up now offered in the Porsche.
The bad news for the Aston is that it's not as well built as its rival. If you look closely you'll even find pieces of poorly fitting trim.
Start the engine and the last thing on your mind will be some shabby build quality. Push the key (Aston calls it the Emotion Control Unit) into its recess on the centre console and the 420bhp V8 barks into life. There's no traditional lever, so to select a gear you either press the button marked D for "˜drive' on the centre console or tug the right-hand paddle behind the steering wheel. Then you simply release the fly-off handbrake to the right of the driver's seat and take your foot off the brake to pull away.
The differences between the transmissions are immediately apparent. The Aston's single-clutch Sportshift system "" a £3,000 extra "" is neither as smooth nor as fast as the PDK, and in stop-start traffic the clutch engages with a jolt.
Increase the pace and gearchanges are punctuated by a marked hesitation in acceleration. Plus, unlike with the seamless Porsche set-up, to get a perfectly smooth upshift you have to lift off. The PDK doesn't hold all the aces, though, as Aston's Sportshift is much more logical to use.
Its alloy paddles are fixed to the steering column, and you simply pull the left-hand lever to change down and the right-hand one to shift up. This arrangement couldn't be simpler, and takes no time at all to get used to. Another plus is that the Aston doesn't kick down mid-bend if you accelerate hard in a higher gear.
Ultimately, though, the 911 wins the engineering battle. The Vantage gearbox never feels as quick as the PDK and its downchanges lack drama. Rival automated manual boxes from the likes of Maserati and Lamborghini provide a satisfying blip of the throttle to accompany downshifts, but the Aston doesn't and it's far less exciting as a result. Considering the bellowing V8 soundtrack and powerful performance, this has to go down as a missed opportunity.
Enthusiasts will also prefer the Porsche's handling balance, as the Vantage simply doesn't have the same composure or outright grip as the 911. There's unwelcome steering kickback and its rear suspension allows too much body roll during fast cornering to inspire confidence at the limit.
There's no doubt the 911 is smoother, faster and more efficient "" but that doesn't make it any more special. As with any Aston, this V8 Vantage is greater than the sum of its parts. We just wish one of those parts was a manual transmission rather than the Sportshift gearbox...
They say racing improves the breed "" but car buyers have to be patient to feel any benefits of motorsport programmes. Just look at Porsche. Even though the German supercar company first developed a twin-clutch gearbox for its competition entries back in the Eighties, 0the technology has only now filtered down to the legendary 911.
The clever new PDK set-up is billed as an alternative to Porsche's excellent manual gearbox, but it effectively replaces the old Tiptronic automatic. Few cars deliver the driving thrills of a 911 "" so does this transmission get the thumbs-up?
To find out, we've put the recently revised 911 Carrera S "" complete with direct fuel injection and improvements to the cabin "" up against some talented opposition from much closer to home. The gorgeous Aston Martin V8 Vantage needs no introduction. It delivers a blend of raw speed and stunning looks to rival any ultra-high-performance model in the world "" and it's now available with the latest generation of the company's automated manual transmission.
The single-clutch system is called Sportshift, and it promises to provide the Vantage with a sportier driving experience than the conventional manual model "" but which of these race-inspired cars will take the chequered flag first?
Not many modern cars can trace their roots back 45 years, but this is the kind of rich heritage that makes Porsche's 911 so special. The legend has evolved into a hugely capable sports car, and the German manufacturer has just unveiled a raft of improvements designed to keep it at the head of the field.
From the outside, only the revised rear light clusters and LED daytime running lamps give the game away "" the company has wisely left the trademark looks well alone.
Designers have followed the same approach with the beautifully crafted cabin, although buyers now get the option of a superb touchscreen interface to control the stereo, sat-nav and phone, as well as improved ventilation controls.
The big news comes under the skin. The distinctive flat-six 3.8-litre engine now features direct injection technology to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions. It works: the 911 returned 15.3mpg during its time with us and officially produces 240g/km "" giving it better economy and CO2 output than its more powerful rival.
But this car is all about its new transmission: the catchily named Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetrieb, or PDK. This translates as double-clutch gearbox, and the set-up "" a £2,338 option "" works on the same principle as VW's DSG system.
It's certainly easy to use. Select Drive using the conventional shift lever and away you go. The creep built into the system as you release the brake arrives smoothly and progressively, so it feels like an automatic when manoeuvring at low speeds and in stop-start traffic. Left to its own devices, the PDK makes Porsche's old Tiptronic feel clunky "" gearchanges in auto mode are well timed, and are barely noticeable compared to the more mechanical shifts provided by the Aston.
Seize manual control, though, and the PDK reveals some irritating flaws. Our biggest gripe concerns the gear selection buttons on the steering wheel. You push them to change up and pull them towards you to change down, which is counter-intuitive because as your weight is pushed forwards under heavy braking you need to pull on the buttons to downshift. It's also easy to catch these buttons with your thumbs during cornering, causing an unwanted upshift at just the wrong moment.
As an alternative you can use the shift lever on the centre console, but its beautifully spring-loaded action is configured to operate like the fiddly steering wheel buttons.
Our other complaint is that the PDK software kicks down too readily, robbing the driver of ultimate control. Enthusiasts will no doubt prefer the more tactile and rewarding manual gearbox, although the 911 PDK is quicker against the clock "" and it can show the Vantage a clean pair of heels.
While the Porsche has 35bhp less power than the Aston, it covered 0-60mph on a wet track in 4.4 seconds "" seven tenths up on the British car.
The PDK is an impressive piece of engineering, and it makes exploring the 911's excellent handling, huge grip and tremendous brakes easier than ever. As a replacement for the old Tiptronic it's extremely effective. But is the Porsche package good enough to win?
If the 911 is the quintessential Porsche, the V8 Vantage looks every inch an Aston Martin. With its distinctive grille and sleek headlamps, the entry-level car is guaranteed to turn heads "" it gets far more admiring glances than its understated rival here.
Climb inside and the cabin follows the glitz of the exterior. Glossy piano black trim features on the centre console and the instruments have a hi-tech metallic backdrop. There's even a pop-up screen for the optional satellite navigation system, although its controls are more complicated than the touchscreen set-up now offered in the Porsche.
The bad news for the Aston is that it's not as well built as its rival. If you look closely you'll even find pieces of poorly fitting trim.
Start the engine and the last thing on your mind will be some shabby build quality. Push the key (Aston calls it the Emotion Control Unit) into its recess on the centre console and the 420bhp V8 barks into life. There's no traditional lever, so to select a gear you either press the button marked D for "˜drive' on the centre console or tug the right-hand paddle behind the steering wheel. Then you simply release the fly-off handbrake to the right of the driver's seat and take your foot off the brake to pull away.
The differences between the transmissions are immediately apparent. The Aston's single-clutch Sportshift system "" a £3,000 extra "" is neither as smooth nor as fast as the PDK, and in stop-start traffic the clutch engages with a jolt.
Increase the pace and gearchanges are punctuated by a marked hesitation in acceleration. Plus, unlike with the seamless Porsche set-up, to get a perfectly smooth upshift you have to lift off. The PDK doesn't hold all the aces, though, as Aston's Sportshift is much more logical to use.
Its alloy paddles are fixed to the steering column, and you simply pull the left-hand lever to change down and the right-hand one to shift up. This arrangement couldn't be simpler, and takes no time at all to get used to. Another plus is that the Aston doesn't kick down mid-bend if you accelerate hard in a higher gear.
Ultimately, though, the 911 wins the engineering battle. The Vantage gearbox never feels as quick as the PDK and its downchanges lack drama. Rival automated manual boxes from the likes of Maserati and Lamborghini provide a satisfying blip of the throttle to accompany downshifts, but the Aston doesn't and it's far less exciting as a result. Considering the bellowing V8 soundtrack and powerful performance, this has to go down as a missed opportunity.
Enthusiasts will also prefer the Porsche's handling balance, as the Vantage simply doesn't have the same composure or outright grip as the 911. There's unwelcome steering kickback and its rear suspension allows too much body roll during fast cornering to inspire confidence at the limit.
There's no doubt the 911 is smoother, faster and more efficient "" but that doesn't make it any more special. As with any Aston, this V8 Vantage is greater than the sum of its parts. We just wish one of those parts was a manual transmission rather than the Sportshift gearbox...
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Gallant Prince Charming required to save Lady Aston from the depths of slumber. After leaving a UK Main Dealer this 2008 model 07/57 beauty became trapped within a private car collection and never moved. With only delivery mileage she could now be stolen away for almost £40k less then her original price. She comes fully equiped with an abundance of extras including Awesome 19" Seven Spoke Alloys with Bodywork Matching Tungsten Calipers, ABS, Traction control, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Discreet Satellite Navigation System, Air conditioning, On Board Computer, Driver & Passenger airbags, Bi Xenon Headlamps, Electric windows, Electrically Adjustable Memory Seats, Head Restraints, Leather seats, Lumbar Support, Tracker/Alarm/Immobiliser, Parking Sensors, PAS, ABS, Remote Control Locking, Front and Side airbags, Radio/CD Multichanger, Sophisticated Cat 1 Alarm with Credit Card Tracking System, Piano Black Dashboard Fascia, Full Aston Martin Warranty for 2 years, etc, etc, etc. Amazingly she could now be tempted away by the first gallant Prince offering over £61.5K. 
