Cassette Transmissions
 

Here's a tough one for all lovers of Porsches and motorcycles:

Why has Porsche never done a sequential cassette trasnmission, similar to what motorcycles have?

The advantages are manifold, and yet the PDK is not a real cassette; it is really more of an automatic transmission with a manual, sequential, operation.

The only downside I can think of is that you have to downshift sequentially, while still moving (otherwise you can't easily downshift).

Warren, John, Grady?

Well, since no one seems interested in this subject, I did happen to watch the ALMS Races at Sears Point yesterday, and lo and behold, the Porsche RSR's were using a sequential gearbox!

Have no idea if it was truly a sequential, or if it was a Tiptrfonic-type automatic (perahps the PDK?), but there it was, the drivers had to shift down sequentially to get the lowest gears, and they did shift up with just a slight tug on the lever, similar to a motorcycle's gearbox.

Anyone know if Porsche has this available for street cars?

No, Porsche has never offered a sequential transmission for street (although Guard Transmission has sold 993 street sequentials in the past). The sequentials used by Porsche are true sequential racing transmissions, and as such are totally impractical for street cars.

There are Hewland sequential transaxles that fit P-cars but prices are quite high.

It is rumored that Porsche will introduce a paddle shifting manual gearbox in the next couple of years. It is a relative of an Audi box from what I know. I guess it has to be sequential.

A cassette transmission in not the same as a sequential shift. Cassettes are just tranny's that are easy to pull out for rapid gear set changes. While all motorcyles I had ridden have a sequential shift, none have been cassette style. That's usually a GP bike feature.

Porsche did make a sequential shift 915 for the original RSR Turbo that they ran in 1974. I suppose that could be duplicated.

Regards,

Jerry Kroeger

And with the Road and Track article on the new Porsche ALMS Racer, I seem to remember that they will have a sequential shifter.

So perhaps good news for us racers and motorcycle fiends.