2009 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Track Testing

FOR THE FULL TEST VIDEO:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=138126

Only about 10 seconds elapse in our drive of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet before we realize that we've just begun a love/hate relationship with Porsche's most brilliant piece of technology in the last 20 years — the Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, which, roughly translated, means "badass tranny."

Seriously, Porsche's PDK (Porsche Double Clutch) transmission — a new addition to the 911 model range for 2009 — is as spectacular at changing gears as it is awkward to use. This transmission has won our hearts with ridiculously quick shifts and immediate throttle response, but also doused our spirits with its frustrating interface.

Still, once you start winding corners together after adjusting to the shifting characteristics of the PDK, you'll quickly realize that the 2009 Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet's combination of newfound power and a best-of-both-worlds transmission enables it to satisfy the hard-core performance nerd and Newport Ned alike.