I have an '11 S with PDK and have experienced the same behavior. I'm not aware of a fix

 

Is it a problem?

 

Is your dog opening the door and looking at you well you are fornicating your significant other a problem? Some would say no. I hate it

 

There is a kickdown feature on the throttle that is activated by a switch at the end of the throttle travel. If you are able to avoid 'flooring' it, you may avoid hitting the kickdown feature, and the resulting downshift which upsets the car.

An alternative may be to disconnect the kickdown switch.

 

It's a little disconcerting at first, but you'll find that while you can feel the shift, it won't upset the car at all.

FWIW, I drive in Manual mode on the street mostly, and used the PDK in Sport+ in drive at the track...and again, it didn't upset the car when it shifted in corners.

ed

 

Perhaps it is more a case of it upsets me as a driver
The sensation is one of wondering wtf did the trans just do that for!

I manually select a gear, entering the corner, just as I clear the apex and get on the gas, full throttle, it freaking downshifts. WTF!

Not an ideal situation when other cars are behind you expecting you to be on the gas, and you are actually slowing down to shift for a quarter second, then shifting again almost immediately to the gear you were just in.

This is the only annoying feature of PDK I have remaining.

The other issue that others experience is the clunk when going down to first gear. It seems as if that behavior has gone away for me.

 

Disconnecting the kick down switch is a great suggestion!

I also find my PDK down shifts when applying more throttle at the Apex (without flooring it and activating the kick down switch). I had 2 instructors at the track comment on this strange behaviour. They thought I modified the PDK!

For me, Sport Plus on track keeps everything above 6,000 RPM, even when entering turns hot. I find these RPM's way too much. With a manual, you have a more progressive build of acceleration.

I have to wonder if a PDK software update or re-flash will make a difference.
I think I'll try it anyway within the next 2 weeks

 

I've experienced similar behavior with BMW's DCT. If you're increasing throttle exiting a turn and the transmission downshifts, clearly, the car thinks the current gear selection is too high for the situation. It's always surprising, but don't let up, keep it pointed in the right direction and hang on. The car knows what it's doing.

 

It's normal and I don't see it as a problem at all.

 

I'll add that there are two turns on two different tracks where I find the PDK is in too high a gear. This is less upsetting to the car than the opposite, but still annoying.

The point of the matter is that the PDK, in the 987 at least, isn't flawless in it's gear selection like some people like to think. It's damned good, but not perfect.

 

For me it's annoying but like many have said it does not upset the car.

It is completely contrary to what you normally do.

It took a couple of laps by I was able to run it without activating the kick down; the car does exactly what you want.

I talked to a friend at Champion and so far there is no solution to this.

Perhaps Porsche should be the one looking for a solution.

 

@rubber_ducky - It sounds like you and I have experienced the same behaviour with the PDK transmission. I am coming to the conclusion that my PDK is operating as intended.

Have you tried running the car in manual shift mode on track? I tried this yesterday and was a little surprised when it decided to downshift (whilst in manual mode! under heaving breaking!). It was almost as if, PDK thought I was too slow to downshift and decided to interfere!

Is anyone aware of any aftermarket tuners that have tweaked the PDK software for track / race use?

Sports Plus is supposed to have a motorsport gear shift strategy from Porsche, but its clearly flawed.

 

I rarely run the car in manual mode but intend to going forward just to have a bit more control.

I assume that your gear selection was overridden in sport+ mode? I wonder if Porsche's programming in that mode prioritizes high revs over manual gear selection. If so, sport mode would likely be a better choice.

 

I was in Sports Plus mode, when manually shifting. I think I'll try Sports Mode, with the manual shift option. Hopefully this doesn't override gear selection!

Here is the official statement from Porsche on Sports Plus:

"The second function is the involving ‘motorsport-derived gearshift strategy’. Using this, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) is geared up for the shortest possible shift times and optimum shift points, while torque boosts during gear changes provide the maximum acceleration available. This involving experience is further enhanced by overrun downshifts and the throttle-blip function for uncompromising driving pleasure"

I do experience a kick when the gear changes in sports plus. I guess this is what Porsche mean by "torque boosts during gear changes"

But I don't know what they mean by "overrun downshifts"

Anyhow, I'm going to get the software re-flashed to see if it makes any difference, then will report back.

If you have any upcoming experiences in running the PDK in Manual Mode - with the Sports setting, I would appreciate your feedback.

If I disable the kick down switch, and I mash the pedal to the floor, I assume the car will downshift as normal??? The amount of speed and force at which I hit the gas, makes a huge difference in communicating with the PDK. The more aggressive I nail the pedal, the more it downshifts. When I ease the pedal down it shifts up gears fast.

But another strange thing I noticed. In sports mode from a standstill, sometimes if I apply gentle throttle, it revs up to 5,000 RPM which is far too much!

 

For what it is worth --

I have Boxster 2009/PDK and no sports mode, and its gear shifts are all happening at the right time. At least I am totally used to the shifting points and they just feel right.

When I tried Boxster S 981 in Sports Plus at a track (during Porsche Roadshow event), it did not feel comfortable at all: the shifting points -- they were all different and some of them felt outright wrong, like downshifting at the apex. The plain sports mode was much closer to the handling I am used to.

-a.

 

Had it happen to me as well. It takes a while to learn how to trick it. I usually can now get to not shift in corners; just right before. But the last time I had an instructor, at a new to me track, he thought I was double hitting the brake.
Later I found out he drove a Miata and really had no clue about a PDK, Sport+, Porsche.

 

Whether or not PDK is flawed is debatable, but what you guys are describing are all normal (for PDK in Sport Plus). Even in manual mode, yes it will downshift for you if you reduce your speed enough or it thinks that you'll reduce speed enough (e.g. hard braking). Basically, it doesn't want you to be in 6th or 7th gear at 10 mph or when you come to a stop.

You can confirm this by driving on the street. Put PDK in manual mode, go up to 5th gear (or whatever), then come to a stop. PDK will downshift for you even though you're in "manual" mode. Yes, it will shift in the middle of turns and can be disconcerting... but doesn't upset the car from what I'm told. As far as downshifting at the apex, I guess this could be useful since you should accelerate from that point anyway (some would go flat out depending on the turn).

What I hate about PDK is that it always starts you in 2nd gear (in auto) and is jerky during the "launch".