Porsche Might Give Manual Fans More Of What They Want

For some makers of sports cars and supercars, the manual gearbox became history more than a decade ago. Porsche, however, has stubbornly held onto the stick shift in the 911, keeping that tactile driving experience alive. Yet as more versions move into hybrid territory, opportunities to buy one with three pedals have grown thinner. Even so, the manual 911 isn’t disappearing just yet.

During a recent interview, Porsche 911 line boss Michael Rösler acknowledged it is a challenge to keep manual transmissions given the relative lack of demand for them in important markets, such as Europe. However, it’s possible that demand from Californian customers for manual convertibles could see them become more widespread.

Counting The Numbers

Rösler told Evo magazine that the appetite for manual 911s varies sharply depending on where you look. In Europe, he said, “2 maybe 3 per cent ordered a manual in the Carrera line,” which creates headaches with suppliers who expect higher volumes.

Across the Atlantic, the picture looks very different. “The past GTS had about 50 per cent of customers ordering a manual,” he noted, adding that the US and Britain remain two of the strongest markets for three-pedal cars. That demand helped shape Porsche’s recent lineup choices. “We watch it closely, it’s why we did the Carrera T manual – it was one of my early decisions to do the Carrera T.”

Watch: Porsche’s Fastest Manual Ever Beats PDK And Wipes Out America’s Nurburgring Pride

That car was sharpened with a more precise cable setup taken from the GT3, slightly lowering the gearshift and giving the three-gate layout a cleaner feel. “We are thinking about all the possibilities to get the customers a manual,” Rösler added, making it clear the option still has supporters inside Porsche.

What’s The Next Manual?

The entry-level 911 Carrera and Carrera S are no longer offered with stick shifts, meaning shoppers who want to row their own gears need to buy a Carrera T or a 911 GT3. Given that the current GT3 and the new 911 Turbo have morphed into hybrids with an electric motor inside the PDK transmission, selling either of those two with a manual isn’t possible.

Perhaps a new 911 model that could get a manual is a potential convertible version of the GT3. Rösler noted that “people love to hear the sound of the engine with the roof down, revealing that “Californian customers are asking for more [manual convertibles], so let’s see what the future holds.”

In recent months, several 911 Cabriolet prototypes have been spotted testing in The Golden State, complete with bodywork from the GT3 hardtop, suggesting Porsche is at least exploring that path.

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