
34
Controls, Instruments
Seat Adjustment
 Warning!
The seat may move unexpectedly if you 
attempt to adjust while driving. This could 
cause sudden loss of control or personal in-
jury. 
fDo not adjust seats while the vehicle is in mo-
tion.
The backrest locks must be engaged at all 
times while the vehicle is in motion.
Safety belts only offer protection when the 
backrest is upright and the belts are properly 
positioned on the body. 
Improperly positioned safety belts or safety 
belts worn by passengers in an excessively 
reclined position can cause serious personal 
injury in an accident. 
fDo not operate the car with the driver or pas-
senger backrests excessively reclined (see “Seat position”).
Seat position An ergonomically correct sitting position is 
important for safe and fatigue-free driving. 
We recommend the following procedure for adjust-
ing the driver’s seat to suit individual 
requirements:
1. Vehicles with manual transmission:
Adjust the seat until, with the clutch pedal fully 
depressed, your leg remains at a slight angle.
Vehicles with Tiptronic S:
Adjust the seat until, with your left foot on the 
footrest, your left leg remains at a slight angle.2. Rest your outstretched arm on the steering 
wheel.
Set the backrest angle and the steering-wheel 
position so that your wrist rests on the outer 
rim of the steering wheel. At the same time, 
the shoulders must still be in noticeable 
contact with the backrest.
3. Adjust the seat height to give yourself enough 
headroom and a good overview of the vehicle.
4. Electrically adjustable seat:
Adjust the seat angle until your thighs rest 
lightly on the seat cushion.
Manually adjustable 
comfort seat/sports seatA Seat height
fUse lever A in a pumping movement:
Upwards – seat moves upwards
Downwards – seat moves downwards
B Fore and aft
fRaise locking lever B.
Move seat to desired position and release 
lever.
Ensure that the seat engages correctly.
CBackrest angle
fOperate switch C until the desired backrest 
angle is reached. 

Controls, Instruments
51
Clutch Pedal The clutch pedal must be depressed fully be-
fore the starter will engage. 
 Warning!
Risk of an accident. 
fAlways check the movement of the clutch pe-
dal before driving and make sure that it is not 
obstructed by a floor mat or any other object. 
fSecure the floor mat to prevent it from sliding 
into positions that could interfere with the safe 
operation of your vehicle.
Your Porsche dealer will be glad to offer you 
nonskid floor mats of the correct size. 
To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion: 
fAlways depress the clutch pedal fully when 
changing gears. 
fDo not hold the car on a steep grade with the clutch pedal partially depressed. 
Should the free travel of the clutch pedal suddenly 
become larger, it could mean a malfunction of the 
clutch. 
fSee your Porsche dealer for correction. 
Parking Brake Parking brake force is mechanically transferred to 
the rear wheels by means of cables. 
fUse the parking brake only after the vehicle 
has come to a full stop. 
Setting the parking brake fPull the lever all the way up (see arrow). 
With the ignition on, the parking brake warning 
lights in the instrument panel and on-board 
computer will come on if the lever is even 
slightly raised. A firm pull upward is required to 
properly engage the parking brake.
If the brake is not fully set, the vehicle may roll 
without control. 
fMove the selector lever to “P” (Tiptronic) or 
move the gearshift lever to reverse or first 
gear (Manual transmission). 
fBefore exiting the vehicle, make sure that the 
parking brake is fully set and the vehicle is not 
moving at all. 
 Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death. A 
partially engaged parking brake may allow 
the vehicle to roll, causing serious personal 
injury or death to any person in its path.
fEngage the parking brake fully.Releasing the parking brake fPull the lever slightly up as you depress the re-
lease button A, and then push the lever all the 
way down.  

52
Controls, Instruments The parking brake warning lights will go out after 
the parking brake is fully released.
The warning lights are not an indicator that the 
parking brake is fully set; it is only intended to be 
a warning to release the parking brake before dri-
ving the car.  Caution!
A partially engaged brake will overheat the 
rear brakes, reduce their effectiveness and 
cause excessive wear. 
fRelease the parking brake fully. 
fWhen parking your car, always set the parking 
brake by pulling all the way up on the lever. 
fMove the selector lever to “P” (Tiptronic) or 
move the gearshift lever to reverse or first 
gear (Manual transmission). 
fOn hills also turn the front wheels towards the 
curb. 
Brakes fMake it a habit to check the operation of your 
brakes before driving. 
Keep in mind that the braking distance increases 
very rapidly as the speed increases. At 60 mph or 
100 km/h, for example, it is not twice but four ti-
mes longer than 30 mph or 50 km/h. Tire traction 
is also less effective when the roads are wet or 
slippery. 
fTherefore, always maintain a safe distance 
from the car in front of you. 
Vehicles without Porsche Ceramic 
Composite Brake (PCCB)
Even though the brake discs consist of alloyed 
grey cast iron, they will unavoidably start to corro-
de if your car is parked for an extended period. 
The brakes will tend to “rub” as a result.
The nature, extent and effects of corrosion de-
pend on the amount of time the vehicle was par-
ked, whether granular or liquid road salt was 
spread and whether grease-dissolving agents 
were used in car washes.
If the braking comfort is noticeably impaired, we 
recommend having the brake system checked by 
experts at an authorized Porsche dealer. 
Brake system function Your Porsche is equipped with a power assisted 
hydraulic dual circuit brake system with disc bra-
kes at the front and rear. 
Both circuits function independently. One brake 
circuit operates the front and the other operates 
the rear. 
If one brake circuit has failed, the other will still 
operate. However, you will notice an increased pe-
dal travel when you apply the brakes.
Failure of one brake circuit will cause the stopping 
distance to increase. 
 Warning!
Risk of an accident.
In the unlikely event of hydraulic failure of 
one brake circuit: 
fPush the brake pedal down firmly and hold it in 
that position. 
A mechanical linkage activates the second cir-
cuit, and you will be able to bring the vehicle to 
a stop. 
fAfter bringing your vehicle to a complete stop, 
avoid driving the vehicle and instead have it to-
wed to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer for repair. 
Parking brake warning light USA
Parking brake warning light
Canada 

68
Controls, Instruments
Ignition/Starter Switch with anti-
theft Steering Lock The ignition lock has a total of four ignition lock po-
sitions.
The vehicle key rebounds to the initial position 
from every ignition lock position.
For your safety, fasten safety belts. 
fPlease observe the chapter “IMMOBILIZER” on 
Page 17.
fPlease observe the chapter “KEY WITH RADIO 
REMOTE CONTROL” on Page 18.
Before starting the engine fApply the footbrake. 
fManual transmission:
Move the gearshift lever into neutral.
The clutch pedal must be depressed fully 
before the starter will engage. 
fTiptronic:
Move the selector lever to P or N. Switch position 0 Initial position
The ignition key cannot be withdrawn when the 
ignition is switched on or when the engine has 
been started.
To withdraw the ignition key:
fStop the vehicle.
fOn vehicles with Tiptronic S:
Move selector lever to position P.
fSwitch ignition off.
fRemove ignition key. 
Switch position 1 Ignition on
fTurn ignition key to position 1.
Ignition is switched on.
Note on operation
All electrical equipment can be switched on.
fPlease observe the chapter “WARNINGS ON 
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ON-
BOARD COMPUTER” on Page 102. 

70
Controls, Instruments
Starting Procedures fPlease observe the chapter “IMMOBILIZER” on 
Page 17.
fPlease observe the chapter “EMISSION CONT-
ROL SYSTEM” on Page 182.
 Warning!
Serious injury may result if you are involved 
in a collision without having fastened the 
safety belts. 
fFasten safety belts before driving away. Before starting the engine fApply the handbrake. 
fManual transmission:
Move the gearshift lever into neutral.
The clutch pedal must be depressed fully 
before the starter will engage. 
fTiptronic:
Move the selector lever to P or N. 
Temperature sensors on the engine automatically 
provide the correct fuel/air mixture required for 
starting.
Therefore, it is not necessary to depress the 
accelerator pedal while starting a cold or a 
warm engine. 
Starting the enginefTurn ignition key to ignition lock position 2.
fAs soon as the engine starts, release the igni-
tion key. 
The first operation of the starter is ended auto-
matically when the engine starts.
If the engine does not start, subsequent starter 
operations will not be ended automatically. 
If the engine fails to start after 10 or 15 seconds 
of cranking: 
fWait about 10 seconds before engaging the 
starter again. 
fWhen starting the engine, be ready to drive im-
mediately. 
Drive vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid 
engine speeds above 4,200 rpm during the 
first 5 minutes. 
fDo not let the engine idle to warm up.
 Danger!
Engine exhaust fumes have many compon-
ents which you can smell. They also contain 
carbon monoxide (CO), which is a colorless 
and odorless gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and even death if inhaled. 
fNever start or let the engine run in an enc-
losed, unventilated area.
It is not recommended to sit in your car for pro-
longed periods with the engine on and the car 
not moving. 
An unattended vehicle with a running engine 
is potentially hazardous.
If warning lights should come on to indicate 
improper operation, they would go un-
noticed. 
fNever leave the engine idling unattended. 
Danger of fire. 
fDo not park or operate the vehicle in areas 
where the hot exhaust system may come in 
contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or 
other flammable material. 
fIf your car catches on fire for any reason, call 
the fire department. 
Do not endanger your life by attempting to put out the fire.  

106
Controls, Instruments
Airbag system fault Airbag is faulty.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Passenger airbag off Passenger's airbag is switched off.
It is important to switch the passenger’s airbag 
on again after removing the child seat.
Passenger airbag on Passenger's airbag is switched on.
Spoiler control failure Driving stability is impaired.
Adjust your driving style. Reduce speed.
Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Display of 
selector lever posi-
tion flashesSelector lever is not engaged Tiptronic S:
Selector lever can be between two positions.
Engage the selector lever correctly.
Move selector lever to P Tiptronic S: 
Move selector lever to position P before with-
drawing key from ignition lock.
Apply the brake Tiptronic S:
Apply the brake when starting.
Depress the clutch Manual transmission:
Depress clutch pedal when starting.
Move selector lever 
to position P or NTiptronic S:
The vehicle can be started only in the selector 
lever position P or N.
Display of 
selector lever posi-
tion flashesTiptronic emergency run Have the fault remedied at an authorized 
Porsche dealer.
Instrument 
panelOn-board 
computerText display on on-board 
computerMeaning/measure 

Shifting Gear
145 Shifting Gear
Manual Transmission, Clutch ...................... 146
Tiptronic S  ................................................ 147 

146
Shifting Gear
Manual Transmission, ClutchThe positions of the gears are shown on the shift 
diagram on the gearshift lever.
 Warning!
Risk of accident.
fDo not obstruct the pedal travel with floor mats 
or other objects.
Nonskid floor mats of the correct size are 
available at your authorized Porsche dealer.
To avoid damage to the clutch and transmis-
sion:
fAlways depress the clutch pedal fully when 
changing gears. Make sure that the gearshift 
lever is completely engaged.
fOnly shift into reverse when the car has come to a complete stop.fWhen shifting gears, always ensure that the 
clutch pedal is fully depressed and the gear 
has fully engaged.
fSelect reverse only when vehicle is stationary.
fSelect an appropriately low gear on upward 
and downward slopes. 
This will ensure optimum use of engine power 
and engine braking.
When reverse gear is selected and the ignition is 
on, the backup lights are illuminated.
Permitted engine speedfYou should change into a higher gear before 
the needle reaches the red mark on the ta-
chometer, or ease off the accelerator.
If the red zone is reached during acceleration, fuel 
feed is interrupted.
 Caution!
Risk of engine damage (overrevving) when 
shifting down to a lower gear.
fTake care not to exceed the maximum permit-ted engine speed when shifting down.