Manual or Tiptronic 996 TT?
Discussion
We are buying a 996 Twin Turbo convertible in the next couple of weeks, the ones we are looking at are aged around 2004 models.
What are current/previous owners thoughts on manual versus tipronic models?
At 50k miles are there likely to be any issues with a tiptronic?
Wont be using it on track, will be mainly town/city driving with the occassional trip to Europe.
I've always preferred manuals, does a 996TT manual feel more fun to drive than the tipronic? I dont want to lose the fun of taking it for a good blast, does the auto feel less fun?
Hoping to get one with the x50 power upgrade although not essential.
What are current/previous owners thoughts on manual versus tipronic models?
At 50k miles are there likely to be any issues with a tiptronic?
Wont be using it on track, will be mainly town/city driving with the occassional trip to Europe.
I've always preferred manuals, does a 996TT manual feel more fun to drive than the tipronic? I dont want to lose the fun of taking it for a good blast, does the auto feel less fun?
Hoping to get one with the x50 power upgrade although not essential.
rallycross said:
I've always preferred manuals, does a 996TT manual feel more fun to drive than the tipronic? I dont want to lose the fun of taking it for a good blast, does the auto feel less fun?
In my opinion, yes, definitely (and significantly so).You must try both if you're unsure - they've very different cars, and it could be the difference between loving and hating what you've bought.
For the love of god, dont do it to your self! Buying this car in tip form is pointless. Sorry, just my opinion. Ive driven both extensively and owned a manual for a number of years. The tip is clumsy, slow (changes) and devoids this car of the contact and involvment you get with a manual 911.
Just my 2 peneth.
Just my 2 peneth.
VonSenger said:
For the love of god, dont do it to your self! Buying this car in tip form is pointless. Sorry, just my opinion. Ive driven both extensively and owned a manual for a number of years. The tip is clumsy, slow (changes) and devoids this car of the contact and involvment you get with a manual 911.
Just my 2 peneth.
Just my 2 peneth.
Manual every time......
Except
The manual gearbox does take some getting used to and can make you (or at least me) look a bit ham fisted while you learn how to drive the thing properly.
Add to that the fact that you'll be driving in traffic a lot and you'll never fluff a gearchange with a tip, it makes a convincing argument for at least trying one.
Except
The manual gearbox does take some getting used to and can make you (or at least me) look a bit ham fisted while you learn how to drive the thing properly.
Add to that the fact that you'll be driving in traffic a lot and you'll never fluff a gearchange with a tip, it makes a convincing argument for at least trying one.
rallycross said:
We are buying a 996 Twin Turbo convertible in the next couple of weeks, the ones we are looking at are aged around 2004 models.
What are current/previous owners thoughts on manual versus tipronic models?
At 50k miles are there likely to be any issues with a tiptronic?
Wont be using it on track, will be mainly town/city driving with the occassional trip to Europe.
I've always preferred manuals, does a 996TT manual feel more fun to drive than the tipronic? I dont want to lose the fun of taking it for a good blast, does the auto feel less fun?
Hoping to get one with the x50 power upgrade although not essential.
To my mind, the bit in bold says tip. What are current/previous owners thoughts on manual versus tipronic models?
At 50k miles are there likely to be any issues with a tiptronic?
Wont be using it on track, will be mainly town/city driving with the occassional trip to Europe.
I've always preferred manuals, does a 996TT manual feel more fun to drive than the tipronic? I dont want to lose the fun of taking it for a good blast, does the auto feel less fun?
Hoping to get one with the x50 power upgrade although not essential.
There are a few particular things about the auto: first, if you come off the throttle it won't coast as smoothly as a "regular" auto will. There is a bit of engine retardation in the same way there is in a manual.
Secondly, it will (after a minute or so) pull away by default in 2, which feels much like pulling away in 2 in a manual. You can force it to pull away in 1 using the steering wheel buttons.
Thirdly, there are a lot (over 200?) "maps" that the gearbox can select from. These include characteristics as to change up point and speed of change. If you jab the throttle fast to the floor, you instantly get the most aggressive map.
Fourthly it is pretty much impossible to overrev the engine with the tip gearbox. This is unlike the manual, which may be important to you if you are after an OPC warranty.
Fifthly, your traffic light Grand Prix performance will be consistent in a tip.
Sixthly, it's not a manual.
Try before you buy, though you may have to hunt to find an X50 cab tip and an X50 cab manual to test drive. And FWIW, from what I have read the X50 and the regular turbo have quite different low down feels to them.
Greg66 said:
Fourthly it is pretty much impossible to overrev the engine with the tip gearbox. This is unlike the manual, which may be important to you if you are after an OPC warranty.
This point makes it seem you are clutching* at straws; I know it seems like its the 'in topic' to be discussing on the Porsche forum at the moment, but the fact is a decent and careful driver will not over-rev a car in a way that would give the OPC anything to worry about.(* no pun intended)
There will always be manual advocates and of course Tip - we rarely change our ways.
For what its worth I bought a TIP X50 (and in the process did change my ways!), remapped it to 500BHP plus - and I for one am pretty certain that for sheer speed and witnessing how fast it climbs through the gears I could not match it in a manual. On another note at full pelt, foot to the floor I am pretty glad I have the ability to hang on to the wheel with both hands. In summary I feel I am gaining some advantages and of course losing others.
I am not a driving legend I hasten to add and given my average joe abilities do not feel I am missing out. And yes I have driven manual ones too before the stick jockeys tell me how wrong I am. Both have their place, but drive both and see what takes your fancy? But to dismiss it given others comments re 'involvement' 'real men use manual' would be foolish. I for one feel pretty damned involved when this thing takes off !!
For what its worth I bought a TIP X50 (and in the process did change my ways!), remapped it to 500BHP plus - and I for one am pretty certain that for sheer speed and witnessing how fast it climbs through the gears I could not match it in a manual. On another note at full pelt, foot to the floor I am pretty glad I have the ability to hang on to the wheel with both hands. In summary I feel I am gaining some advantages and of course losing others.
I am not a driving legend I hasten to add and given my average joe abilities do not feel I am missing out. And yes I have driven manual ones too before the stick jockeys tell me how wrong I am. Both have their place, but drive both and see what takes your fancy? But to dismiss it given others comments re 'involvement' 'real men use manual' would be foolish. I for one feel pretty damned involved when this thing takes off !!
monthefish said:
Greg66 said:
Fourthly it is pretty much impossible to overrev the engine with the tip gearbox. This is unlike the manual, which may be important to you if you are after an OPC warranty.
This point makes it seem you are clutching* at straws; I know it seems like its the 'in topic' to be discussing on the Porsche forum at the moment, but the fact is a decent and careful driver will not over-rev a car in a way that would give the OPC anything to worry about.(* no pun intended)
But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
Greg66 said:
Hmm. Didn't mean to sound as if I was pushing one or the other option. Obviously I have jumped one way, but that was partly due to Mrs 66 not liking manuals, and me not being prepared to let her relearn her clutch skills in a 996 turbo; and partly to living in London. As I said, the OP has to drive and choose, based on how he drives.
But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
Over revving mainly affects the chain (mainly!). Thinking an auto will solve this for you is naive. Losing a car and spinning off backwards can have the same impact on the chain. There was a chap on here not so long ago who had his chain snap due to this very reason, an auto would not stop this happening. The chain can get stretched and snap at a later stage which if my my memory serves me correctly, this is what happened to this guy.But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
But I think there's a lot more chance of over-revving a manual by shifting down too early or simply by accident than by spinning off backwards. The latter is almost guaranteed to cause lots more other damage too!
So yeah tips are significantly less likely to have over-revs on them, but it's not a good reason to buy one. It's just personal preference and how much city driving the car is going to be subjected to.
So yeah tips are significantly less likely to have over-revs on them, but it's not a good reason to buy one. It's just personal preference and how much city driving the car is going to be subjected to.
Just because you are not driving on the track it doesn't mean that a tip is necessarily the right option. If you were driving in heavy rush hour traffic in cities most of the time then maybe. But such a car would be a waste, why not buy a diesel for commuting. If you are going to be getting on the open road and stretching the cars legs a bit you probably want a manual (imo). But ultimately only you can decide. Drive both and see.
uktrailmonster said:
But I think there's a lot more chance of over-revving a manual by shifting down too early or simply by accident than by spinning off backwards. The latter is almost guaranteed to cause lots more other damage too!
So yeah tips are significantly less likely to have over-revs on them, but it's not a good reason to buy one. It's just personal preference and how much city driving the car is going to be subjected to.
I agree. Not impossible with an auto though.So yeah tips are significantly less likely to have over-revs on them, but it's not a good reason to buy one. It's just personal preference and how much city driving the car is going to be subjected to.
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VonSenger said:
Greg66 said:
Hmm. Didn't mean to sound as if I was pushing one or the other option. Obviously I have jumped one way, but that was partly due to Mrs 66 not liking manuals, and me not being prepared to let her relearn her clutch skills in a 996 turbo; and partly to living in London. As I said, the OP has to drive and choose, based on how he drives.
But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
Over revving mainly affects the chain (mainly!). Thinking an auto will solve this for you is naive. Losing a car and spinning off backwards can have the same impact on the chain. There was a chap on here not so long ago who had his chain snap due to this very reason, an auto would not stop this happening. The chain can get stretched and snap at a later stage which if my my memory serves me correctly, this is what happened to this guy.But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
monthefish said:
VonSenger said:
Greg66 said:
Hmm. Didn't mean to sound as if I was pushing one or the other option. Obviously I have jumped one way, but that was partly due to Mrs 66 not liking manuals, and me not being prepared to let her relearn her clutch skills in a 996 turbo; and partly to living in London. As I said, the OP has to drive and choose, based on how he drives.
But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
Over revving mainly affects the chain (mainly!). Thinking an auto will solve this for you is naive. Losing a car and spinning off backwards can have the same impact on the chain. There was a chap on here not so long ago who had his chain snap due to this very reason, an auto would not stop this happening. The chain can get stretched and snap at a later stage which if my my memory serves me correctly, this is what happened to this guy.But as to that specific point, if you're buying second hand you necessarily don't know whether your predecessors were decent and careful until you see the engine read outs. But then, if you're not interested in getting an OPC (and I am not), it's an irrelevant consideration.
There may well be all sorts of other issues that are common to manuals and tips, but that's not the point I was addressing.
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