Manual or Tiptronic 996 TT?

[kVA]

monthefish said:

If not to gather the opinion of PH (which the above is clearly stated to be), why else would he have started this thread?

OK, we can all play semantics, but a totally subjective (and rather childish) comment like that is probably not what the OP was really looking for, I suspect:

Also, you yourself have clearly not even read the original post, as nowhere does it state the word "opinion"... On the contrary, he was asking for peoples 'thoughts' and responses to a number of quite specific questions - none of which could be reasonably answered with the words "ghastly things".

Not so much of a smart-arse as you thought, are you?

[Magic919]

I drove a tiptronic Turbo and thought it was ghastly. Better?

[kVA]

Magic919 said:

I drove a tiptronic Turbo and thought it was ghastly. Better?

Ask the OP?

However, if it was me asking the question, I would disregard such a comment as adding absolutely no value to the decision making process (but, no doubt, of great value to your ego?): If next months CAR magazine, featured such objective and detailed reviews of new cars, I suspect it might be one of the last issues to be published, before they went broke...

The phrase "as much use as a chocolate teapot / fireguard / etc" springs to mind..

Anyway, I imagine the OP has long since realised that the attention-seeking extreme statements on here are of little use, and he has probably done the sensible thing and driven both to help him make his own decision...





(Either that, or he's thinking "if these are the sort of tts that drive 996 Turbos, I'll go and get a Maserati instead"?)

[Magic919]

Feel free to disregard all my comments.

[911p]

kVA said:

Also, you yourself have clearly not even read the original post, as nowhere does it state the word "opinion"... On the contrary, he was asking for peoples 'thoughts'

We're on a discussion forum, do you really think people shouldn't give opinions on subjective topics like these, when the exact word opinion isn't used? I'm not trying to be a "smart-arse" in any way, but I've just found your posts strange. It seems anybody who dares say anything against tiptronic is lined up in your sights.

[doneitnow]

911p said:

We're on a discussion forum, do you really think people shouldn't give opinions on subjective topics like these, when the exact word opinion isn't used? I'm not trying to be a "smart-arse" in any way, but I've just found your posts strange. It seems anybody who dares say anything against tiptronic is lined up in your sights.

You have obviously not picked up the new yellow beast yet as surely you would be out playing

[gbrownlow]

Drove manual and tip cars back to back and paid about £14k all in premium to have the manual.

No contest IMHO

The manual was very good and felt more sporty where the tip was a complete pain in the arse and fiddly with the controls. It never changed gear when I wanted it to and the up and downshifters on the steering wheel are horrible unlike proper paddles. Ended up just putting it in auto mode and cruising everywhere which was really boring

Sorry I would not have a Tip even if you gave it to me and its not that I'm against semi-auto boxes as I also have a F1 F430 now and that is superb

[monthefish]

kVA said:

Also, you yourself have clearly not even read the original post

Did you read the first reply?

kVA said:

Also, you yourself have clearly not even read the original post

Did you?

rallycross said:

What are current/previous owners thoughts on manual versus tipronic models?
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?

The answers to all of these questions will be opinion. This is nothing to do with 'semantics'.

Edited by monthefish on Friday 10th February 20:55

[rallycross]

Once again thanks for the info from previous owners/drivers of these superb cars.

The manual is the one we have gone for, tiptronic probably more practical based on how its going to be used most of the time, BUT, for those occassional proper blasts the manual wins it for us.

Felt the Tip' limits the fun when driving hard and the way it changes is too similar to the current Boxster S have been using which I dont like, its just not a proper sports car feel (but clearly very good if thats what you want).

Will put a pic up once its back home.

[Moosh]

Adam B said:

Ditto ghastly things

Ditto Ditto ghastly things

Have driven both

Edited to congratulate you on your purchase. I hope you enjoy.

Edited by Moosh on Friday 10th February 21:14

[Sunnysidebb]

Owning a 650 bhp 900 nm Tip car i can give my honest opinion of a Tip car
Good points driven in Manual mode....as that's all I ever do.
1.Unbelievable acceleration 0-100 in 6.5 seconds. Tip losses just dont count with this sort of power.
2. Easy driving.
3. Super safe when car is being driven very spiritedly on rough road. ( ability to keep both hand on the wheel.)
4.Driven in M mode can still make you think of the correct gear change. Just because it will not allow a mistake doesn't mean its boring. If you change gear at any point within its parameters ( ie dont make a mistake0 you could forget its a Tip untill you come to a halt.
5. No clutch wear. Ken is revising clutch options since seeing 900 mm of torque from my car.
6. Standing starts can be done with brake boosting producing acceleration as good as the 997.2 tt

Down side.

1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. Lets be honest it has to to really.
2. The seamless and relentless acceleration doesn't give you the same impression of power as dipping the clutch changing gear and getting that punch as the car engages gear and accelerates. ( remember though its just does not relent right up to the red line)
3. They are more complicated and you need to have specialist Dramatics to check for faults.
4. They have a bad rep, normally due to non drivers experience or tips being fitted to lesser powered cars which will highlight the power loss of the tip.

I suppose there are more pros and con's but there not worth the mention.
IMHO test drive a Tip in nothing less than a TT

[

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Friday 10th February 21:20

[Moosh]

Sunnysidebb said:

Owning a 650 bhp 900 nm Tip car i can give my honest opinion of a Tip car
Good points driven in Manual mode....as that's all I ever do.
1.Unbelievable acceleration 0-100 in 6.5 seconds. Tip losses just dont count with this sort of power.
2. Easy driving.
3. Super safe when car is being driven very spiritedly on rough road. ( ability to keep both hand on the wheel.)
4.Driven in M mode can still make you think of the correct gear change. Just because it will not allow a mistake doesn't mean its boring. If you change gear at any point within its parameters ( ie dont make a mistake0 you could forget its a Tip untill you come to a halt.
5. No clutch wear. Ken is revising clutch options since seeing 900 mm of torque from my car.
6. Standing starts can be done with brake boosting producing acceleration as good as the 997.2 tt

Down side.

1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. Lets be honest it has to to really.
2. The seamless and relentless acceleration doesn't give you the same impression of power as dipping the clutch changing gear and getting that punch as the car engages gear and accelerates. ( remember though its just does not relent right up to the red line)
3. They are more complicated and you need to have specialist Dramatics to check for faults.
4. They have a bad rep, normally due to non drivers experience or tips being fitted to lesser powered cars which will highlight the power loss of the tip.

I suppose there are more pros and con's but there not worth the mention.
IMHO test drive a Tip in nothing less than a TT

[

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Friday 10th February 21:20

Very fair comment. But I think you hit the nail one the head when you said in point one "1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. "

Manual my not be better in reality (??) but the involvement makes it a joy to drive and makes it special as you feel you are the skill rather than the auto gearbox.

[Sunnysidebb]

Moosh said:

Sunnysidebb said:

Owning a 650 bhp 900 nm Tip car i can give my honest opinion of a Tip car
Good points driven in Manual mode....as that's all I ever do.
1.Unbelievable acceleration 0-100 in 6.5 seconds. Tip losses just dont count with this sort of power.
2. Easy driving.
3. Super safe when car is being driven very spiritedly on rough road. ( ability to keep both hand on the wheel.)
4.Driven in M mode can still make you think of the correct gear change. Just because it will not allow a mistake doesn't mean its boring. If you change gear at any point within its parameters ( ie dont make a mistake0 you could forget its a Tip untill you come to a halt.
5. No clutch wear. Ken is revising clutch options since seeing 900 mm of torque from my car.
6. Standing starts can be done with brake boosting producing acceleration as good as the 997.2 tt

Down side.

1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. Lets be honest it has to to really.
2. The seamless and relentless acceleration doesn't give you the same impression of power as dipping the clutch changing gear and getting that punch as the car engages gear and accelerates. ( remember though its just does not relent right up to the red line)
3. They are more complicated and you need to have specialist Dramatics to check for faults.
4. They have a bad rep, normally due to non drivers experience or tips being fitted to lesser powered cars which will highlight the power loss of the tip.

I suppose there are more pros and con's but there not worth the mention.
IMHO test drive a Tip in nothing less than a TT

[

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Friday 10th February 21:20

Very fair comment. But I think you hit the nail one the head when you said in point one "1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. "

Manual my not be better in reality (??) but the involvement makes it a joy to drive and makes it special as you feel you are the skill rather than the auto gearbox.

its impossible to counter that argument as its true. I have done a fair few miles in my Tip starting with the original 420 bhp moving to a REVO 1 at 480bhp than REVO2 at 520 bhp and you can have fun and you can control the gear changes. You do come accustomed to the Tip BUT.......... theres just that left hand thing all the time. I still after 5 years hover my hand over the selector when conditions might require a down shift for stability. Still change with my right.....but that left hand, it needs a gear stick.

[Moosh]

if you are driving in london all the time the a tiptronic is okay. But if you are buying the car to drive it then manual all the way for maximum pleasure

[911p]

doneitnow said:

You have obviously not picked up the new yellow beast yet as surely you would be out playing

Was out playing tonight, just not in a yellow GT3 Pick it up at the end of the month, absolutely cannot wait - in the meantime I will continue suffering from 911 withdrawals

Edited by 911p on Saturday 11th February 00:44

[Adam B]

kVA said:

Thank you for your objective help to the OP... I'm sure he found it most factual and constructive in his decision making process (that he probably concluded about a week ago).

"So why did you choose the manual in the end, OP?"...

"Because some of the people on PH said the Tiptronic was ghastly, so I didn't bother to try one and make my own judgement, in case I get bullied at Sunday Service for going against their advice!" :boxedin"

And thank you for your patronising reply, however I was just stating my opinion having driven both flavours of TT. Please feel free to ignore it if you don't like it, it tends to be a more polite approach.

[kVA]

Adam B said:

And thank you for your patronising reply, however I was just stating my opinion having driven both flavours of TT. Please feel free to ignore it if you don't like it, it tends to be a more polite approach.

The OP has made his choice, so it's irrelevant now, anyway.

However, comments like yours are insulting to people who have chosen a Tiptronic, whereas those that favoured the Tiptronic tend to be subjective and impersonal with their feedback. Sorry to pick on yours at the time, but it was the sweeping dismissal of our choice with one word that triggered my response.

I have no issue with people stating that they prefer one or the other and then explaining their rationale in an objective manner - it is then their own personal preference. But to imply that anyone who chooses a Tiptronic is an idiot is not very nice (although par for the course for the attention seeking element on PH, I guess...)

Anyway, subject closed, as you were...

[kVA]

Sunnysidebb said:

Owning a 650 bhp 900 nm Tip car i can give my honest opinion of a Tip car
Good points driven in Manual mode....as that's all I ever do.
1.Unbelievable acceleration 0-100 in 6.5 seconds. Tip losses just dont count with this sort of power.
2. Easy driving.
3. Super safe when car is being driven very spiritedly on rough road. ( ability to keep both hand on the wheel.)
4.Driven in M mode can still make you think of the correct gear change. Just because it will not allow a mistake doesn't mean its boring. If you change gear at any point within its parameters ( ie dont make a mistake0 you could forget its a Tip untill you come to a halt.
5. No clutch wear. Ken is revising clutch options since seeing 900 mm of torque from my car.
6. Standing starts can be done with brake boosting producing acceleration as good as the 997.2 tt

Down side.

1. It does remove some of the pleasure of using your hand to change gear and the ability to balance the clutch correctly and I suppose removes some of the skill to driving. Lets be honest it has to to really.
2. The seamless and relentless acceleration doesn't give you the same impression of power as dipping the clutch changing gear and getting that punch as the car engages gear and accelerates. ( remember though its just does not relent right up to the red line)
3. They are more complicated and you need to have specialist Dramatics to check for faults.
4. They have a bad rep, normally due to non drivers experience or tips being fitted to lesser powered cars which will highlight the power loss of the tip.

I suppose there are more pros and con's but there not worth the mention.
IMHO test drive a Tip in nothing less than a TT

[

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Friday 10th February 21:20

Good post and as a Tiptronic Turbo driver by choice, I also agree totally with your last comment - As I said earlier, I wouldn't have a Tiptronic in anything with less torque than a Turbo: However, I feel I should correct you on the power losses bit, as the Tiptronic does not have any power loss when in gear, as each gear (except 1st) has a torque convertor lock up clutch. The only differences in 'in-gear' performance are due to gear ratios (5 instead of 6).

[mollytherocker]

kVA said:

Good post and as a Tiptronic Turbo driver by choice, I also agree totally with your last comment - As I said earlier, I wouldn't have a Tiptronic in anything with less torque than a Turbo: However, I feel I should correct you on the power losses bit, as the Tiptronic does not have any power loss when in gear, as each gear (except 1st) has a torque convertor lock up clutch. The only differences in 'in-gear' performance are due to gear ratios (5 instead of 6).

I think what he is alluding to is that the a tip has higher transmission losses than the manual. The bhp at the wheels is lower as a result (I dont know how much though).

MTR

[Adam B]

kVA said:

But to imply that anyone who chooses a Tiptronic is an idiot is not very nice..

I dont expect an apology but please dont change the facts to excuse your attitude. I simply stated my dislike of a gearbox, I did not say or imply anyone of a different opinion is an idiot.