996 Tiptronic/Auto Box How does it work?
Discussion
I've only had mine for a couple of weeks, so I'm no expert, and I'm sure I'll be corrected. I believe they are a conventional automatic (with torque convertor) the Tiptronic S gives you the ability to change gear via up and down buttons on either side of the steering wheel. This gives the opportnity of engine braking, but, more importantly, the ability to hold gears through corners.
IMHO, Its a poor auto, but the manual function is good. At the moment I'm wishing I'd bought a manual, but this is a 2 week opinion, so don't put too much store by it.
IMHO, Its a poor auto, but the manual function is good. At the moment I'm wishing I'd bought a manual, but this is a 2 week opinion, so don't put too much store by it.
800 said:
...but, more importantly, the ability to hold gears through corners.
IMHO, Its a poor auto, but the manual function is good. At the moment I'm wishing I'd bought a manual,...
...I've had my 996 C4 tip for almost three years now and IMO, the automatic mode is actually very good. It is smooth shifting, up and down and holds the gears in corners and is 'intelligent' in that it learns your driving style (slow, fast, aggressive etc.) and adjusts its behaviour appropriately.
On the road, I find I don't end up using the tiptronic function that much. For instance, cruising along at 50mph in 5th, a sharp tap of the right foot (no need to engage 'kickdown') drops the transmission into 3rd almost immediately, allowing quick overtaking - probably faster than using the tip buttons.
I've driven two tiptronic cars. One a 996 C4 and the other a 996TT. Not long after, I drove the same cars in manual mode and was shocked at the difference. The manual for me is far better.
Drive both tiptronic and manual and see which is best suited to you. IMO tip just doesn't suit the car.
Drive both tiptronic and manual and see which is best suited to you. IMO tip just doesn't suit the car.
Depends on the age of the car - the box changed somewhat (in MY 02 I think??? or MY98 on Turbo?)
Fundamentally it is a conventional auto box with a torque convertor - However, the software is a little more tricky than that. It will adapt based on inputs from a number of other systems - Throttle pedal position, rate of change of throttle pedal, vehicle speed, engine temperature, wheel speeds, lateral and longditudinal acceleration, steering angle - the list goes on....
Basically it is looking at how you are driving the vehicle and adapting its shift paterns to match.
The newer box has approx. 250 shift maps (older box and the tip in boxster only has 5 maps)- from lazy b@st@rd mode (long lazy shifts, holding high gears, based on comfort and economy) right through to Nutter mode for maximum performance(increased shift pressure for higher speed shifts, holds low gears etc etc etc)
You can really start to play with this just by cruising along and then throw the car into a roundabout or even just moving the throttle pedal rapidly (without kicking down). The box will start to select low gears/ shift later etc in response.
Tied in with this, in the performance maps, it will actively shift down the box under braking etc to make sure its in the right gear when you are back on the gas. It will monitor lateral acceleration and steering input as not to shift mid corner under hard cornering and upset the balance of the vehicle. It will hold low gears when the vehicle is cold, as to warm up the cats, engine and transmission quicker. I could go on....
Then as mentioned by others, you then have the ability to 'manually' override the auto maps using th e manual buttons . On the steering wheel with sports cars, but on the shifter also on Cayenne. On Cayenne (and 997 to a certain extent) it will also start rev matching for you as you manually shift down the box.
I REALLY like tiptronic, as auto boxes go, as its pretty intelligent and you can really start playing with it - Particularly on the older box, where you can heel/toe as you manually shift down the box to give really slick changes, and in manual mode a little lift off the power as you shift up allows it to slot in to gear nicely. (Its almost like preselecting gears on a semi auto). In some situations a tip car can be noticably faster through twisty sections than a manual, just through the rate of shift - but will always lose out being 5 speed rather than a 6 speed manual.
Its also much easier around town etc. However, for me, you can't beat a manual - but you need to drive it.
Hope this helps rather than just confuses... Sorry about the inaine drivel...
Fundamentally it is a conventional auto box with a torque convertor - However, the software is a little more tricky than that. It will adapt based on inputs from a number of other systems - Throttle pedal position, rate of change of throttle pedal, vehicle speed, engine temperature, wheel speeds, lateral and longditudinal acceleration, steering angle - the list goes on....
Basically it is looking at how you are driving the vehicle and adapting its shift paterns to match.
The newer box has approx. 250 shift maps (older box and the tip in boxster only has 5 maps)- from lazy b@st@rd mode (long lazy shifts, holding high gears, based on comfort and economy) right through to Nutter mode for maximum performance(increased shift pressure for higher speed shifts, holds low gears etc etc etc)
You can really start to play with this just by cruising along and then throw the car into a roundabout or even just moving the throttle pedal rapidly (without kicking down). The box will start to select low gears/ shift later etc in response.
Tied in with this, in the performance maps, it will actively shift down the box under braking etc to make sure its in the right gear when you are back on the gas. It will monitor lateral acceleration and steering input as not to shift mid corner under hard cornering and upset the balance of the vehicle. It will hold low gears when the vehicle is cold, as to warm up the cats, engine and transmission quicker. I could go on....
Then as mentioned by others, you then have the ability to 'manually' override the auto maps using th e manual buttons . On the steering wheel with sports cars, but on the shifter also on Cayenne. On Cayenne (and 997 to a certain extent) it will also start rev matching for you as you manually shift down the box.
I REALLY like tiptronic, as auto boxes go, as its pretty intelligent and you can really start playing with it - Particularly on the older box, where you can heel/toe as you manually shift down the box to give really slick changes, and in manual mode a little lift off the power as you shift up allows it to slot in to gear nicely. (Its almost like preselecting gears on a semi auto). In some situations a tip car can be noticably faster through twisty sections than a manual, just through the rate of shift - but will always lose out being 5 speed rather than a 6 speed manual.
Its also much easier around town etc. However, for me, you can't beat a manual - but you need to drive it.
Hope this helps rather than just confuses... Sorry about the inaine drivel...
I have 996TT in tip' rate it. It’s a standard auto, same as Merc’ SL500 AMG. It uses a locking torque converter once in gear. Changes are quick and very smooth – even under full acceleration. Holds gears as you wish and IMHO suits the character of the car. On track days I have never felt inconvenienced by the auto box, since the engine is so flexible I hardly had to change anyway. Drive-ability around town is great. Lots of motorway driving over Easter was just as enjoyable as a stick shift. I prefer the buttons on the steering wheel to paddles. You move hands off the wheel less. You can change gear with the ball of the thumb rocking the tip’ button. Kick down can be sluggish so I prefer to pre-select a lower gear for any fast work. I have read the next generation Tiptronic box will be a DSG (I.E dual clutch like Audi have) which in Jason Plato’s opinion is the best system by far, better than a Ferrari's (well on the on a Golf GTI he tested anyway) Looking forward to it on the 911.
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