tiptronic - is it really that bad ?
Discussion
What are peoples views on the tiptronic gearbox?
I live in HK and ~ 90 % of Porsche cars sold here have the auto box.
I'm looking for a 2 nd hand 993 with a manual box or could get a 964 turbo for a similar price. Plenty of auto 993's but no manual ones after looking for several weeks.
Whats a 965 turbo ? ( one advertised in HK for sale - looks much the same as a 964 to me)
thanks
I live in HK and ~ 90 % of Porsche cars sold here have the auto box.
I'm looking for a 2 nd hand 993 with a manual box or could get a 964 turbo for a similar price. Plenty of auto 993's but no manual ones after looking for several weeks.
Whats a 965 turbo ? ( one advertised in HK for sale - looks much the same as a 964 to me)
thanks
Tip tronic is a good box for what it does...... but it is much hated for simply being automatic.... porsches are sports cars and shouldnt have auto boxes etc (My 944 is auto and i love it)
As such they are less desirable than manuals and worth less. But nothing actually wrong with them.
I'd guess that a 964 turbo has the model number 965?
944 turbos are called 951's ..... 924 turbos were called 931 or something like that.
As such they are less desirable than manuals and worth less. But nothing actually wrong with them.
I'd guess that a 964 turbo has the model number 965?
944 turbos are called 951's ..... 924 turbos were called 931 or something like that.
Horses for courses.
Tips are probabably good for people who do a lot of town driving, or who don't like changing gear, or who like changing gear but are crap at it, or those that have one leg, or those that want to have a hand free whilst driving to fiddle with the cellphone, satnav or the girlfriend's legs.
Personally, I prefer a manual on a sports car - but I'm an old fashioned bu66er.
Tips are probabably good for people who do a lot of town driving, or who don't like changing gear, or who like changing gear but are crap at it, or those that have one leg, or those that want to have a hand free whilst driving to fiddle with the cellphone, satnav or the girlfriend's legs.
Personally, I prefer a manual on a sports car - but I'm an old fashioned bu66er.
Los Angeles said:
The number of times I've sat beside Jim and watched him bang through the gate without any anxiety or apparent respect for the mechanical bits but never asked the question you ask for fear of looking unsophisticated; 
anyhoo, just tried calling his cell phone, (no answer) so have sent off an e-mail to get his detailed advice ... will be back soon as it's received. Scouts honour.
I'll look forward to his advice, I tend to shift up with the stick based on engine noise as opposed to the rev counter, dunno why, it just feels right. I'd be very interested to know what the 5 driving patterns/realised differences are, if that could be put into words, particulary the top 2-3... I'm also not so sure it's anywhere near as bad as the nay'ers suggest it is, even in the twisties, the only thing i regret is that Porsche didn't put a 5th gear in it, though when it gets a thumping through the twisties, it's as if dynamically there is a 5th gear, I think it is when it is hitting +4k and the varioram seems to give it a real lift and the car becomes very, focused. (I like its dual-personality - it suits my own...) I also occasionaly like blipping and playing with its 25/50% pedal variations, most satisfying while already depressing the pedal. anyhoo, just tried calling his cell phone, (no answer) so have sent off an e-mail to get his detailed advice ... will be back soon as it's received. Scouts honour.I once drove it very quickly point to point somewhere oop north (late for a dinner date with friends), and said friend's happened to note the time when i phoned for departure, when I arrived an d rang the doorbell, they were genuinely gobsmacked and said it was impossible that i covered that much ground/time through 'those' B roads (and non classified dirt tracks), 2 of them are serious TT biker exponents, and they said it was impossible; to this day they doubt the time/distance equation, it was twisties, weird cambers and drop dead U bends all the way. I'm not convinced a manual would have been any quicker or any more fun. The only thing I can say to people who are not sure, is ignore what the doubters say, and try one before you say a definate no.
Los Angeles said:
Police State said:
I'm also not so sure it's anywhere near as bad as the nay'ers suggest it is, even in the twisties -
I agree"He says he uses the plus (+) boost a lot to get that extra edge."
Los Angeles said:
Yes, I think that's the meaning. I'm hoping to catch him by phone today and talk it all over. (Am rushing to a meeting this morning.) No one drives a Tip like him. He drives it better than anyone I've ever seen. He moves that Tip about far more than I ever move it, or anyone I've seen.
I reckon we could do with a fuller account of how to get the best out of a Tiptronic box. All we ever seem to get is the occasional thumbs-up from those who like it and a lot of abuse from those who are anti. I've thoroughly enjoyed my Tiptronic box and wouldn't really want to change (unless I find a 993TT that I can afford!). I've had none of the poor experiences that most of the nay-sayers recount and a lot of fun with zipping up and down the ratios at cog-swapping speeds I couldn't begin to match on a manual box. The engine's grunt more than makes up for the 'slush-box' effect for 99% of my driving, while the ease and convenience of an automatic makes an enormous difference to driving in traffic - sadly, the vast bulk of all driving these days.If LA can get James's comments bottled and re-produced on here, he'll do a great service to a lot of Tiptronic drivers who, like me, are fed up with the constant nagging of boy-racers, who seem to equate an ability to change gear manually with a macho image. I was swapping gears manually long before most of them were born, but I've found a better system that suits me. Let's hear from an expert user for a change.
Well, I currently drive a 250 bhp Japan spec. Impreza turbo (bug eyed one) with a 4 speed tiptronic box. Its only 2 l , so there is a lot of turbo lag. Below 3000 rpm , it feels like a 1.6 l car, above 3000 its a massive increase. Its actually very responsive to throttle on AND throttle off above 4000 rpm. I ve driven a manual 230 bhp Impreza turbo and its more responsive lower down the rev range.
So, it seems that some people hate it and some think its OK.
Thanks for the replies
So, it seems that some people hate it and some think its OK.
Thanks for the replies
I have a Turbo997 Tip at the moment on extended test drive. I'm sure Tiptronic is not 'unmanly' or any other such nonsense but in my opinion it is bloody awful. The car is incredible but as soon as you drive it normally - ie in the manner most of us have to drive most of the time - the Tip really spoils things. Just my thoughts of course.
Just sitting there pushing 2 pedals and holding the wheel makes it feel like a fairground dodgem in an empty car park, it turns what should be something exhilarating into something sterile.
I'm not due delivery in until March and I have a Turbo sitting on the drive right now and yet I just don't have any inclination to drive it, that's how annoying the Tip is to me. I used to have an SMG M3 and loved it, just the added involvement of being able to push the stick sideways to change gear was enough to make it feel like I was in the car for a reason. The Tip makes you feel like a passenger.
No offence meant to anyone, just different strokes I suppose.
brad
Just sitting there pushing 2 pedals and holding the wheel makes it feel like a fairground dodgem in an empty car park, it turns what should be something exhilarating into something sterile.
I'm not due delivery in until March and I have a Turbo sitting on the drive right now and yet I just don't have any inclination to drive it, that's how annoying the Tip is to me. I used to have an SMG M3 and loved it, just the added involvement of being able to push the stick sideways to change gear was enough to make it feel like I was in the car for a reason. The Tip makes you feel like a passenger.
No offence meant to anyone, just different strokes I suppose.
brad
Edited by br d on Saturday 28th July 17:28
I haven't driven the 993 tip, but drove the 996 C4S with tip and it was awful. I drove the 997 TT with tip yesterday and it wasn't bad (certainly a massive improvement on the 996 experience that I had) but still left me hankering after a manual.
In the UK, there's a lot of snobbery directed by enthusiasts against tip drivers. There certainly seems to be a perception that the tip drivers are just posers, but I can see the sense of buying a tip if you want to use the car predominantly in a very congested city. That said, 95% of the time I drive my manual M3 in ridiculously heavy traffic and I wouldn't have it any other way, but that's just personal preference.
It is odd though that the OPCs I've been to recently have been really pushing the 997 TT in tiptronic. Other than the fact that it costs another £1k, and is said to be faster than the manual, I can't see why they're doing this. It really lacked involvement compared to the manual C2S that I took out directly afterwards ...
In the UK, there's a lot of snobbery directed by enthusiasts against tip drivers. There certainly seems to be a perception that the tip drivers are just posers, but I can see the sense of buying a tip if you want to use the car predominantly in a very congested city. That said, 95% of the time I drive my manual M3 in ridiculously heavy traffic and I wouldn't have it any other way, but that's just personal preference.
It is odd though that the OPCs I've been to recently have been really pushing the 997 TT in tiptronic. Other than the fact that it costs another £1k, and is said to be faster than the manual, I can't see why they're doing this. It really lacked involvement compared to the manual C2S that I took out directly afterwards ...
As has been said before, try both and make your own mind up. If you spend a significant amount of time in towns, tips makes more sense than if you are mainly on free flowing roads.
Try to ignore the driving gods who feel the need to condemn tips at every turn. There are some real tw@ts on these boards, who like to tell everyone "if it has traction control and a heater, the new GT2 holds no appeal for me" and think it is clever to refer to tip as "gaytronic". The gaytronic badge is particularly amusing because in my experience most women assume that a man who spends too much time obessing about the stick betwen his transmission tunnel is probably compensating for deficiencies in other departments.
Try to ignore the driving gods who feel the need to condemn tips at every turn. There are some real tw@ts on these boards, who like to tell everyone "if it has traction control and a heater, the new GT2 holds no appeal for me" and think it is clever to refer to tip as "gaytronic". The gaytronic badge is particularly amusing because in my experience most women assume that a man who spends too much time obessing about the stick betwen his transmission tunnel is probably compensating for deficiencies in other departments.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff