Auto or manual

[Campbell1]

Im looking to buy a Porsche 911 Turbo, what is best auto or manual? I'm looking for a 996. Is the manual quicker or just feels quicker

Edited by Campbell1 on Friday 18th November 16:35

[Bebee]

Don't know but in 33 years of driving I've never had an auto, I hate them, takes away the pleasure of driving IMO. I will have a manual porker sometime in the future, has to be done.

[keegs111]

I went down the auto route, huge mistake! The novelty will wear off within weeks and you'll be left wishing you went for the manual

[spoodler]

What exactly are you calling a 911 Turbo?
I'd say if you want it as a sports car go for a manual, as a commuter/traffic car the clutch and gearchange can be a little wearing so an auto' may be preferable. If you are just referring to an early 911 stay away from the Sportmatic...

[Ozzie Osmond]

If you want to go fast you'll be needing the auto.

However, if you're happy pootling about in your driving gloves on a Sunday morning.....

[tangerine_sedge]

Ozzie Osmond said:

If you want to go fast you'll be needing the auto.

However, if you're happy pootling about in your driving gloves on a Sunday morning.....

Hmmm, shaving milliseconds off of a gear change so that you can make that 10 o'clock meeting 2 seconds earlier, OR getting pleasure from every single gear change. Difficult decision

[E30M3SE]

Ozzie Osmond said:

If you want to go fast you'll be needing the auto.

However, if you're happy pootling about in your driving gloves on a Sunday morning.....

OP is on about 996 turbo, so that would be the old torque converter tiptronic box not the newer PDK dual clutch, so would an auto be faster than a manual??

Manual all day long.

[Monkeylegend]

Bebee said:

Don't know but in 33 years of driving I've never had an auto, I hate them, takes away the pleasure of driving IMO. I will have a manual porker sometime in the future, has to be done.

How would you know if you have never had one?

[pipe'n'slippers]

I was firmly of the "manual only" option following experiences with old style autos a long time ago. However, I recently drove new Audi and Volvo autos and was very impressed with them. Manual when you wanted fun or control, auto when you wanted to commute.

[Bebee]

Monkeylegend said:

Bebee said:

Don't know but in 33 years of driving I've never had an auto, I hate them, takes away the pleasure of driving IMO. I will have a manual porker sometime in the future, has to be done.

How would you know if you have never had one?

That's a very good question, well done.

[clears throat]
My father has never had a manual car, always auto......... AND, AND right, I use to work for a car delivery company delivering new cars to company bosses and rep's etc.

So there! Na na na na na na

[martin84]

Having been driving an automatic now for a grand total of three days there is no contest. Changing gear is so tedious. On a track car yes but everywhere else auto wins and that's an end of it frankly.

Close the thread, all finished, sorted. Lovely job

[monthefish]

E30M3SE said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

If you want to go fast you'll be needing the auto.

However, if you're happy pootling about in your driving gloves on a Sunday morning.....

OP is on about 996 turbo, so that would be the old torque converter tiptronic box not the newer PDK dual clutch, so would an auto be faster than a manual??

Exactly right so, no, the auto is significantly slower to 60 (for example) than the manual.

E30M3SE said:

Manual all day long.

That is what I would, and did, buy. (but each to their own - drive both and form your own opinion).

[Monkeylegend]

Bebee said:

Monkeylegend said:

Bebee said:

Don't know but in 33 years of driving I've never had an auto, I hate them, takes away the pleasure of driving IMO. I will have a manual porker sometime in the future, has to be done.

How would you know if you have never had one?

That's a very good question, well done.

[clears throat]
My father has never had a manual car, always auto......... AND, AND right, I use to work for a car delivery company delivering new cars to company bosses and rep's etc.

So there! Na na na na na na

Well that's alright then

I think it depends on the car and the type of driving. Auto for everyday, tedious driving, manual if you want to enjoy yourself at weekends.

[Steve H]

A 996 turbo feels very quick either way, it isn't a question of performance really, just of which you prefer.

[TAHodgson]

I've driven (A fairly ropey) 996 turbo with a 5 speed auto 'box. And a 996 Carrera 4 with a 6 speed manual. While i'm a fan of the gearchange 'feel' in porsche's I couldn't help feeling that the auto really suited the turbo. It certainly felt like more of a cruiser than an out and out sports car, though it was properly quick! If I were buying one, i'd go for an auto.

[spoodler]

How did I manage to miss 996? Ignore my comments I was thinking of the older stuff...

[Matt UK]

Auto for commuting
Manual for driving

[mrloudly]

Manual every time, it's a sports car FFS!

[martin84]

mrloudly said:

Manual every time, it's a sports car FFS!

Yes. Sports car - manual.

Commuting barge or hatchback - automatic.

You're not going to make a 1.6 Astra interesting so it might as well be an auto.

[kambites]

Monkeylegend said:

I think it depends on the car and the type of driving. Auto for everyday, tedious driving, manual if you want to enjoy yourself at weekends.

Surely the best solution is to get a manual and make sure your every-day driving enjoyable.