Manual or Tiptronic
Discussion
I'm looking to change car in the next couple of weeks and thought I'd look at 911s (996) in the low £50k bracket. Carreras seem everywhere here in London so I thought I'd try the Cabriolet or a slightly older 4S hard top.
I have been looking at the OPCs but pretty much everything seems to be in Tiptronic - why is this? Is Tiptronic different in some way from what I would expect an automatic to be? It just seems really perculiar to me to buy a sports car and then buy an automatic. Am I wrong to be ignoring them?
>>> Edited by NickD on Friday 18th February 10:21
I have been looking at the OPCs but pretty much everything seems to be in Tiptronic - why is this? Is Tiptronic different in some way from what I would expect an automatic to be? It just seems really perculiar to me to buy a sports car and then buy an automatic. Am I wrong to be ignoring them?
>>> Edited by NickD on Friday 18th February 10:21
the 996 has done well in the sort of market that buys mercedes jaguar and aston 'sports cars'. these buyers prefer auto boxes. if you look at london based cars then a large proportion of these will be tiptronic just for the convenience of city driving.these cars are also rarely affected by the dreaded RMS....and a tip in the hands of a quick driver is plenty quick enough , go round Weissach test track with a factory 'mule' and see !
For 'enthusiasts' the idea of a device that slow the car down and takes away driver involvement can't be a good thing.
However, if your using the car for commuting into central london every day AND you want to do that in a Porsche then an auto makes a lot of sense.
Tiptronic is basically just a nomal auto box with the added ability for the driver to select which gear they want. Basically an improvement on the old 1 / 2 / 3 which you get on non-tiptronic autos.
However, if your using the car for commuting into central london every day AND you want to do that in a Porsche then an auto makes a lot of sense.
Tiptronic is basically just a nomal auto box with the added ability for the driver to select which gear they want. Basically an improvement on the old 1 / 2 / 3 which you get on non-tiptronic autos.
I have a Tiptronic 996 C2 98, I think its much better than the Manual box.
Taking off at the lights is a matter of planting your right foot and away you go with both hands on the wheel.
And the wife likes it too.
PS I live with London traffic and therfore a Tip box makes a lot of sense.
Taking off at the lights is a matter of planting your right foot and away you go with both hands on the wheel.
And the wife likes it too.
PS I live with London traffic and therfore a Tip box makes a lot of sense.
cyrus1971 said:
I love my Tip 996TT just as quick as the manual and a you keep 2 hands on the wheel at tricky moments. Is the same box as the Merc SL 5.0 AMG so good for 500BHP and tip cars second hand are a better buy as they have not been knackered by boy racers.
You don't see too many boy racers driving £50 k Porsches.....
Would have to be a manual for me everytime, as you point out, you're not using it every day so there's no excuse. The reason there are bucketloads of them about is because they are selling lots of cars to people who aren't really buying them for the pure driving experience, more because they are fast and flash. Don't really understand why they don't all drive Merc SLs.
Sorry, maybe I am blinkered, but I love the process of changing gear, and gain a significant amount of satisfaction from getting my double-de-clutch changes just right, you know, when the gearlever is almost 'sucked' into the next gear.
johnfm said:
Leo
titptronic isn't really 'just' like an auto -box. It has a mech locking torque converter for a start. Have ou ever driven one?
I suggest if you are going to drop £50k on a car, that you pop into the OPC and book a drive.
I drove a 993 tip and didn't notice any difference between this and a normal auto (apart from the ability to change gears manually)
What else is there that I should have noticed?
I commute daily to London and would not be without the tiptronic. If there is one problem, I think it is the tendency to go up to 5th gear too soon so that you loose a bit of the torque until you have shifted down. Mostly I put it into manual mode which is completely foolproof and quite pleasant to drive as you can stay longer in the gears until you shift up or down on the steeringwheel. It will then shift down automatically at the next light.
On the track it hardly makes a difference as you manually override the system when you need to shift down. The other upside is that if you are a tall driver the absense of a clutch gives you much more legroom for your left foot and more space between your left knee and the steeringwheel. (see other ph forum)
On the track it hardly makes a difference as you manually override the system when you need to shift down. The other upside is that if you are a tall driver the absense of a clutch gives you much more legroom for your left foot and more space between your left knee and the steeringwheel. (see other ph forum)
polar993 said:
I love my Tip 996TT just as quick as the manual and a you keep 2 hands on the wheel at tricky moments. Is the same box as the Merc SL 5.0 AMG so good for 500BHP and tip cars second hand are a better buy as they have not been knackered by boy racers.
You don't see too many boy racers driving £50 k Porsches.....
Would have to be a manual for me everytime, as you point out, you're not using it every day so there's no excuse. The reason there are bucketloads of them about is because they are selling lots of cars to people who aren't really buying them for the pure driving experience, more because they are fast and flash. Don't really understand why they don't all drive Merc SLs.
Sorry, maybe I am blinkered, but I love the process of changing gear, and gain a significant amount of satisfaction from getting my double-de-clutch changes just right, you know, when the gearlever is almost 'sucked' into the next gear.
Agree - basically I love changing gear too - if I lived any place else than Zone 2 London I would have a manual (my 993 was a manual). You are in Clapham right ? Me in Putney - I have to say that the run from P to C and back most evenings I am in 2nd gear all the way ! Never ever even change gear !
Changing gear introduces another area of satisfaction. But also introduces another area of dis-satisfaction - hassle in town. For my lazy ass it is tip at the moment and they really are remarkably good. The next 911 Turbo will have an Audi derived (related) DSG as an option. We will talk again when this is out because that box is excellent, faster than a manual and has the D option in town - perfect. Can't wait.
cyrus1971 said:
cyrus1971 said:
I love my Tip 996TT just as quick as the manual and a you keep 2 hands on the wheel at tricky moments. Is the same box as the Merc SL 5.0 AMG so good for 500BHP and tip cars second hand are a better buy as they have not been knackered by boy racers.
You don't see too many boy racers driving £50 k Porsches.....
Would have to be a manual for me everytime, as you point out, you're not using it every day so there's no excuse. The reason there are bucketloads of them about is because they are selling lots of cars to people who aren't really buying them for the pure driving experience, more because they are fast and flash. Don't really understand why they don't all drive Merc SLs.
Sorry, maybe I am blinkered, but I love the process of changing gear, and gain a significant amount of satisfaction from getting my double-de-clutch changes just right, you know, when the gearlever is almost 'sucked' into the next gear.
Agree - basically I love changing gear too - if I lived any place else than Zone 2 London I would have a manual (my 993 was a manual). You are in Clapham right ? Me in Putney - I have to say that the run from P to C and back most evenings I am in 2nd gear all the way ! Never ever even change gear !
Changing gear introduces another area of satisfaction. But also introduces another area of dis-satisfaction - hassle in town. For my lazy ass it is tip at the moment and they really are remarkably good. The next 911 Turbo will have an Audi derived (related) DSG as an option. We will talk again when this is out because that box is excellent, faster than a manual and has the D option in town - perfect. Can't wait.
Not sure if you're talking to me there, but I am based in Newcastle, not Clapham, and my car is not daily driver. But yes, I can see the advantage if you live in central London and have to drive it through heavy traffic every day.
For my daily driver, I am quite interested in a car with that DSG box (even though I said I would never have an auto), because I have to admit to getting sick of pumping the clutch when in crawling/stagnant traffic.
Depends on what you're using the car for, but in this instance it is not to be a daily driver and therefore I maintain there is no excuse
Sorry Polar993 - sorry got you confused with a 993 bloke in Clapham... too many 993 suffixes confuses my feeble mind.
I drove a golf GIT with DSG and apart from the car being a lardy roller in the corners the ‘box was an absolute gem. If they can engineer it for 500bhp then I am sold.
I drove a golf GIT with DSG and apart from the car being a lardy roller in the corners the ‘box was an absolute gem. If they can engineer it for 500bhp then I am sold.
leosayer said:
Leo
titptronic isn't really 'just' like an auto -box. It has a mech locking torque converter for a start. Have ou ever driven one?
I suggest if you are going to drop £50k on a car, that you pop into the OPC and book a drive.
I drove a 993 tip and didn't notice any difference between this and a normal auto (apart from the ability to change gears manually)
What else is there that I should have noticed?
Did you play with the 2 stage kickdown on the right pedal?, the first needs a satisfyingly controlled delicate touch, the second drop opens it alllllllll up!. Once you tune in to it's abilities, it really can be driven 'like an enthusiastic manual'
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