993, tip vs manual.

[Guest]

Thinking seriously of changing to a 993. I am used to the Porsche 6 speed manual gearbox but have no experience of tiptronic boxes. The car would not be used as a daily driver and probably rarely used in heavy traffic where an auto box may be a advantage. What is the consensus on the ' drivablity' of the type 993 with the ' tip' option?
Regards, Tim.

 

[Shaun Leahy]

I can reply on the TIP issue with a 964, here' s my tuppence worth.

I faced this question myself when entering the 911 market last year. Of the C2s I saw, the best body and engine were on a Guards Red TIP, 2 items I did not want. I have always driven manual and preferred to control the gearbox myself.

However I have been happy with the TIP so far. I have never found it stalling power due to too high a gear. For overtaking, the kickdown or the manual change down have always sufficed. On hindsight I wonder what my fears were in the first place. I expected wrong gear selections which have not appeared, but then there are 5 auto modes, not just Sport or Economy, and it does not change up when cornering.

Certainly the OBC supplied with TIPs is useful for my age car: for the next generation 993' s I would hope they all had OBCs.

 

[oldtimer]

I drove a 4speed tip 993C2 for 2years and 30k miles as a daily driver. Usual mix of motorway crawl and town shunting as well as occasional blast including unregulated autobahns - 165mph reached on the ' 3' . Good points- in town never had to think about what gear I was in, on M6 crawl never had cramp/stiff left knee/ankle from all the manual effort of clutch slipping/gear changing. Also most people go for manual so the used tips can be cheaper as less popular even tho they cost about 3k extra new. You will probably not notice a performance difference, a good driver in a tip can go quicker than a less well driven manual, there are some skills to develop. Don' t buy it if you are not sure.

 

[Guest]

Very predictable I know but in my opinion a 993 has to be a manual.

I looked at many 993s when changing from a manual 01my BoxsterS, including some Tip cars - but as my 993 is for weekend use only (and your circumstances sound similar) the advantages the Tip may have in some areas added up to nothing for me.

And anyway, imagine having a car that goes and sounds as good as a 993, without having total control over engine revs/braking .... I could' nt.

Good luck with your search,
Peter.

 

[Gary Bullen]

If I was fortunate to be able to afford to have a Porsche as my daily driver I would probably go for tiptronic. However I have a Porsche in the garage so that when the opportunity arrises I can go out and remind myself what driving is really all about. Namby pamby driving aids are fine if you want the car to drive you. However a manual gearbox, rear drive normally aspirated engine, especially a flat six, cannot be beaten for involving the driver.
For every day use I have an Audi V6 with tiptronic (or whatever Audi deem to call it), a Bose stereo, Climate control and superb seats. Ideal for when I am stuck in the fast lane of the M25 car park admiring the view of Essex, Kent or the M23 bridge parapets at J7 etc.
Regards
Gary

 

[Shaun Leahy]

Gary

I think Tim wanted TIP driveability and the voice of experience, rather than judgements of being a namby pamby. I guess that was just a knee-jerk response comparing the Porsche & Audi Tiptronics, though your point is basic truth to most people on the forum. The engine performance and handling ability of the Porsche Tiptronic might be slightly different to that of your Audi V6, esp if that is front wheel drive like most Audis.

Not sure if Tim' s wants are the same as yours, since he did mention daily use, which you don' t do, and he did not mention track days. If he changes to your usage then it is good he has other views, such as the constructive experience of Oldtimer which conflicts slightly with your views.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all your comments. I have driven a Boxster with tip change and felt that the kickdown was somewhat unpredictable and that I was not in full control of the car (this may perhaps be psychological). I would have concerns about a sudden gear change under power especially at the apex of a corner and the unsettling effect that this would have on a powerful rear engined Porsche. Part of the enjoyment of these vehicles is maintaining a balanced, fluid and rapid driving style and the ability to set the car up for the corner and then trim the steering with the throttle is integral to this. I felt that perhaps a tip box would dilute the drivers ability to do this, but as I have not driven a 911 with a tip box I could only get others assessments. Certainly there are undoubted advantages to tiptronic boxes especially in traffic and on routine journeys where all out commitment is not required (lets face it most journeys fall into this category). I suppost the adage of buying the best car available stills hold true.
Thanks all, Tim.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

As the owner of a tip Boxster I would reccomend the tip version for the following reasons. Firstly I almost never leave the tip in ' D' I always use it in ' M' so I have full control of the box, no worries about unexpected gear changes whilst cornering, and the usual ' kickdown' delay when overtaking. Moreover, you also have the choice, if stuck in traffic, to just leave it in ' D' and take it easy. It can also be very useful when engine braking, and also when driving off cold so you can change up early ' manually' keeping the revs down until the oil has warmed up. Furthermore,it will probably reduce your overall maintenance costs in terms of clutch wear.