997 Turbo - Manual or Tip?

Ian Gilmour · Nov 7, 2011

I keep thinking of a turbo to replace my Boxster RS 60 Spyder and get me back into a 997 (I had a C2S before the Boxster). The car would be used daily for a commute of 8 miles day (in traffic) and for weekend trips / Club events and maybe an annual holiday.

Funds dictate that it would have to be a gen 1 but I can't decide whether to go for a tip or a manual. (If I could afford a gen II I'd have a pdk). Any views appreciated.

I've also heard that servicing costs can be high relative to a 997 C2S. Does anyone have any experience of these?

Finally, are there any maintenance issues / horror stories / running costs I should be aware of?

Thanks in anticipation.

garyw · Nov 7, 2011

Not many horror stories on the Turbo versions of the 997, Gen 1 or 2..[&:] my experience is the Radiators are more more venerable but this can be fixed.
Servicing costs are very similar apart from the plugs need doing more often and the costs associated with that, OK a slight increase but nothing worth noting after 10% club discount [

]

The clutch pedal is quite light on the Gen1 so if its occasional traffic I think you'd be alright with it, heavy city work then the Tiptronic could be the answer..
The tiptronic is quicker and if you give it time and learn the system it can be very rewarding, whether as much as getting the stick in the correct slot at the right time I'm not sure.. [

]

A car that will munch motorways and yet excite on the winding roads of Europe and the UK, heavier than you Boxster and may take some time getting used too but when it can be as rewarding.
I average on about 28mpg but did only get 20mpg last weekend- which to be fair I'm amazed at [

]

20K on front tyres and 10k on the rears as the lowest to be expected..

garyw

geoff lane · Nov 7, 2011

Hi Ian

I've got a manual and there is no way I'd have a Tip, we went on the recent Wales weekend and on a good quick drive when you have the car in the right gear and power out of a corner always puts a smile on you face. If your feeling lazy just use the torque and you've got the best of both worlds. Manual for me without a doubt !

Servicing - just had its first service and I supplied the oil but including a brake fluid change £479.00
I don't think that's bad as its the only cost in 2 years.
However I also took out the extended warranty at £1079.00
Mines been great with the only issue a sidelight bulb replaced foc.

Geoff

grover · Nov 7, 2011

I had a gen 1 tip turbo and it was a great car to commute to and around London no more expensive to run that my 2s apart from the fact that I needed four new discs at 20k plus miles because they had rusted a bit, also the radiators got replaced but under warranty. Av mpg was about 22 over two years.

Now have the gen 2 turbo s with carbon brakes and it's amazing and so quick, I never thought I would say this but almost too quick for the UK, it just makes you want to drive to the limit all the time which is not really that good for the licence

okellyt · Nov 7, 2011

ORIGINAL: Ian Gilmour

I keep thinking of a turbo to replace my Boxster RS 60 Spyder and get me back into a 997 (I had a C2S before the Boxster). The car would be used daily for a commute of 8 miles day (in traffic) and for weekend trips / Club events and maybe an annual holiday.

Funds dictate that it would have to be a gen 1 but I can't decide whether to go for a tip or a manual. (If I could afford a gen II I'd have a pdk). Any views appreciated.

I've also heard that servicing costs can be high relative to a 997 C2S. Does anyone have any experience of these?

Finally, are there any maintenance issues / horror stories / running costs I should be aware of?

Thanks in anticipation.

Ian

Unless traffic levels demand you need a tip - don't.

Manual every time in the gen 1.

If you can stretch to a gen 2 go PDK, best of both worlds and suits the character of the engine

maxtraeger · Nov 8, 2011

Ian,

I would agree with the comments already made having gone into a 997.1 Manual from a 9972S Manual. The turbo manual with the light clutch is such a treat with gears even better to shift after retrofitting the short-shift throws and it surprised me how different the drive experience felt to the previous 2S. It is definitely a Jekyll and Hyde car with an easy ride feeling through London with around 18mpg and 24mpg on the motorway but cuts like a scalpel when you need the power and precision on the country roads. I bought mine (Nov 2006) from Hatfield with the 2 year used Porsche Warranty now included in the price and the 4 year service already done. They discovered that the VTS tracking system did not work and replaced it with a new unit, which incidentally stopped working after 11 months in service and is now being replaced again under the warranty. I am driving the Bridgestones which seem a bit noiser than the Michelins but fine in the dry and the wet with the 4 wheel drive performing well in light snow conditions. The robustness of the engine with minimal oil consumption (less than the 2S) and the pleasure of the torque makes this an exceptional car. My only grief is with the sat-nav which is so yesterday and the inability for bluetooth phone connection but considering with the premium for a 2nd Gen turbo with a PDK I can easily live with the shortcomings.

Max

Alex L · Nov 8, 2011

In terms of what's best fun to drive IMHO - relative marks out of 10:

997.1 tip (stock) = 6/10
997.1 manual (stock) = 7/10
997.1 manual with upgraded suspension = 8/10
997.1 manual with upgraded suspension+engine = 9/10

997.2 PDK (stock) = 8.5/10
997.2 manual (stock) = 8/10

997.2 S PDK (stock) = 9/10

Other than me having a bit more torque and a little sharper handling there really isn't much between my car and a Turbo S to drive.

clarkes · Nov 8, 2011

I've had my tt for over 4 years now and still have a broad grin when I spin the turbos up. Because of a disability that makes my driving in a manual anything but smooth I have a tip version and the standing starts can be real fun. I get mid 20s mpg and servicing has cost about £1700 in total (1 minor and 1 major service) but I declined the air con service as it seemed to be working OK. The biggest cost is the extended warranty at over £1000 per year, even if you buy a 2 year one. Having said that, the tt is complex, high tech vehicle and £1000 won't cover much if it does go wrong, but no major problems with mine so far (touch wood), even so I wouldn't take the risk of running without a warranty

.

Lancerlot · Nov 8, 2011

Ian,

Something I don't believe has been said before but you do lose a gear with a tip. This leaves a bit of a hole in the acceleration pattern when in spirited driving mode.Tip does however have quite a good learning mode and adapts readily to the way you normally drive.

Regards,

Clive

chrismouzou · Nov 8, 2011

Having always been a manual driver and my other half always auto never thought I would be auto driver my gen 1 turbo manual loved it but sorry to say test drove gen2 turbo pdk what a great car with pdk so now have been converted pdk for me
Done dunsfold top gear track on wings and wheels day launch control on straight just unreal

Chris

unclewinks · Nov 8, 2011

Hi Ian
Tanya and I have had our turbo since feb and done 16,000 miles with no issues
We have managed this amount on one set of tyres which I believe is quite good
We would have got another 2000 if it wasn't for a nail
Paul/Tanya

chrismouzou · Nov 8, 2011

On my last gen 1 turbo only got 14000 from pirelli tyres have tyre insurance with new car from opc £399 for 3years which covers 5new wheels or refurbs and 5 new tyres - i have had 1 refurb and 1 new tyre any claim limit £300
Per item

Chris

Ian Gilmour · Nov 8, 2011

Many thanks to all for the replies. Certainly the running costs don't seem to be too horrendous.
I hear what you say about manual vs tiptronic and my instinct would be to go for the manual. However my daily driver is a Golf DSG and I find that when I get back in the Boxster (which isn't that often these days) I forget to put the clutch pedal down when I stop the car and forget to put it in 1st gear when setting off again. It just would make for an easier life to have a tiptronic although I don't suppose that's a good enough reason for not getting a manual!
I'd love a gen II turbo but short of winning the lottery, the death of a rich relative or selling a kidney, I can't see any way of getting one any time soon. However, Gen 1 cars are down to high £50ks at the moment which makes them a lot of car for the money. All I have to do is find the right one and persuade my Mrs that it's a good place for our savings......

jonc4s · Nov 15, 2011

Does the TIP in a 997 still only have 5 gears? Is it the same box as in the 996 if so?

clarkes · Nov 15, 2011

Definitely 5 speed but I don't know if it is the same 'box as the 996 (but I would suspect it is).

yan · Nov 15, 2011

Not sure if same box but certainly different ratios and much improved change time, responsiveness over the 996.

@Lancerlot is right about the lack of gears (5) BUT I don't find this hampers driving at all below ~140mph if you understand the behaviour of it: this means learning the characteristics, and particularly when it is not in sport mode it does need "waking up" "" a bit of spirited accelerator action before which it can feel tardy. PDK appears to be more spirited from the start, perhaps due to smoother and faster changes - over-and-above that I don't believe it offers the upgrade many perceive versus a Tip. except that you may have to resort to manual versus auto changes more regularly which is arguably more involving if you want that sort of thing...

I spoke with one of the Weissach test drivers back in 2007 (when no one seemed to know what pdk was[

]) and he was firmly of the view that the Tip then was preferable to a manual when performance was properly extracted!

I do enjoy driving the manual and the clutch is great but for the GT trips find that the automation is a pleasure.

jonc4s · Nov 16, 2011

Interesting - thanks for the info guys. I'd have been very surprised had the box not been improved!

I've had 2 tips in 996 form now and have had no issues with them whatsoever, it surprises me that they are so badly thought of by most in 'forum' land. I'd have no hesitattion to get a 997 tip in the future. Perhaps I'm lazy....!

garyw · Nov 16, 2011

ORIGINAL: jonc4s
it surprises me that they are so badly thought of by most in 'forum' land. I'd have no hesitattion to get a 997 tip in the future. Perhaps I'm lazy....!

When picking this car I'd come from a 996Turbo Tip and loved it, the way it learned the driving style etc...
So much so that it took me ages to decide whether to have a manual or stick with the Tip- after all the tiptronic is quicker!
I felt the tip suited the Turbo brilliantly as with the amount of torque it produced almost negated needing the extra gear...
off the line is was brilliant fun if you remembered to knock it down into 1st- they always pull away in second

garyw

Hubertus · Nov 23, 2011

Picking up my 56 plate 997 TT this weekend so interested in views of manual versus tip. Will give my opinion when I have used the car for a week or two. My only test drive was through a busy northern town at not more than about 20 mph.
Had a real go in a PDK demonstrator couple of weeks ago though, which had nothing to do with suddenly swapping my 54 plate C2S for a 997 turbo tip.