Dave S

I'm in line to order MY2002 and I am seriously considering tiptronic. We live in NY (but not the big city) and have a mixture of open road and traffic to deal with. I've driven the 6 speed and as great as it is I still want to consider the tip because of my locale. Anyone have feedback on the tiptronic driving experience?

Carlos from Spain

Its a big decision because they are pretty different. The Tip is just an automatic transmission with manual gear selection on the steering wheel(not the same as sequential), so its very confortable but you are going to loose a lot in performance because its heavier, slower shifting and the automatic trans. robs power from the engine when shifting. So it all depends on how much do you value performance vs. confort. Personally, I wouln´t touch a Tiptronic because I buy a Porsche due to its perfomance and handling, and I enjoy manual shifting (then again speed limits are not as enforced here as in the States - I almost had to go to driving school due to the speeding tickets I got there in my college years) Ordering a Tiptronic is kind of putting ice cubes on a glass of wine to chill it. Nevertheless, if you don´t push the car too much, appretiate the confort and can sacrifice performance then go for the Tip, its a personal choice.
Hope this helps to dedide,
Carlos
996 C4 (6-speed)

alex 95 993

I've got a tip and have mixed feelings about it. I think that what it really comes down to is: Is this going to be a weekend car or a daily driver. If its a weekend car than I say go with a manual. You'll definitely enjoy the shifting etc.. If its a daily driver and you have heavy traffic in your area than its a real toss up because a tip can be REAL nice in heavy traffic.

It helps me that I have a V4 Honda Accord for my daily drive. Switching over to my 911, even though its a tip, on the weekend makes me feel like I'm driving a Ferrari

Chris Johnson

Carlos: I love your analogy: "a Tiptronic is kind of putting ice cubes in a glass of wine to chill it." That's great!

It's still a fine wine (car), but you've diluted the taste (performance), which is the essence of what the fine wine (sports car) is all about.

So, they have speed limits in Spain, but not a lot of speeding tickets? That gives me one more reason for possibly living there someday!

MKW

To me , in everyday freeway situations, 60 to 100 mph - the two cars are identical : 7.6 seconds. Sure the 6 speed is a second quicker 0-100 , and 2 seconds faster 0-125, but how often do you do that ? Besides, a Vette , M3, SLK 32 or C32 or '01 M Roadster will still toast a 6 speed 996 to 125mph, so the only car you'll beat with a 6 spd will be a Tip or Boxster S. I have the 996 Tip after 3 prior 6 spd 911s and love it.

styx

Hi MKW,

this comparsion does not fit.

>>> Besides, a Vette , M3, SLK 32 or C32 or '01 M Roadster will still toast a 6 speed 996 to 125mph, so the only car you'll beat with a 6 spd will be a Tip or Boxster S. I have the 996 Tip after 3 prior 6 spd 911s and love it.

First; of all, the above mentioned cars are,
IMHO, no sportcars, except the vette. Second; those cars are the highly tuned cars from each company. Compare it with a 996 turbo, and you get more accurate and different results. ;-)

cu

styx

Carlos from Spain

996(manual) 0-60=4.6 sec 1/4 mile=11.6 sec
Vette 0-60=4.8 sec 1/4 mile=13.2 sec
M3 0-60=4.7 sec 1/4 mile=13.2 sec
SLK 32 AMG 0-60=5.1 sec
C32 AMG 0-60=5.1 sec
M Road.(2001) 0-60=5.3 sec

The mercedes´s are not even close (even with the extra HP), why?... they come with 5-speed automatic transmissions (a.k.a. slower and heavier), besides even if they had 500HP they would be faster than a 911 until they reach the first curve, for the exception of the M3-E46. So there is a difference between automatic and manual but doesn´t mean its better always automaitic... depends on your driving, but there is a difference. And not only in a straight line drag race but also affects the performance even more in twisty mountain roads (there arn´t many 1/5 mile long drag strips on everyday roads) and highway driving with traffic. But if you drive in congested traffic that table turns. So bottom end, there are both good options just depends on the driver. Personnally I like to get the most out off my Porsche and don´t care much about confort, maybe when I´m 20 yrs. older...

Carlos

brobbinson

I'm also in the NY area (westchester) and I drive a 6 speed c4 coupe. If you stay out of manhatten, the winding roads overwehlm the occassional suburban traffic jams. I thought about the Triptronic so my wife could drive the car - then decided against it (because my wife could drive the car - not really, because it changes the essence of the experience for me). I haven't driven the triptronic automatic, but have extensively driven the jaguar XK8 with the sport automatic transmission mode. Its just not the same (though its fun). I also made the mistake, back in the early '80s, of buying a Mazda RX7 (good car - poor man's porsche at the time) in automatic. I regretted that move almost immediately. That being said, if you were ever going to drive an "automatic" in a sports car, I imagine the Trip system would be the way to go. Since you said you've already driven the 6 speed, I would suggest getting your dealer to let you take one of his 2001 911 or boxter triptronics on a few test drives so you can get a real feeling for what it is like.

MKW

Carlos , that 11.6 sec 996 qtr mile time is WRONG - the new GT2 does the qtr at 11.9 secs, "regular" 996 TT 12.4 secs , regular 996s between 13.4 -14.0 secs in US trim. Aug 2001 Car and driver shows AMG SLK 32 13.0 secs, revised M Roadster 13.1 sec, Corvette ( not Z06) 13.1, Boxster S 13.9 secs. August Motor Trend comparo shows M3 at 13.2 secs, Boxster S 13.9 secs, Corvette Z06 12.6 secs.

MKW

The million dollar McLaren did the qtr in 11.6 secs, Diablo 6.0 VT in 12.0 secs. Qtr in 11.6 secs = about 3.4 secs 0-60 ! ( The GT2 got to 60 in 3.6 secs).

Carlos from Spain

You are wright MKW! I just read that, 11.6 is imposible. I took the figures from Supercars.net (to use the same source and not mix because it can vary very much from test to test) and did not notice. So it must be a typo on the site and should probably read 13.6 and not 11.6 the 1/4 mile for the 996. BTW a F50 Koenig can beat a 11.6 1/4 mile (0-60 in 3.0 secs flat, top speed 231 mph, 828 HP ). So I´m sorry about that, my mistake

AutoZine has a comprehensive car ranking and lists in 0-60 and 0-100 mph:

996 C2 (300HP)=4.6 and 11.5(says 10.5 but must be another typo)
996 C4 (300HP)= 4.8 and 11.8
SLK32 AMG (354HP)= 4.8 and 11.5 (Automatic standard)
C23 AMG (354HP) 4.9 and 11.8 (Automatic standard)
CLK55 AMG (347HP)= 5.5 and 12.5 (Automatic standard)
Vette C5 (320HP really) 5.3 and 11.5 (Automatic standard)
M Coupe (321HP)= 4.9 and 11.7
Boxer S(250HP)= 5.5 and 13.6

Carlos