Helios59

1972-1986: the 915 era. Maligned, despised, avoided: these transmissions formed the backbone of the impact bumper era, yet today prospective buyers treat them like Lindsay Lohan at a convent.

I've had my car for three years and 11,000 miles. I came from a Honda S2000, renowned for its feather-light clutch and toggle-switch shifter. It was akin to moving to another country. I learned to ever so gently suggest that I might want to access a new gear, and rejoice in the occasional moment when the shifter would slot perfectly into first gear.

Late last year, I had a new transmission installed after having my bearings go bad. I also had a new clutch put in. My first impressions? Awful...worse than before. Long story short: certain things which needed to be done weren't, and short cuts were taken which never should have happened. After going to another shop, I now have a like-new transmission, and I'm here to say:the 915 transmission rocks.

No, it will never shift like a G50. No, it will always require more involvement and attention. It's now buttery-smooth going into first, and the man-machine interface is so mechanical and intuitive that it's a real revelation.

If you have to force your shifter into any gear, your 915 isn't set up right. You don't have to settle.

I want to thank Roger at Auto Therapy in Gaithersburg, Maryland for showing me why Porsche stuck with this transmission for 14 years.

The improvement has added a new dimension of involvement and reward to the most involving, rewarding vehicle I've ever driven.

grant911

I certainly agree, and don't understand why they are talked down as much as they are. People must drive abused examples and post their negative experiences. I do however need to have mine "refreshed." It shifts ok for the most part, but downshifting into fouth has always been more of a challenge.
I was told for 3 grand it would be rebuilt and feel like new again.

It's always nice to hear people say something nice about the 915.

Ed Hughes

I've been preaching here for a long time when people come on here stating they are looking for a '87-89 Carrera G50, that they are being silly.

Rulebreaker

I test drove a 1977 911s on Saturday, with a 915 gearbox. I have not drove a manual since my Boxster(EVO Gertrag SST doesn't count) and i had no issues and enjoyed it very much.

pu911rsr

I've had a few 901's that shift great. Putting a good shifter on a 915 works wonders.
Phil

w00tPORSCHE

It is becoming increasingly hard to find a 915 gearbox that is not suffered from the ravages of time, poor driving skills and modifications like wevo shifter etc. I consider myself fortunate to own one such an original example.
Unlike the almost anesthetic feel of modern gearboxes, I enjoy the experience of feeling every tooth when they engage during each shift.

Flashback three years ago:
Ed Hughes: "To avoid the years of the 915 gearbox during a search for a 3.2 would be one of the greatest follies one could commit "
Those golden words... Etched in my memory forever. I am grateful for that piece of advice. Changed my life forever. I have a very strong feeling that my next car would also be equipped with the same gearbox.

Ed, what do you think ?

mfyoung1086

I'll admit I was a bit worried myself, I had heard tons of trash talked about the 915, I had driven G50 gears that felt great, but I was worried the 915 was gonna be the same hassle as a 901

But its not so bad, I have to double clutch down into first, and 2nd gear synchro is starting to go, can't power shift into second anymore, but the feel of the 915 was so much more than I expected. The gearbox provides a ton of feedback to me, so much more than my 901 (which was shift pray you actually engaged the gear, release clutch haha)

When the time to replace the 915 finallys comes on my car I'll be sure to have it rebuilt instead of going to a G50

Ed Hughes

whalebird

I've been seeing ads written "G50 Carrera for sale". What crap. People selling them as premium just furthers the misconception that they should be purchased as such, and G50s are getting old and ragged as well. It really is only a minor difference not worth the dialogue, much less a scewed market perception.

porsche0nut

I specifically looked for a 915 when searching for my car, and I found a good one that shifts smoothly (for the most part, sometimes 2nd is tricky but a quick blip helps it mesh) and it is an absolute dream to drive!

Ed Hughes

I'm curious as to why you'd have to downshift to 1st, requiring a double clutch? Even at the tracks, I never felt compelled to downshift to 1st. When at a stop, it should slide right in.

Also, power shifting into 2nd? The ever-so-subtle pause going from 1-2 is pretty much ingrained with anyone who understands these cars.

No wonder you're having issues with 2nd...

LTCB

I test drove a 1980 911SC over the weekend and the 915 shifted very easily between all the gears, but would grind at a light when I shifted from neutral to 1st.

I have always put it in neutral and let off the clutch at lights -- this is the first car I have driven that would grind in that situation.

It was fine if you touched second, then went to first.

Is this normal, or indicative of a transmission needing a rebuild?

Car has roughly 130k, and I don't know if there has been previous work.

mfyoung1086

Street driving, double clutch down into first never needed it on a track your correct... at a stop it does slide right in, I rarely do this its for special circumstances (also a double clutch down to first will facilitate a very nice slide into first at most rpms)

Also I don't power shift into second, I geuss I wrote that out of context a bit, I mean now that I have my new porsche I can't power shift into 2nd like my old rally saabs anymore

Edward

A 915 has to be in good shape to begin with, adjusted properly, then shifted properly. Mine is perfect, and has been my 95% Trackmeister (TTrial, no race) for years now without a hitch. Feels as good today as it did years ago: smooth, positive, and all without any "add-ons" such as wevo or anything. Great tranny, but it's gotta have a fresh start and be properly driven.

Edward

Ed Hughes

Why downshift to first-it's needless? The brakes work pretty well to slow/stop the car. They're much cheaper to service as well.