dak911

To compare the automatic in an early 911 (say 90's) to the later ones (before PDK) are they similar...IIRC they are tiptronic, same as used in the BMW's of the same era?

theiceman

I think you need to check on a much newer car forum. I don't think you want to compare with a sportomatic

dak911

I am looking to buy a cabrio automatic 964 or something in the $20,000 range
Unfortunately the auto is a compromise, traffic, wife .......3rd car!
We also have an X5 BMW automatic, I think that the auto in the X5 is a trans based on Porsche's design...so what I want to know is how will the auto in a, say, 01 911 feel in comparison.
Weren't the Sporto's in much earlier cars?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi,

Sportomatics were used from '69 to '89; after that, the 964 & later cars (until 2012) received the Tiptronic which is an entirely different transmission.

Both have their strengths & ideosyncrasies.

dak911

I remember the Sportomatic as being a so/so transmission.
So, the 01 would have a Tiptronic, is this similar to the Tiptronic in my 06 X5?
The X5 transmission is not bad (shiftable)
I am generally easy on automatic cars, I also have an 01 Z3 2.5/5, and that is another story...its like a slot car....I kinda, compare it to my long gone 914 (2.0) but with a better ride..

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Actually, the Sportomatics were VERY good transmissions; it was the OWNERS that didn't take the time to understand that one didn't touch the shifter unless you intended to use it. Good reasons to keep both hands on the wheel.

An '01 car would have a Tiptronic and the same basic unit as your '06, sans any software updates.

GTgears

I agree with Steve. The Sporto was actually an automatically shifting manual. It had a clutch, no torque converter, so no driveline loss.

A Tiptronic is a more traditional automatic, but with the, at the time, new feature of being driver controllable with respect to gear. Now even the auto in a little Kia or Chevy rental car will let you select the gear if you want to. But with respect to shopping for a 964, as mentioned, it will drive a lot like your BMW.

JCP911S

My wife had a 2001 Boxster with a Tip, and I'd have to say that by the standards of the day it was a very good auto trans. Part-throttle downshifts were decently responsive, and full throttle upshifts crisp and at full redline.

Certainly better than the 5-speed in our 2008 328 BMW, and equal to or better than the 6-speed auto in our 2011 BMW.

Although I am a confirmed self-shifter, if driving needs require an auto, the old Tip is a very capable trans.