deliriousga

Absolutely try both before making any decisions. I do not like automatic trannys in anything, just my preference, but I almost bought an auto 928 because it was "a 928". My wife was with me when I was test driving it and ready to buy and said "I can see it in your face, you will not be happy with an automatic." She was right, thank God I drove all weekend to VA and back and got a stick.

Try them both and decide before you go that you will not buy the car while you're standing there. Otherwise you may talk yourself into something you won't be happy with later.

When you get one, you will love your 928!!

Vlocity

I am one of the few, the proud the ignorant, lol, who actually undertook converting an automatic car to a 5 speed. LOTS of work... I am very happy with my results as I converted my 85 automatic to a 5 speed with a 2.75 Limited slip differential. A HUGE difference. I reguarly pull 14.2 and 14.3 quarter mile times with a trap speed of and 104 to 105.8 best on an old style G-Tech which does not have the 5 mph rollout.

If you are buying the car for spirited driving hold out for a 5 speed.

Regards,

Ken

Pfunde

Had both........I'll take the 5 speed - for sure......unless you drive in the city all the time, then maybee I could go for the aut.

Normy

Drag racing?

-Yeah, the corvettes are actually quicker with an automatic. Thats THAT particular transmission, I'll posit.

I prefer the 5 speed manual transmission PERIOD. I have only driven one 928 automatic, and it felt numb. Really, I only drove it just to see what the difference was.

Some people really do need an automatic. Folks that drive in traffic quite a bit, and those with physical limitations that make it difficult to push a clutch pedal are obviously potential clients for 928 Automatic sales. I can understand those reasons completely.

-I met a girl in 1998 who, despite her total non-automotive personality and understanding...told me that she bought her Geo because it was a four door car, built by Toyota in California, and an automatic. She didn't understand cars at all, and wanted the most un-complex ownership experience she could get. She could drive a manual transmission, but didn't want one especially; She used a term that burns in my mind to this day to describe such a car:

"No Involvement"

-That's why I don't want an automatic in a 928. I bought my car because of the way it drove, and this particular car's unique features. I want, with this particular vehicle, to feel everything that is going on. I want nothing hidden from me, I want to control each feature of the process to the extent that is available. Why the hell else drive something that rides this rough? Or is this loud? Or gets 13 mpg/20 liters/100km on a good day?

You need to understand that Normy puts lots and lots of spice in his food. And in everything else in his life...including the car.

N!

Bill Coleman

The only real difference I've noticed is launching the car. The manual transmission is immediate - pop the clutch and you're gone. With an automatic, it has to think about it for a second - OK maybe half a second - and then you're gone. After that, it's a matter of you choosing when to shift or the car choosing. There's plenty of acceleration either way.

I happen to prefer manual transmissions, as does my wife. The only vehicle in our fleet that has an automatic is the minivan, because it's impossible to find one with a manual transmission. My wife daily driver is an Audi A4 Avant 1.8t sport - with a 5 speed.

Fishy928S4

I live and work in Northern Va, not far from DC. Auto is my choice because of so much traffic. I would not mind having one of each though instead of 2 auto, but 928 # 2 was a gift from the fiance' so beggers can't be choosers LOL.

Bill Ball

If you leave the AT in D, I agree it will feel dead compared to a 5 speed. If you row it a bit, starting out in 1st, and holding it in each gear until near redline, it totally changes the nature of the AT car without the nuisance of a clutch in traffic. I understand the people expressing a preference for the 5-speed, but the AT is not numb at all if you just take control over the shift points. Then the AT and 5 speed difference shrinks.

Jadz928

To mirror the majority comment, it is all about personal taste/driving habits. So try both.

I have had both. My first was the 3spd AT, which worked really well. It seemed very inuitive to my throttle input (esp w/kickdown switch bypass installed), and pushed redline btw shifts. Jager custom shift handle made it 'feel' better.
My current is a 5 speed, and that was a conscious choice. I like the control, and it fits my driving habits and usage perfectly. And there's nothing like cruising on the highway at 70mph and executing a 5th to 3rd downshift and accelerate. Hang on! If there is a lot of traffic around, I will only do a 5th to 4th downshift as the 5th to 3rd tends to scare other drivers. 5th to 4th is mostly a non-event, but it's still satisfying. I have a short shift lever and a gts handle, which greatly improves the 'feel'.

My BMW 325 Cab is an AT, and that was a conscious choice as well. It is my 'around the town' summer car.

blau928

Bill,

You're letting the secrets out... Now the auto's will be more popular..

Anyway, if you adjust your kickdown cable, you can leave the auto in D, and get acceleration in 1st gear from a stop.. If you modify your torque converter, you can get an even quicker off the line start.. Most of the owners are not going to modify their cars, so it becomes a matter of preference..

I have gone from 4th in the auto to 2nd many times by just stepping on the pedal... No shifting, no fuss, no muss... Just mash the pedal, and the evil monster awakens... 2nd gear in my auto is good to about 85mph.. and yes, I have hit the limiter in 2nd gear with the auto.. This talk about the auto trans being dead is rubbish..

If you manual shift the auto, the car behaves very differently.. For a large percent of the driving situatons, the auto trans can function as both a manual, and an automatic... You only have to know how to use it, and have it adjusted properly.....

It would be great to have a paddle shifter installed on the car, so you would not have to shift with the shifter.... The again, there's that Gear Vendors splitter that makes the 4spd auto function like an 8 speed manual with full auto capability...

Hmmmmmmm............

Jim bailey - 928 International

Bill good point however somewhat difficult when test driving someones car as a PROSPECTIVE buyer I just about slapped the young man who grossly slipped the clutch on the 993 C-4 S trying a drag racing start at a light....."Just to see what it could do " . Some have asked if it was hard on the auto to manually shift and I really do not think it matters what matters is how HARD you are driving and shifting manually typically means you are engaged in spirited driving. The harder one drives the higher the RPM the more horsepower applied .........the undeniable result is the more things break and wear out. Buy a new GT3 Porsche factory race car and race it at 40 HOURS you rebuild the engine after throwing away about half of it away and buying new parts !!

boeinguy2

I will go with a 5 speed. Now I just have to find one.

I have driven an 86 auto already. It was not much of an example though, the car was tired and showing its age as well as a lack of TLC.

Someone earlier said that they liked the feedback, the in-control feel of the manual. That is what I am looking for. My Z gives me that feel and I want to maintain the same.

Thanks everybody, lots of good info.

whall

I got the 5speed and have worn my coffee a number of times - still can't find a cup holder I like.
I bought a 5speed because I love the feel of shifting a sports car and don't have any major traffic to contend with. Also, my wife can't drive a standard so that is unfortunate....

goliver

I have had an '80 with a 5 speed, an '85 with a 5 speed, and an '87 with a 5 speed. All nice cars. Always thought it blasphemous to have an auto in a Porsche until my latest car.

When comparing the two try this one on the freeway: Get both cars up to say 60ish in 4th in the auto and 5th in the manual. Have a buddy time you to 85mph. I don't think any human being alive can shift as fast as the auto tranny nor make the proper split second decsion of which gear to jump down to for max. acceleration. The auto just LEAPS forward while in the manual you'll be just depressing the clutch for the shift into hopefully the right gear that will give you max. acceleration.

Now i'm sure given some practice you could pick the right gear to accomplish max. acceleration but still there is the shifting time. Also, you don't have to worry about it in the auto. Just mash the throttle and go. You'd have to practice at all kinds of different speeds in the manual car to know what gear to drop into.

I felt the 5 speeds were better at mountain/canyon carving, but have sense learned that for me at least, I can go as fast with the auto as I ever did in the manuals. Like Bill and others have stated, just become a little more active in selecting gears in the auto.

Try them both and see which works best for you.

Regards,

Chazz

I think it is worth noting that this automatic behaves very much like a manual transmission at highway speeds, in that it allows minor and precise speed adjustments by throttle position change alone. Other cars with automatic transmissions are designed (for supposed fuel economy) with, what I call, an overrun characteristic which effectively de-clutches the transmission when the throttle is closed, allowing the car to glide ahead and thus forcing the driver to apply brakes to reduce speed. You will notice, for example, a lot of flashing brake lights when following recent model Toyota or Ford cars. This slushbox effect is completely absent with the 928. Yesterday, when driving up to Anaheim, I played tag with a BMW 645 through Camp Pendleton at normal traffic speeds of 80-100. For the entire 17 miles, even though there were quite a few cars on the road at the time, it think I only had to touch the brake pedal once or twice. I also caught the 645 repeatedly as he paused for downshifts.

IcemanG17

It all depends on how you plan to drive the car (realistically). Sure everyone says they want the 5 speed since the 928 is a sports car, but for some people in congested urban areas it is not very practical. I look at it this way, there are many more autos out there & they tend to be less "abused" vs the fewer 5 speed cars. You will find that many of the 5 speed cars are heavily modified or have extensive track time. There are nice 5 speeds out there, but you are more likely to find a very nice auto at a better price!

In terms of performance, the 5 speed is slightly better overall...however a properly tuned auto will respond very quickly and deliver very good performance! It all depends on what you want to do? So drive one of each and decide for yourself! Sure I originally wanted a 5 speed, but the right automatic came along that I couldn't pass up! I am more than satisified with it. Nothing is better than cruising approximately 60mph and floor it...BWAAAAAAAAAAHH and you gone...throws you back at better than .3 G and next thing you know your going about 85!