Catfood

What are the major differences in the automatic 928s in comparison to the manual. I understand that in first they dont shift at redline, and that shifting may be a little slower between gears, but have any of you had problems like upshifting in high G turns and upsetting the car.

What Im looking for is complaints and praise in regards to having a 928 with an auto.

reliability?
Cost to replace transmission?

thanks

Jadz928

Cameron had a good comparison on this topic here

Search is your friend.

ShawnSmith

uh.... tons of differences.

Let's see.

Manual will have 5 gears, with different ratios than the Automatics which come in 3 and 4 speed variants.

Autos are perfectly capable of shifting at redline, and have a fun torque converter that allows the motor to keep putting out power while the gears are changed.

Manuals are inherently more efficient, bringing maybe 5% or 10% more power to the rear wheels.

Autos run some non-zero risk of the dreaded thrust-bearing failure, manuals can eat clutches, and can have grindy shifts due to synchro wear.

Most 928's shipped with auto, but manuals are not hard to find. Manuals tend to carry a small price premium.

Both transmissions are expensive to replace (and are located at the back of the car).

Early 3-speed autos are somewhat known for being robust.

The one biggest difference? Personal Preference. The two drive quite differently. Some folks like stick, some like auto. Plenty of room for both.

ROG100

Shawn,
Very nice response -
Roger

The automatic is far superior to the stick and can do so much more.
You can redline in any gear and the shifts are lightning fast.
Just a personal opinion.

No 5 speed can beat an automatic of the same power and MY.

You lose a vast amount of time with the very slow stick shift when shifting.
The stick gearbox was an after thought in the evolution of the 928.
The 928 was made for the automatic gearbox just like any serious modern supercar.

The "Rogerbox" rules - you know it makes sense.

Catfood

I have previously owned a 928 auto 1984. It would not redline first gear. Am I to understand then that the late model 928s and S4 dont do this?

Thanks for all the info guys.

Catfood

I have previously owned a 928 auto 1984. It would not redline first gear. Am I to understand then that the late model 928s and S4 dont do this?

Thanks for all the info guys.

blitz928

Under WOT my S4 will shift at redline every gear.

RyanPerrella

is this actually true? or could this just be because it was put into much lower HP cars?

ROG100

Ryan,
The earlier 3 speeds are very robust.
So are the 4 speed boxes as well.
Roger

Stromius

How about a bored left leg with an auto

Bill Ball

Roger uses it to work the brakes.

ROG100

While at stop select 2 and then select 3 and 2 again.
Floor the pedal and hang on until you want to change.
You change by selecting 3 and back to 2.
Look in your review mirror and see the look on the face of the guy driving the stick who missed the change.

RicerSchnitzzle

5 speed = Fun times and chicks

Automatic = Old farts trading war stories about the chicks they never got...

Seems like more sticks than autos at the races...

cold_beer839

And look out front to see the guy driving the stick that didn't miss the shift!!!

IcemanG17

Okay here are my thoughts on this topic since I own one of each......

The automatic will hold to redline in every gear IF it is calibrated properly....my 88 does.....& yes that means about 140mph at the top of third!!

The auto does have one less gear...which ends up being about 3rd in the 5 speed....so a 5 speed with 1-2-4-5 is about the same as the auto in terms of gear ratios..... Not really an issue wtih the wide powerband of the 928....or far wider for some people (ask shawn)

People will argue which is stronger.....but you do hear about 5 speeds failing more often than the autos...which could be due to the track driving the 5 speeds gets.....however I have tracked my auto many times & never had a problem with shifting....always quick and firm....in turns or straights.... George Sunnen and Bill Ball have been running high HP supercharged 928's through the auto for years with basically zero issues...and if you know Bill...you know...

Which brings what I think is the worse flaw of the 5 speed 928....its vague truckish feel....bottom line is it sucks.....even when its working properly....a "slick" shifter its not and never will be.....I do miss shifts in my track 928, but only on downshifting, not up for some reason....

Bottom line.....for a race 928...get the 5 speed.....for a street 928 get an auto...that what I did!!!!!! However I wouldn't mind having a nice 89GT or GTS in 5 speed...