RedPanda

Well after having a 928 for a year and a half I am going to rant here.

I found that driving manual is fun at times mainly during the weekends.
But still a pain in Southern California being the custom here is during traffic speed up and leave no gap in front of you ie bumper to bumper traffic comes to mind.
If you don't do that and let it coast on neutral or leave a nice gap so you dont have to switch gears so often. Well you asking people behind you to flash lights at you, honk, or just cut you off + the birdy.
Don't get me started with going to work and after work traffic with bumper to bumper traffic up hill + Southern California driving habits.

With the current 928 from Shane, the interior is a bit too nice, and originals everywhere. I don't want to make changes to the car at all (or at least the changes that I want to make to the car). Thank you Shane

Now that my wife wishes to drive the car too on weekends (a 928 is too hard to resist) but an automatic being she will never pass learning manual.
(no having 2 928s will not bode well, not to mention there is no parking space either)

Now that I am at the crossroad, I am thinking of selling my current 1986.5 928 manual for an 1986.5 928 automatic.
(yes it has to be a 1986.5, being that is my wife's birth year)

What are your guy's opinions?

69gaugeman

I completely understand. I wouldn't have a stick as a daily driver if I had any type of commute. I do however try and keep a stick vehicle in the stable at all times. My GT will hopefully be with me for a long time. It is my fun weekend car.

928nut

Just ask Roger

RedPanda

I already know Roger's opinion from last years Sharktoberfest.

rnixon

I can see a few options:

1. Get one of those with both an automatic and a manual gearbox (might include a Corvette auto with manual control)
2. Move to Northern California, where the drivers are more relaxed
3. Get an auto as a daily driver - yours sounds too nice to be subject to the aggressive driving down there
4. Do a reversible auto conversion on yours

My 928 is my first automatic car. Even our boring car, a Mazda6, is a manual, but I don't drive much in heavy traffic and it's more relaxed here. I'd probably go for option 3 or 4, if 2 isn't possible!

vanster

As a monthly or more commuter to LA, my 5 sp is great .... until I get there. Bay Area is never a problem.
I have another car that I drive in LA that is an automatic and it has great A/C. If I lived in LA full time, I would buy an auto in a heart beat.

ROG100

Hallelujah!!!!!

Another convert - always brings a smile to my face.

You will not be disappointed.

I am currently driving a 1988 924 SE with a manual 5 speed - what a sweet gearbox compared to the doggy 928 **** shift.

Jerry Feather

Keep the stick and disconnect the Power steering for a while. She will very soon tire of wanting to drive it and then you can get her back into the Prius. Then get The F out of that kind of traffic, whatever it takes. Come over here to GJT, CO and see what real living is like.

Jerry Feather

Better yet, get the 86.5 auto, but still do the PS/Prius thing, then send me a PM about the details on the 5 speed. I love the 5 speeds. They are just great in what little traffic we have around here.

SMTCapeCod

Auto v stick...almost like an oil thread.

I've owned 83 Euro 5 spd, 85 US 5 spd, 86.5 Auto.

5 speeds are great for occasional use, even for commuting, in rural/suburban areas. My patience for wear and tear and for tending the gears in traffic vs. joy returned when not in traffic has shifted (ack) over the years.

Auto is very manageable in the heavy traffic. Just make sure the candidate car's cooling syst is robust and it is starting in first gear. And realize that you'll be moving from a car that has had well documented, near-optimum care and maintenance to ???. Remember that low miles + many years still = boku work and cost to return to service. There are options to make it more fun, depending on your inclinations and where you and apparently your wife's preferences fall, including shift kit and ecu chip.

That said, for occasional track/auto-cross the Auto still makes me very nostalgic for my 5spds, even though we are near a detente in terms of when & how it does what.

YMMV

RedPanda

My current car has the chip and shift kit already

Just switching to an auto due to practicality of my location.
But eh I might return to a 5 speed for track but that is years down the line when I have the time and money to made track mods.
Who knows, she might end up learning stick out of her own will after driving a Porsche

upstate bob

A guy would be nuts to own and attempt to drive any high performance car in a high density urban area.
An auto trans would make ultimate sense there. For occasional driving and living out in the wide open spaces.... of course, a manual trans.

SMTCapeCod

Oh, I thought you were F/I.
Location's the thing then maybe Jerry is right ;-)

MainePorsche

Agree with Bob, except on the highlighted text.
I've had mine in an extremely rural area. My finally tuned auto could be down shifted nicely on these roads to make them aggressively fun, but the vast majority of my driving would be fast driving without working at it. The handling/suspension at speed is what makes this car a joy.

danglerb

Nothing may cure you of wanting an automatic more thoroughly than owning one. Buy an AT model if you have the itch, but give it a couple months or so before deciding which to sell.