I have to agree with most people here and around the world that a manual ultimately is much quicker, especially with this high torque curve. My Weissach is much quicker off line than my '89 S4 auto and of course the '79 auto. However, having learned to drive a stick on a Honda product and also BMW, I have to admit rowing through the gears of the Weissach was not so much "fun". Sometimes, I have to watch myself to not engage too quickly to save the synchros.

 

I sounds like I need to view the car as an "at speed" machine. This car will also be the first automatic transmission I'll be driving.

Kevin

 

It will have less than 200 HP at the rear wheels no matter what speed you are going.... that is a FACT not a subjective feel. It is a reasonably fast car if you hold the gas pedal down long enough and does handle well but it is no super car by any definition. In a 1/4 mile drag race any number of new Jeep SUVs will out run it...
Just learn the "royal wave" smile and dismiss any and all challengers as unworthy .......they will never know how slow your car really is

 

Hey, it will be quicker than a stock 356, 924, 912 and 914.

Kevin

 

Truly funny stuff James. I'll go home and practice my "Royal Wave."

Kevin

 

Kevin I have untold hours of track time in my old very brown 1980 5 speed....have enjoyed it very much with sticky tires and headers but most competitive against the 944S on the shorter tracks. More than enough power to spin the car or go off into the desert at 100mph But on big Willow Springs down the long front straight pedal to the floor you have time to look at the wild flowers, count the number of spectators in the grand stands , while you wait for turn one

 

Well, with an automatic I should have enough time to not only look at the wild flowers, but maybe give them a dash of fertilizer. Perhaps if needed, trim as I go by in grand touring style.

Kevin

 

And your Grey Poupon will stay cool in the (air conditioned) glovebox.

 

Add bigger brakes and stiffer springs you've got my 79. I had no problem putting enough distance on a pair of 5-speed S4's at Road America between 6-12 they could not catch me on the long 1 mile front straight at Road America. I've posted videos of me chasing down and passing air cooled 911 Turbo's, 968, and a few water cooled 911's and Boxsters.

Lean to use what you've got and enjoy it.

My 86 Scirocco 16V is one of the slowest cars I've ever owned "on paper" yet I look forward to driving it every chance I get.

 

Yes over the years the old very brown 1980 amazed, dumbfounded, and perplexed many drivers of newer faster Porsches.....although most would eventually get faster. An experienced Boxster driver with his new GT3 at the infield course at Autoclub speedway after a day of running came over and said that 928 defies the laws of physics The next day however he was much faster !!
So yes learn to use what you have and enjoy it !!

 

Those all have half the cylinders.

 

The 3 speed auto has very well chosen gear ratios. The 16v 4 speed autos are disadvantaged by the large gap between 2nd and 3rd gear, made more noticeable by the "peaky" cams of the later 4.7S/S2 cars.

 

I was sitting at the traffic lights in my '79 a few weeks ago when a Nissan R32 GT-R pulled up alongside, it had two young "boy racers" onboard, they gave me the thumbs up as they looked over my car, the Nissan was a beautiful example, I resisted the temptation to get the "jump" as the lights turned green in my Auto, as I know exactly what the result would have been, however as we both climbed up to speed on the motorway with the Nissan boys still alongside I let the old girl settle into the "sweet-spot" at around 70mph before dropping her into 2nd and burying my foot, ta ta !!!

Now of course the boys soon caught back up, but they were all "thumbs up" and clapping, they gestured if they could use their gopro, before dropping back a little to get some pics.

So, how quick is my 4.5? It's quick enough to bring two quite different generations together, that's plenty quick in my book.

 

Awesome story.

 

We should now go on the GTR Forum and read their account of the story