Tom R.

There is an ad in the local paper for a 93 968 tiptronic with 50k miles on it.

What are the problem areas I should be looking at?

belts were changed at 30k, and other than oil changes and brakes nothing has been done according to the owner.

where are the weaknesses?

If i dont get the guy with the z28 down a bit I will look at the 968

wjk_glynn

Hi Tom,

From what I've heard, the tiptronic transaxles in the 968 have been reliable with no special weaknesses. I'd suggest posting this same question over on the 968.net forums in case someone over there brings up additional information.

One thing, the tiptronic in the 968 causes a big performance loss. That car will be slower that your previous 944S2. Here's the data to support this:

http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_...stSummary.html (see the 968 cab results for a TIP example)

In practice, a TIP equiped 968 will be about as fast as a 2.5L 944S.

The belts have another 10K of miles left or 5 years of operation, whichever comes sooner.

Click on the following link and read the FAQs and Buyer's Guides.

http://www.weissach.net/WhereToFindInformation.html

Karl.

User 41221

I beg to differ, Karl (um, just to clarify, this isn't a flame, its just a difference of opinion). The performance does suffer off the line but otherwise it performs very well in real life driving situations, including (gasp!) the track. It might not be the "ultimate" for performance, but quite frankly, most of us aren't Michael Schumaker and able to use the manual tranny to its peak potential. The tiptronic makes very good use of the torque band of the engine, and mine has kept up with stock 951's without having to apologize for itself. I definitely disagree with the 944S comment, as I have pulled on several of them, again in real life situations (to clarify, these were rolling starts).

Tiptronic trannys are light years better than the "automatic" trannys in the 944's. They suffer far more from a perception problem than they do a performance problem.

Regards,

RajDatta

KG, the manuals are transaxles but tips are not transaxles. Its not one unit with trans and axle if its tip. FYI .
Raj

Damian in NJ

There is a 'flex plate' in the trans that fails occasionally and is quite $$$ to fix. And some parts prices are higher than a 6 speed, the motor mounts prices are outrageous IIRC for tips.

TonyG

I drove a "Tip" 968. I was surprised to see how much slower it felt. It was pretty much a dog. Just not enough TQ in a 968 to push a slush box.

Nike178

Hey i know what porsche you are talking about. That price is a steal either way. Too bad it wasn't a 6spd cause i would have bought that car the day it was listed. Oh well...

TonyG

Hey... I bet if you supercharged a Tip 968 it would be a blast. Especially with the Huntley kit since it produces so much TQ at low rpms. It would really get a Tip off the line much quicker.

Just a thought...

wjk_glynn

Hi Raj,

I though the definition of a transaxle was when a transmission (manual or TIP) is combined with a differential (open/LSD/torque-biasing/locked) in a single housing.

Hence all 924/944/968/928 cars are transaxle cars regardless of whether they have manual or automatic transmissions.

Or am I missing something...

Karl.

wjk_glynn

Hi Scott,

Debate is what its all about. That's why were here

My remarks regarding the performance of the TIP were based on road-test results. I've compiled a list at the following link:

http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_...stSummary.html

Of course standing starts and automatics don't go together and I fully agree with you that rolling tests are far more representative of real-world needs.

For real-world acceleration, you should take the 60-100 mph sprint and the 1/4 trap speeds. You get the following for manual 968s:

968 60-100mph - 9.1 to 9.9 seconds
968 1/4 mile trap - 95 to 98 mph

Instrumented road tests of TIP cars are very rare but there was one done by C&D. See :

http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_...l#968Cabriolet

60-100 mph was 12.5 seconds and the 1/4 mile trap was only 90 mph. Those numbers are similar to a 944S.

So my earlier comments were based on this data and not on actual driving experience like you have.

Karl.

RajDatta

Karl, I could be wrong but from I thought the auto tip trans is in the front, right behind the engine while a 6 speed is in the back with the axle. I could be wrong myself and could be assuming but my understanding was that the auto trans was connected directly to the engine. Maybe someone can clarify that.
Raj

wjk_glynn

Hi Raj,

I had a look through PET and the TIP tranmission looks very simiar to the 6-speed with half-shafts popping out the side of it.

Maybe you're thinking about the torque-converter. That might be connected to the engine directly.

I'm still looking to see if I can confirm this one way or the other.

Karl.

RajDatta

Karl, I don't have PET but if you saw it I am sure that is the case. I believe you. Its not the 1st time I am wrong .
Raj

User 41221

Guys, the Tip tranny is back in the same spot as the 6 speed, as stated by Karl. Its the flex damper plate thats up front, bolted t o the flywheel, and the torque converter is at the back end of the torque tube.

Regards,

wjk_glynn

Thanks Scott.