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IMHO,

There are many cars out there that are:
a)Faster than a 993
b)handle as good or better than a 993
c)are less expensive than a 993

The reason to buy a Porsche, especially the last of the air cooled is because of the feeling you get behind the wheel. That great driving sensation. The Heel - Toe downshifting while stomping on those enormous brakes.

Going to a tip drastically reduces the input neccessary from the driver therefore also limiting the excitment.

If you want a fast, good looking, great handling car, buy an Audi S4, or an BMW M3.

If you want a car that you drive and enjoy to it's fullest, buy a 6spd porsche.

Not to mention, have you ever looked at the resale value of Tip's... Not a very desierable car.

But that's just my opinion.

btw, I used to live in NYC and now Miami, FL. There's always lots of traffic and I've always driven stick with no regreat.
Unfortunately now my daily driver is a auto with a tip fuction (X5 4.4) I was going to buy the 3.3 with a stick but couldn't, it doesn't have the tow capacity. I miss driving stick everyday, a lot!!

Randall G.

I'm a hard-core manual transmission type, but I can think of one thing that might convince me to go tip: San Francisco! I'm pretty good with a clutch, but they've got stop signs placed at the top of sheer cliffs they call streets.

I'm easy on clutches, but I think I would toast a clutch in less than 30k miles if I was living in S.F. Anyone here ever lived in S.F.? Do you actually get to the point where you can launch from a vertical stop without clutch abuse--and without rolling into the guy that's parked on your ***?

88clbsport

It's all personal but I don't ever plan on driving a tip for one of "my car only" situtations. My wife grew up with sticks but hates driving here in So Cal. We almost bought a tiptronic cab that we would share, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. She won't drive any of my cars and we use the SUV 99% of the time when running around on the weekends. When I am running errands and schlepping in an out of parking spaces I must admit not having to shift is nice, but that is only a small percentage of the time and not really driving.

I kind of seems to defeat the purpose, but then again I have heard the BMW SMG and Ferrari paddle shifters are incredible. I wonder how they compare to the Porsche tip....any comparisons from the board?

dcpmark

[quote]Originally posted by 88clbsport:
<strong>I kind of seems to defeat the purpose, but then again I have heard the BMW SMG and Ferrari paddle shifters are incredible. I wonder how they compare to the Porsche tip....any comparisons from the board?</strong><hr></blockquote>

No comparison. The Ferrari and SMG M3 have manual transmissions with a computer controlled clutch......no torque converter. I've driven the M3, and it's really nice, especially the downshifts. It requires some finesse to get smooth 1-2 shifts with a slight gas pedal lift, but at 8 millisecond shifts in the S6 mode, it can shift faster than 99.9% of all drivers. If Porsche made the same type of transmission available, I get it in a heartbeat.........assuming it was in a 993, of course.....

Flying Finn

Sportscar (Porsche in this case) and automatic: Absolutely NO, NO, NO! <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

It's like having a cup holder in a sportscar!

What?! 996 has a cupholder? Porsche is building an SUV!?!? What the he11 is Porsche doing? Weren't they a sports car company?!

I think I need more beer & to give my aircooled 993 a hug! <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Oh, did I tell you I hate cupholders, automatic tranny etc. in a sportscar?

For 'normal' cars they're fine, but in a sportscar... Pleeeeaase.

I know all you tip Porsche owners hate me know but this really is my honest opinion and I'm sticking to it.

dcpmark

[quote]Originally posted by Flying Finn:
<strong> Absolutely NO, NO, NO! <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

It's like having a cup holder in a sportscar!

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey, that reminds me! Anyone know where I can get a cupholder for my 6-speed '97C2S?

H. Miller

I bought one (cup holder for my daily driver) for my last 993 from Performance Products. It worked great. See URL below and check out the one that says "Double Drink Holder"
Cup Holder

Bins

Wow, this is as bad as 996 vs 993!

I do understand that stick is best...

But stop giving stick to us tip owners who dont want to give our left legs early retirement. Hee Hee <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

Let me know how your left leg feels sitting in traffic for ages... A406, M25, M1, M4, A312 ...


Prey Continue.... <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

Flying Finn

Guys & Gals, I don't want to tell you that you can't have a tip. If that's what you need/want, then go ahead and give your left legs that early retirement.

I would never want automatic (or cupholder ) in a Sportscar. IMO, It just doesn't belong in there.

If you drive your Porsche slower than 10 mph (traffic), drinking coffee, then it's propably better to have a tip but when the road opens... <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

tangram

Stever:

Maybe at this stage of your life you're just too darn busy to be able to really enjoy the car of your dreams. If I was in a situation where my daily commute was of the stop and go nature, I'd be much more inclined to just use the BMW for commuting. That way, you have a great, quiet environment for getting to and from work plus the added bonus of not having to shift.

With a commute like yours, I would not consider using a Porsche of any sort. Seems like such a waste. But if you have lots of leisure time in which to enjoy really DRIVING, then it's a no-brainer. Upgrade to a 993 with a manual transmission.

Call me elitist but I believe the majority (but not all) of Porsche tiptronic owners purchased the car for the cache and the ego boost but either don't drive standard or have little interest in connecting with the car. Besides, having a tiptronic requires very little skill to smoke a Mustang at the lights, which is what I belive many tiptronic owners buy (or lease) their cars to do.

And before the rebuttals come out, let me reiterate that I'm only talking about (in my opinion) the majority of tiptronic owners, not all.

Mike J

Hey Stever,

I reserve the automatic transmission for my winter beast - a 3/4 Ton full sized extended cab 4x4 pickup (the kids call it the green beast).

When looking for the 993 I was immediately turned off by the Tip...you can't feel the engine and get less traction/wheel sensation without a clutch. The control with a manual is absolute. I would never buy a 911 of any sort with an automatic...it makes the drivetrain all soft and, well, squishy.

And what's with the talk of all the motors for the Targa? They are no more prone to failure than the ones used in the standard sunroofs on most 911 coupes. You should see the inside of one of the Tip trannys if you want complicated!

Anyways someone has to buy all those 911 Tips out there..I seems they are very hard to resell. I got one salesman upset because he did not mention if a 993 I was looking at was a standard, I forgot to ask, and when I showed up and looked at the car I saw the auto stick and lost interest totally. Just walked away. The car is still on the lot!

Have fun but don't comprimize....you will regret it after the honeymoon as worn off..

Bins

Sorry, we have very few mustangs over this side of the world.

pleasure and enjoyment - yes
Low dep - yes
ego-boost - yes
the looks - yes
the pedigree - yes although its not exactly a dog
Performance - yes but lower priority, since I doubt I'll be tracking, at least not in the near future

Arent there enough reasons to buy a Porsche.
So, the transmission is auto!!!!!
The tip came by first so I bought it.

I wonder how many would buy an auto/tip IF the performance of both auto/tip and manual were exactly the same???, ie
same 0-60, 1/4 mile, top end speed ....

Regards


EDIT ps BTW SteveR,
a short test drive in a tip and a manual should be enough for you to decide which you would be happier with. At the end of the day its your choice and decision that count, cause its you that will be driving it. Every individuals preferences and circumstances are different... <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Speedraser

Bins,

I wouldn't -- the tip changes the whole character of the car. Of course, the performance gap IS substantial, and performance is one of the primary reasons I bought the car.

Flying Finn

I agree with Todd,

To me, even if tip was little faster, I'd take stick in no time.

Automatic is meant for family sedans, driving in a traffic etc. It is not for sportscars.

Steve 96C4S

WOW! You all have some mighty strong opinions. Thank you very much for all your generous feedback. I guess I'll have to take your opinions in my back pocket with me when I go to the Stealer, ehh uhhr Dealer and test drive the Tip and the 6 speed 993. The thing is, I don't track the car, I don't do autocross, I just love to drive my 88 911 - wherever and whenever I go somewhere. Unless it's raining or I'm shuffling the family around, the 911 it is.

The 8 year old is happy in the back, as long as it's just me and her in the car and the front seat is way up. I didn't realize I would losing out on such an important component of the 911 driving experience by going with the slushbox. At first I was pi**ed off by what Ray Calvo wrote, but I realized by reading some of the other replies that he was actually onto something there with his hardline "6 speed or you might as well not even buy a 911" attitude.

I also didn't realize that buying a 97 Targa wouldn't be any more scary, repair wise, than buying a coupe with those motors in the sunroof.

To me, the wide body of the C4S and C2S might be a bit too much for this modest guy, but... if it was in Silver with Black interior... that wouldn't be too immodest, would it? )

I've got to get that test drive under my belt. Thanks again to you all!

Steve R