Hi! I’m new here - just contracted to buy my 993 yesterday. Maybe my first Porsche - not sure if my “Audi/Porsche” RS2 counts or not.

Anyway, I bought a 1995 993 Carrera tiptronic and I’ve been looking everywhere to see if I can find the build numbers for tiptronic 993’s, and especially 1995 model year 993’s. Does anyone know where I could find those?

Thanks!
Will

 

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...ere-built.html

a rennlister stated:

"4694 Carrera S (3335 gearshift - 1359 Tiptronic) and 7234 Carrera 4S (only gearshift) were built."

 

It would be interesting to see the total numbers of 993 tips produced. My guess it's something like 30% of the whole production.

 

Welcome to the 993 Tip family! Here are two good videos you may like: (Click on "Watch on YouTube" in the bottom left corner - the play arrow doesn't get you to the right location for some reason.)



Also, FWIW, I ran across these Tip numbers for the UK. Although they probably bear little resemblance to the North American numbers, given the differences in market demographics and typical road topography & driving styles.

Cheers,

Ron
Build numbers

List of all model 993’s sold in the UK between 1994 and 1999

 

Thanks Ron - love the videos. Appreciate your pointing them out.

 

I just recently tested my friends' 964 tip and other friends' 993 tip.

It took me a while to understand that Drive mode is just for cruising. If you want to have an engaging drive you simply have to put it to manual. And it's very engaging. I'd say it's 85% of the actual manual feel. If you just drive it on D, it's not engaging at all and the kickdown is trash.
I've had Mercs, Jags and BMW's in which tiptronic is pretty much useless. But 964/993 tip is surprisingly nice considering how old the transmission is... and the car really has completely different, way more aggressive feel when you use the manual.

Sure it's not probably quite as fast (maybe 1 sec difference to 0-100 km/h, who cares) but on the other hand it's a perfect cruiser in the city on D. I don't really like to drive my 6-speed in the traffic.

I was really impressed how it actually works when you get used to it and learn to use it properly. I've seen tips going for even 30K cheaper than manuals. Both 964 and 993. Sure manual is a "Porsche purist" thing but I actually like the tip and I could even consider a 964 tip if I find a good deal (to keep my 993 company).

Enjoy!

 

Thanks for the feedback @By-Tor , that's great to hear. Those were exactly the reasons that attracted me to the car, and it's reassuring to hear that from someone who has actually driven it. Can't wait to get the car!

 

If you want to drive the Tip a little harder

Read this!!

link: Rick Bye 993 tiptronic out of Porsche Panorama December 2004 ...

hope link works

 

Great article!

Another "tip": For a more sporty feel in around town driving - without working the manual switches or lever, a lot of us like to leave it in 3rd, not D. That way it starts out in 1st and never goes to 4th.

A memorable experience when in auto mode, (when there's an open road and no cops,) is to be cruising at 30 - 40 MPH and quickly floor the throttle. The thing drops into 1st gear and leaps off toward red line in less time than I could grab the shift lever in my standard transmission cars. Not boring at all!

Ron

 

Excellent article. Based on my experiences with tips it's probably the most misunderstood and underrated thing in the 964/993 world.

Would I trade my 6-speed to a tip? No way. But it's pretty damn good box if you know how to use it correctly.

Sure not "modern way" good automatic. But there's nothing modern about these 25-30+-year old cars anyway.

 

Our 993 is the first 911 we've ever had with a Tip, before that over 30 years of manual shift 911's. To be totally honest, it was such a revelation in driving I was amazed. We live in an area with lots of traffic now and the Tip is a tremendous aid in driving in that traffic, but even then I leave it in manual mode and hand shift, just no clutch to have to deal with. The revelation part is how responsive it is when driven hard. I have a set of twisties I like that starts with a narrow hard 90 degree right, i can come up to it at speed in 3rd, pound the throttle to the floor for an instant and the Tip instantly downshifts to 2nd with just the right amount of matching RPM's for smooth transition and down on down the road. I normally use the shift lever and not the paddles. I was once one the guys that always disparaged the Tips but that was just because I really had never been acquainted with it.

 

Thing is that most of the guys, complaining about the Tiptronic, never drove it ....

Used it years on the track, nothing to complain about, and a lot of guys got shocked when they learned that it was a tip.
However, finally put a manual in the car as it got clear that, if you increase your power, the tip starts eating it ...

 

Can't argue with either of your comments above. If I had a 4.0L 348HP motor I'd swap out my Tip as well! Although I know of a guy who supercharged his Tip - so go figure, to each his own.

But lest we make this lovefest sound like Tiptronics are better than sliced bread, there are definitely trade offs. Chief among them for me is lack of a 5th gear - let alone a 6th!. Long freeway trips at around 80MPH really make me yearn for just one more upshift. But Porsche did the best with what was available - and super reliable - at that time. They are often referred to as bulletproof, having been used in 100s of thousands of Land Rovers, BMWs and Fords, to name a few.

Overall, at my age, and having shifted numerous cars over the past 50+ years, I'm very happy Porsche decided to develop these cars. And I believe many more 993 fans will agree as time rolls on and roads get even more crowded. Most people who have them bought them for a definite reason and are not likely to get rid of them. It's getting harder to find a nice one, and while I haven't done a survey, might it be that the "Tip discount" will be getting somewhat thinner as the overall popularity of 993's continues to expand?

Cheers,

Ron

 

Or drove it properly.

I have constant access to 964 and 993 tips and I drive them almost weekly. The more I drive 'em, more I like the box.

The D mode is just for cruising. When you transfer to manual, it changes the car. It doesn't upshift and you can accelerate it almost as fast as the manual. The steering wheel buttons work pretty well downshifting on the corners too.

Another thing is that when you drive on D, the exhaust note sounds a lot different. Almost like V8 as the acceleration is so smooth.

I find the tip fascinating. It's almost like two cars in one. And in the city it's just perfect.

 

btw, the older '95 tippers do upshift in manual ...