I am considering the purchase of a 02 996...I enjoy a manual transmission but I have ligament damage in my left knee which has caused problems with my current manual transmission 996...what will I miss if I choose the tip....

 

My dad is in a similar situation to yours. He has constant left-leg pain from driving a stick shift in his current car, an 01 BMW M5. I think he will be shortly be switching to a 996 Tiptronic. You do give up a noticeable amount of performance, but IMO it's better to be comfortable driving than to have ultimate performance. And it's certainly better to have an automatic Porsche than an automatic sedan or something

 

In an auto mag test last year (maybe Excellence) pros tested a 6spd and TipS in Turbo form and while the stick did outperform the TipS, the latter got excellent reviews to the point where all things being equal an everyday driver TipS driver can beat an everyday stick driver (at least in Turbo clothes) Keep the revs up just like in the 6spd. If you don't use the manual config, then you're "slushy"

And you'll love it around town!

 

If you get used to the tiptronic you can be as fast (very very close) to a manual. my 996 is the second porsche I own in a row using tip (my previous car was a 993 tiptronic). I never regretted opting for the tip. By the way I recently participated in a track event and finished third after a GT3 and a 330HP Mitsubishi evoVI. In order to take full advantage of the tiptronic in automatic mode you must learn to use the throttle pedal in a different way than a manual. If you make it than you will be surprised as to how fast you can drive the car. Switch it to manual and there is no difference to a manual with the exception that you cannot over-rev the engine

 

The article Don is referring to revealed that a Tip Turbo will beat a 6 speed Turbo in an autocross type track, where there is repeated shifting. Interesting, huh?

 

I have an M-5 with the six speed, but My Dad talked me into the Tip on the C2. He has it on his TT.

It is NOT as crisp on shifts. It will, however, upshift for you just as you start..yes start, your unwind at the apex of a turn (as long as you are getting to the redline). The slush allows such a smooth shift that your suspension does not unsettle at all!! This is, I guess, where your upshift advantage is.

On downshifting your advantage is... not missing a gear and overreving the motor. I'm just now starting to use both feet when I brake, so it will be next season befort I can tell you if left foot braking helps! It's really hard to change that habit since I still drive the 6 speed.

All in all, I like the Tip. Your hands are always on the wheel!! It does have it's limitations but it is fun, too. I'd probably do it again. It would just depend on my mood at the time I ordered.

 

Derrick Bell (yes he the famed Le Mans winner X5) drove my 1990 tip C2 Cab at a Porsche driving event at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Rockton ,Illinois in a timed event in which he also drove each of 20 other Porsches, including manual C2's, C4's, and modified 911's. Admitedly, the course was set up tight with pylons.
My C2 tip was fast time of Day with Bell driving. I was .1 sec slower (and finished second overall)
The lesson? A tip is the only way you can come close to the times of a top pro. And, under certain conditions (like the need to downshift to first), the tip is faster, even with a pro driving both.
On a more wide open course, I'd expect the manual to be faster. From a stoplight, in everyday driving, and treating your clutch like you might have to replace it... no question the tip is quicker.
By the way, my current Boxter tip is faster around a race track in full auto-not using the buttons. It will shift at the redline in full manual, can tolerate an automatic upshift in transition curves, and automaticcaly downshifts under hard braking.

A. Stemer
996 ttX50, 1999 Boxter tip, 1994 BMW CSI (Dinan mods)
Previous- 1991 C4 manual, 1990 C2 tip Cab, 1980 SC targa

 

Thanks for all the input...I think I will go for the tip....

 

Alexander wrote: My C2 tip was fast time of Day with Bell driving. I was .1 sec slower (and finished second overall)

Am I the only one who is experiencing a combination of green envy and hero worship, both at the same time?? GRIN

 

It was a once in a lifetime experience. There is no question that Bell could do it lap after lap, and I was lucky to do it once. In fact, I exited the last corner completely sideways with my foot planted on the gas, and everybody jumping to the sides as I crossed the finish.
I learned a lot with Bell in the passenger seat as I was driving, but more when I was in the right seat and he was driving. It amazed me how much side load he could get into the car with smooth but large steering inputs. I couldn't have done it without first seeing and feeling it.
It also gave me great appreciation of the tip.
Vic Elford was there too by the way. While he's best known here for his Can Am driving, he was a European rally champion first. It surprised me that by his description, he actulaly duplicated his downshift throttle blip while using the tip controls. He actually would apply gas in the short interval of the downshift. I didn't ride with him, so I didn't actually see it. He was very clear in his description, however. By the way, that guy could really control a slide!!! AS

 

I am currently driving a Bimmer with auto. It is considered to be one of the best auto tranny's, but I certainly cannot compare to Porsche's and would imagine that Porsche's is more performance oriented in programming than the Bimmer's.

I use the tranny in manual mode and it is very satisfactory in street usage. However, on the track, even though it is a great help for an average driver like myself helping me concentrate on my line rather than shifting, the biggest problem is its shifting is not consistent.

For example, when coming in to a turn, during a downshift on some turns at certain speeds (which I have not been able to nail down yet), it will shift rapidly without hesitation. However, on some other turns and speeds the shift can be delayed more than the previous scenario. Both shifts can be considered still rapid and better than what I can personally perform over and over again. However, the inconsistency is the problem. I am not able to predict how the tranny will shift for me in the next corner and that just diminishes my confidence in the whole package on the track trying to be competitive or trying my personal best.

Would you agree that this is also a common issue with Porsche Tiptronic on the track?

Thank you.

 

I would expect that it has to do with the sensors. The tech at the dealership says the sensors in the suspension won't let the car upshift if the g-force on the wheels is above a certain value. As the wheel is straightened the g loading starts to fall and the car will shift. My personal experience says that can be just as you pass the apex and start to track out. I'd rather expect it works the same way for downshifts and turning the wheel in! It would probably keep you on the track. I think it might for me.

As I say, I need more practice. David Murray was at Trackmasters and while he didn't say he'd drop the 6 speed, he didn't dump on the Tip either.

 

Take a look at the BMW M3 with SMG.

S.