Wow, thanks for the good words. Usually Ferrari owners look down upon Porsche for some reason.


Back to the original post, you can't complain if you haven't tested the 997 options available such as a manual trans, sport exhaust, x51 even!

 

I would never have a Tip (although my wife's Cayenne S has one). But query whether the Tip was adjusted to a slow cruising mode when you test drove it and whether if adjusted to more agressive driving it wouldn't be so bad?

I do love the sound of earlier air cooled cars and that can't exactly be matched today, but my 997S with MT, short shifter and PSE is still the best of my long string of pcars.

 

I have a 964 and a 997S, both manual. While I like both cars very much for very different reasons and while I agree that the 997S isn't as loud as a 964, I really don't believe the performance of the cars are even remotely close. The 997S outperforms my 964 in every possible way. As for the louder engine on the 964, it is fun, but it also can become exhausting after a while. I like the silky hum of the 997S, particularly at the higher rpms. I have never driven a 997S tip, but I have to believe that is the reason for your disappointment.

 

I'll concede that. Too bad it's 20 odd pounds heavier than the standard exhaust though.

 

DSG is already out?

 

Tiptronic sucks. Saps the life out of the 997. Not only is it a poor automatic transmission, but the shifter and clutch action, as well as pedal placement of the manual is sublime. And this is coming from a Tiptronic owner.

But I've complained plenty about this elsewhere on the forum.

 

O.K. only because you posted this here and did not buy one,

Do I understand your post? You are disappointed because a 12+yr. newer vehicle did not have a rough gear box and pedals? And (assuming) you drove the 997TT and 997GT3 and found those two to meet your standards?

Blank stare.....

 

It sounds like you prefer the more "raw" driving feel of the air-cooled 911s. The 997s, and even the 996s, definitely have a more refined feel to them. Have you then considered the 993? It'll be more similar to you 964 but with more power at your disposal.

 

go drive a manual trans 997...in any version. the 964 is a nice car for a weekend drive, the 997 is a porsche you can use every day(aside from the cayenne, duh).

 

Sign-up and attend PDE, you can use a Tip...
It'a an Ultimate Test Drive

HOTLAP in a TIP

http://www.porschedriving.com

Do it then give us your impressions....

 

To make it clear and concluding: the test drive gave me a very bad feeling of the 997 just BECAUSE of the tiptronic transmission

I know a manual 997 2S is much faster than my 964, but I was really shocked to see how the 997 2S with tiptronic behaved so poorly...

Until today I drove a tiptronic Porsche for the first time and found out that Porsche's tiptronic tranny is really slow... I thought it would shift much quicker, but no !

I have a BMW X3 3.0 Turbodiesel and it shifts much quicker !

Strange why Porsche hasn't produced a much better automatic transmission for normally aspirated cars, especially the 911 (997)

I just wanted to share this experience with you, that's all

 

You really need to find a dealer that has a 997S with PSE and Manual Transmission, and do test drive again.

Especially, do a cold start of the engine with PSE On, the car really barks well. Even just a 1st/2nd gear crusing on the street, the PSE sounds very well combines with the Porsche signature engine whining sound behind the ears.

With best regards,

 

Sounds like the Audi R8 (in theory anyway)!

 

As someone as a lot of you know I have to have a tip to drive a Porsche. Yes I'd love to have a Ferrari F1 style tranny but the Tiptronic is not as bad as a lot of you make it out to be. I bet most of you have NEVER driven a Tip or had someone show you how to drive the Tip.
I have tracked the Tip at Barber just like Cass did in the video MJones posted above. I will tell you that the Tip is faster than the 6 speed on that track! Cass, Hurley and the other will tell you the same thing. Coming out of the slower corners I ran up all over my instructors because the tip shifts fast and the gearing in 2nd and 3rd is better. If you put the Tip in manual mode and shift it properly and the correct mph it will shift pretty fast.
I DE @ Sebring with my Tip and have zero problem with it being slow. Sure it's fun to be old school and heel and toe...it's a true art! But I do not have that luxery in my life any longer so it's Tip for me until Porsche introduces it's clutchless sequential tranny for the 09 models...I'll be 1st in line!

 

agreed. If Tip is in M mode or if you drive Tip in D mode so wildly that Tip automatically starts from 1 not 2, then it would be a totally different experience. In normal driving, I must confess Tip (sucks and) is just one of those automatic tyranny in the market but also it is intelligent and convenient.