996 Turbo MANUAL or TIPTRONIC

Hi there guys its that time of year of again, when i want to change my porsche. I have 996 C2 Cab in black 52 plate, love the car it drives like a dream and i have just spent ££££ on a service and a clutch, but as I also have F355 Spider I see no need to keep two Cabs. So was planning on going for a 996 Turbo. But most of the ones I see out there at seem to be Tiptronics and since having a M3 E36 Tip I have always tried to stay away from this type of box. Reason being 1. All the bloody problems i had with it and don't want massive bills when something goes wrong as with M3. 2. I don't seem to enjoy the joy of being able to change through corners with as with manual. 3. I think the feel and character of the car is lost with a trip box. Plus with 996 turbo i don't feel the steering gear change function is the most ergonomically posoitioned, for comfort and a quick change. So for you guys who have a 996 turbo whats your view and what do you think i should go for thanks Man or Tip. Its more of a weekend car than a everyday one but i do sometimes tend to drive into work. Thanks H

Having owned both, the manual wins hands down as I found the tiptronic took the fun out of driving. The clutch isn't heavy so even in traffic the manual is :thumbs:

Manual - :wack:

Although I do not own a Turbo my 997 is manual and I would never personally change that. One of the enjoyments is to be able to change through the gears and take the maximum out the car.... Even my wife prefers manual (actually she said to me that if the 911 is going to be trip then she will never drive it) Theo

I have a 996 Turbo Tiptronic. Obviously I'm going to be biased as I love Tiptronic Cars for a few reasons. For one, living in the south of the UK traffic is always a nightmare and I cannot be asked with a manual. I agree that the controls on the steering wheel are not the best suited. However when I slip the gearbox to manual triptronic then the beast comes to life! It's agreed you cannot max the RPM as the gear will automatically change but the poke and thrill of the ride is by certainly present. I have driven several manual shift Porsches but in the end I decided that Triptronic was for me. Think your best bet is to go and drive one of each so that you can make an informed decision. Avais

Well, each to their own I guess, but for me it has to be a manual. I generally like changing my own gears, and for a sports car this seems to me even more essential. I know these things can be a compromise (as it may be your only car and you can't chose to drive it away from traffic), but for me I want as little compromise as possible. That is what makes it special (almost because it is perhaps so focused it becomes the event) Anyway, the other thing that confuses me with the tip is (American requirements understood) - surely it is the performance epitome of the 911 (GT2 etc excepted), so to lose a gear and top speed, add weight and a slothful gear change, reduce economy and suffocate 10% of the acceleration seems bizarre. Now a PDK Turbo I can respect (except the retarded SW buttons - on which note, if each button has one or two wires coming out of the SW column, depending on earthing requirements, can't these just be swapped over in the dash receiving block and some nice replacement button covers machined to sport correctly orientated "+" and "-" as required?) The original question comes across as almost rhetorical, you seem to have answered your own question pretty much.

Bought TT Tip and sometimes miss stirring the box. That said it's so much easier to drive in traffic, the manual mode holds revs up and down. I'm sure I read that the tip changes faster than the manual. As a weekend car a manual, living with it everyday in traffic a tip. Design and layout of the shift buttons could be better, replacement wheels with F1 style paddles are £1500.

H - I'm not sure why you are asking the question, as you seem to have made your mind up already! :? You know what you want, so just go for it! 8) As for PDK, why is it that die-hard manual fans go ga-ga for it? It's just another form of auto! :roll:

I ran a 996 TT Tiptronic for 12 months. Great car but tip box took all the fun out of it and this was the main reason for selling it after just 12 months. It worked perfectly and didn't cause any problems but blunted what should have been a sharp edge for a car like this. I have since driven manual tubos and my current 997 C2S is a manual. Bottom line for me is: for a sports car like this i) get a manual and ii) make sure you are happy with the exhaust note! I know it sounds trivial but the turbos muffle the exhaust note of the TT so if it's a sports sound you are looking for then stick to a manual C4S with PSE or your 355. That said, with values where they are at present I think a manual 996TT with a DMS (or equiv) remap and better exhaust would be a very tempting proposition. Good luck and happy hunting.

I own a 996 tiptronic now and i love it. however, just been given a 997 manual courtesy car and i've changed my mind - the manual is wicked and i now want to change! It's simply because with the manual it's more fun, you can hold it in gear as long as you like and i've found myself nipping around in short bursts here and there when in the tip i'd be simply in commuting mode. It's also a benefit that it's harder to use a phone illegaly in the manual!!

Ga Ga for seamless, instant non-power sapping PDK with faster changes than any conventional gearbox and better fuel economy and emissions. Only downside is even SW buttons can't better auto for drag racing and general looning. Hence less involvement. But it is still a clever buy of kit.

You won't like tiptronic if you go from a Bmw SMG box. Even though tiptronic is more refined and smoother you'll actually miss the SMG paddleshifts. If you ever want to take your car on the track or have a silly afternoon around country roads than manual is the way forwads. Heavy commuter traffic and little use then tiptronic but it seems to me you've already set your heart on manual