How good is the tiptronic?

Hey guys. I know I want a manual, but I'm seeing a bunch of automatics at good prices. How are they exactly? Do they compare to manual or feel of manaal when shifting via tiptronic? Or it feels every bit of an automatic very far from pdk?

My 03 996 w/tip is fantastic! I can manually blip through the speeds incredibly quick, and I can sit in stop and go traffic and not kill my knee! And when I'm lazy I put it in D and let it do the work... When in D at any moment you can downshift manually and it automatically stays in manual mode for about 5 seconds after you stop shifting, or stop hauling ***! Win, Win! Just wish it had one more gear...but the book says it's only 3 mph slower in top end.

Thanks for the feedback. Is there a paddleshift aftermarket or mod? I have never tried shifting via tiptronic.

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There is both an aftermarket steering wheel with Paddles on it, and a mod to install Mercedes AMG paddles on the OEM 996 steering wheel. I have the paddles install on my DD, but left the Tip switches also just to have an other shift method. After installing the paddles, I never drive in "D" mode anymore, for cruising I use the Tip switches, for aggressive I use the Paddles, I find the "D" mode not sporty enough and always shifting at to low an RPM especially when just cruising.

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Do you have a link to the aftermarket wheel with paddle? Im in the same boat with "manual" over the "drive" functions. I prefer "manual" with thumb buttons for everything, even in traffic. I have a 99 Tip that I just put the three spoke wheel in, which has larger tip buttons, which I prefer. I purchased the merc paddles and as nice as they are, I didnt want to cramp the area behind my wheel. Perhaps a spacer would help. Anyway, I mean to say the three spoke buttons are larger and I have learned to love them, even though they are not paddles. I came from the 6spd world and can honestly say Im 75% sold on the tip. Mostly due to daily driving. I learned the hard way that I am a terrible downshifter on the track.

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That is only true for the 996.2 cars with the MB trans. Earlier models have the ZF which, as nice as it is, has no such function, in order to shift with the buttons you need to have the shifter in "M".

WARNING: some "purists" might castigate/cajole/condemn you for thinking of getting a TIP P.S. FWIW, I also have a tip and a cab (gasp!) and would not have it any other way (I save the "shifting" for my 3 motorcycles)

I didn't want a tip, but the tip found me... after two years, i'm really glad i have it. I find it to be just as fun to drive, and the only time i miss having a manual is when i look inside, I just think a manual "looks" better aesthetically... My DD is an Audi S4 with a 6 speed manual, and it's fun but I truly do love the automatic transmission on the Porsche. It shifts incredibly fast, (mine is an 02) and is very enjoyable to drive in all conditions. Plus, my wife loves driving the car with the automatic... I consider my compromise a very happy accident, and I really don't worry about what the purists think!

I did not like the Tip in my old 2001 mk1 I had 10 years ago. Tip was a godsend in heavy traffic, but it never felt sporty to me. I didn't shift it manual much, might have a different opinion if it had paddles added. I don't really remember the Tip ratios, but I barely use 6th on my current 6-speed 996 (unless going over 70), so I wouldn't think 5-speed on Tip is a significant impediment. I have no experience with Mk2 Tip, but from what I've read on RL, it seems to be much better than the mk1 (sportier anyway).

I think this was probably the best recent discussion with some good experiences and opinions. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...periences.html Only update for me is that the Tip can used to enjoy a totally thrilling sports car experience just like a stick (but it takes some practice). The other advantage is that if you want to fly simply put the Tip in auto mode and floor it -- if somebody hasn't yet reached proficiency with the stick, the Tip can get you flying with no missed shifts, no fuss, no muss, no concern about over-revs, etc.

Looking for this style steering wheel with paddle shifters Can anyone direct me …. Thanks

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I have a 2001 C4 with a trip and I can do that in mine.

My 03 cab has the tip and I bought it as sort of a compromise for the family. Daughters are a year or two away from being able to drive. I bought a three spoke wheel from a manual with the intent of installing MB paddles but it's sitting on the bench for the moment. I couldn't get the paddles to snug up tight, so I think I'll farm it out to those who do this all the time so I don't mess it up. As it is, I've forgotten who does these conversions.

Teenage Emma Thompson's classic evaluation of the Porsche automatic, in 1984: Part I @ 2:19, and then grand finale @ 3:33 You Tube

at the end of the day it is a traditional sluchbox with a torque converter. It behaves as such and is nothing like a manual transmission.

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Oh interesting, thanks for the comment. Please tell us which 996 variant you owned with the Tiptronic, was it a Cab, or a Turbo? What were your experiences?

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My friend had a n/a 996 tip coupe that I would drive when I was in town visiting. Its not a bad transmission, but it is nothing like a manual or the pdk. It shifts kind of like my F150.

I loved the AMG Tip-S in my TT. Shifter felt like a rifle bolt

I wouldn't trade my manual for a PDK because I like the involvement. You really have to analyse what you like about driving.

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I wouldn't trade a Tip for a PDK either! A $50K transmission in a $50K car is not a good metric moving forward

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There's your answer. Don't compromise when it comes to the transmission. If you are a lover of manuals, it's a COMPLETELY different experience. And no, never owned a TIP 996 but have owned lots of autos, including the excellent DSG in our current 2020 A4 Allroad.

The Mercedes transmission in the 996.2 shifts great when you floor it. If you hold your foot down it will rev right to redline before upshifting. By that time you are traveling at "arrest me" speeds. The 996.2 trannys adapt to your driving style. If you putt around town it will feel like a normal slush box. If you drive more aggressively with acceleration and cornering it will adjust. That being said, I do find that in auto mode I wish it downshifted more at corner exit, but hey, we are talking street driving, not track. The only time I really miss a stick shift is coming off the highway onto a ramp or corner entry in curvy roads. Other than that I barely ever think about it. I haven't used manual mode as much as I should. I have a hard time getting used to the thumb switches on the steering wheel. I wasn't searching for a tip either. The car found me!

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I have a 996 Turbo with Tip and it does all that and more - it has no lift shift so the turbos don't unspool while the tip is shifting. It takes the greater part of forever to get those old school K16's spooled up again in the manual car unless you shift it with your foot on the floor. (I also have 6-speed 996 Turbo).

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This

And yes for me I prefer the Tip, I am daily driver of the 996.2, or almost daily since I have another car for rain, airport trips, home depot, offroad, etc. It is understandable that the weekend driver / occasional enthusiast prefers the manual trans for more "fun" like it used to be. But for me the Tip actually makes the car more enjoyable. I guess I've found the Tip to be just as much fun if........ If you understand the Tip doesn't know if hills or curves are coming up, so just like manual it takes some human action to make it perform like a sports car. Practice. Certainly practice shifting manually; but that is essentially only to practice DOWNshifting manually. I believe auto mode is fine with no important deficiencies for upshifting if you control the Tip with the accelerator pedal. Practice. Using the accelerator pedal to downshift rather than using the buttons. For example when making a right turn on normal city streets, I can blip the pedal the proper amount, and at the right time to cause it to downshift into 2nd gear as smoothly as if it was a manual trans.

I had a 205 turbo s tip. Did not like it! I also have a 2003 C4 cab and love it. I now have a 2004 turbo cab and love it. No Tip for me. I guess I just like shifting...

My wife's 997 is tipt, and she loves it. The many times I drive it with her in it, I don't drive aggressively so the tipt works out for just cruising and long drives. But, for my cars, I prefer a 6 speed. I have the occasions to drive several 997 with a 6 speed, and the experience is much more of what I like in a Porsche. I am not a Purist, but I woudn't buy a Tipt for myself.

When I was looking for a 996 in the fall, I reluctantly went and test dove a beautiful 2002 silver C2 coupe, Tiptronic. I wanted to absolutely try it out before I absolutely dismissed it. It drove very well...feeling far too much like a normal, everyday vehicle though. Bought my 6 speed and am VERY happy.

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I have a 996.2 with a Tip - I hardly ever use D mode, I'm in Manual mode and shift with the thumb switches. The one tricky thing is when I start in 1st, and I want to do "max acceleration", and I'm starting off in a turn, I'll start off and immediately "slap" the shifter into M mode, then keep accelerating hard and then slap it back in M mode, then shift manually to second when I want. Try it! It's a hoot! Starting off quickly in a straight line I just leave it in M...

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That was my exact feeling with our old 2001 996.1 Tip -- my wife loved it, but the Tip made if feel like a Honda to me. I vastly prefer my current 2000 6-sp (which also benefits, driving feel wise, from being 2wd vs awd on our 2001 Tip) -- not even close. My wife loves driving the 6-sp, but would still rather have the Tip (for hills/traffic). I think the 996.2 Tip is much improved over the 996.1 Tip we had, so it's definitely important to evaluate Tip on the 996 version you plan to buy (.1 vs .2).