Question - WHY Tiptronic Over 6 Speed Man ?

Amigo's, Not to start any negative flaming, but sone recently asked me "Dad, why would someone buy a Tiptronic 911" I replied other than heavy traffic driving, I truly couldn't think of another reason ? Could some of you Tip drives enlighten me. Thanks in advance

there is none...unless u don't kno how to drive stick or burn clutches twice a fortnight..

Autocross or short twisty tracks. I forgot if it was Pano or other mag, but they did a comparison between a tip and manual in otherwise identical Porsches driven by professional drivers. I can't remeber if it was two TT's or two GT2's! Man, it sucks to get old!!. Anyway, I DO remember that the Tip excelled when there was a lot of shifting involved and turned in faster times by both the test drivers than when they drove the 6 speed. The conclusion of the article was that if shifting fast is the issue, no human can beat the tip.

It was 2 tt's. If you aren't an expert, the tip will be faster on the track with more turns and shorter straights, particularly if there is any area which requires a downshift to first. I have had both in different Porsches. Until you experience how well the tip in full auto works when pushed hard, you won't understand. It downshifts under braking, upshifts at redline, can upshift in sustained corners while unwinding the wheel, makes it easy to steer with weight transfer, and transforms back into a normal automatic the moment you go back to sane driving. AS

Hurley Haywood (pro Porsche guy and Brumos dealer) wrote the Pano article about the tip, preferring it on most jaunts in the TT. Other reasons to go tip: bad knee or hip on the left leg. For me, I got my '99 996 Cab for street/city driving, and just eased on into the driving habit. When it came time to replace the '99 with the '04, I opted for the 6. Much more 'fun' factor with the stick, and took no time to get up to speed with it. No regrets having the tip in the '99, but there are many reasons folks opt for the tip. At one point, I believe Porsche was selling at least 30% tips. Who knows today. But it is a great option for those who either don't enjoy the control/shifting factor, or who may not be physically able to use the left leg for it.

Even if there's heavy traffic, I'd still rather have the manual! I drove my C4 for 3 years as a daily commuter car in Boston traffic, and at no point did I ever wish it was a tip! (ok, maybe once or twice ) The simple fact is, once you're ready to have some fun, the fun/feel of the 6 spd WAY MORE than offsets the negatives of driving it in traffic.

^ hey teflon..what car did u end up buyin 2 replace the c4?

Sorry, but I agree that the 6 speed is far better than the tip for all driving conditions. You have far better control over the car at all speeds and driving style and save on brakes. Rear wheel HP is greater and it's just more fun to drive. I also question that any tip could outperform the same car with a 6 speed unless the driver is not good at manual transmissions. I can shift mine faster that the coverter will shift the Tip.

Traffic, Tip is excellent when in traffic... Since all my previous cars were manual...I used to question a Tiptronic, overall I like it...and now that my car is SC'd I don't look back. Here are two pretty fast tip cars...

One Porsche, wife driver = Tip, unless you get her one for herself!

I was seeking a Tip because of the road I live on. It is VERY steep and bumpy and you literally have to crawl up it. The Tip is geared lower in first and I test drove several in both configs (Tip and 6-sp). I fell in love with the Tip. You get the best of both worlds - you get to drive it in auto for "traffic" situations and you get to shift the thing like a manual with the thumb shifters. At this point, I rarely use full auto. The thing shifts so flawlessly and effortlessly in "M" auto that I doubt I will ever go back to a clutch. Once you get used to it, you won't want to go back, either. The computer control on it is so perfect, I swear this is the future of driving. IMHO, you clutch burners are livin' in the past! No offense intended... One other reason - IF the car ever develops the infamous RMS leak, it will not foul the clutch as there isn't one. Luckily, my car is completely leak free after 5 years.

I loved the clutch in my previous 996 and will get a manual gearbox for my 3rd car next year, however, with a pair of baby boys and a wife who never got the hang of a clutch it only made sense to go Tip. I really enjoy the M setting and sitting in traffic crawling up Aveune Road an hour a day is far more relaxing now. Am taking the car to Dunnville next week for a track day, should be interesting to see how I enjoy it in 1) a 4wd car and 2) Tip gearbox.

I'll never forget taking my 85 year old great aunt to lunch in a brand new Alfa 164LS with a 6 speed about 10 years ago. On the drive to the resteraunt she told me "Jim, you've got a good job. You should really get yourself an automatic." I still laugh when I think about it. My second car is a 98 993 cab with a tip and it's not because I can't drive a stick. I have all the fun I want in my track car. When I'm on the street I'm not interested in pretending I'm on the track. I'm more than happy to just cruise around with the top down, enjoying the sun and ,with any luck, the company of a pretty blonde. Which brings me to the real reason to have a tip. Jim

I've taken mine to the track and the tip works great in Manual and Auto mode.

For me the performance difference (+ or -) between the two types is somewhat irrelevant. I drive a stick because driving is (for me) a tactile experience. Managing to execute a smooth downshift leading up to a bend is a thing of beauty. Having an automatic takes something away from that. I had a similar discussion with a friend that owns an M3 with the paddle shifters. I suggested that I might have considered that if SMT/SMG had been an option. I was rather surprised when he told me that if he were to do it again he would opt for the full manual for the reasons I noted above. I do have an automatic car though - it's a Mini-van Barry

If you live on flat land then yes even in traffic Manual is better...but unless you live in an area with tons of ups and downs and heavy traffic then manual can get very stressful. I have to go up this one steep road to get home which is 1/4 of a mile and it takes 30 minutes cause of bumper to bumper traffic. So unless you have to do that 2 or 3 times a day don't say that tip sucks. Plus i've driven both and after 1st gear the acceleration is pretty much the same. I have driven both. 1st gear has more kick in manual but you'll get over it. It's just that whole thing, if you don't suffer as much as us then your not in.

Tip or Manual, doesn't matter...it's still a Porsche! We're all happy!

Exactly....its sort of like arguing over what is the best color to paint your plane (which I have witnessed)....we're all lucky.

I have one of each, love them both. I use my 996 as a LD commuter, and appreciate the tip for that reason. Plus the tip provides some unique and interesting driving dynamics that I really enjoy. It is WAY more than simply an automatic transmission.

manual=fun automatic=no fun There are few exceptions like heavy traffic/bad knees, ankles, legs, back, etc.

Very well put. I'd still take either...but prefer my 6speed.

I don't think I have heard anyone say that the TIPs suck. If you gave me one I certainly would not turn it down - it is still a great car. It all comes down to what you want it for. If you commute in heavy traffic with a lot of hills etc. and find it tiresome then I can understand the selection (I assume that you know how to use the handbrake to avoid having to jump on the clutch). However, since you live in London the answer to your daily 30 minute up-hill slog is easy - but yourself a motorcycle! There really is no faster way around London and your 30 minute climb would probably be over with in about a minute. Barry

My complaint with the Tip is that it is missing a gear! You seldom use first and when you're tracking with other 996s, the 6 speeds can gently pull away from you. The slight change in gear ratio for a speed and probably some RWHP loss from the auto make the difference. Although small it will show up by the end of a lap. Maybe David Murray or Randy Pobst could still dominate, but I am not good enough. Besides its just a DE and I not really racing! I have, however, never missed a shift, nor overrevved from picking the wrong gear. When I drive on the street I drive in both auto and shift modes. It's comfortable and enjoyable. Would I get another? Depends on which model I get. Maybe 55/45 for, on a TT, and 45/55 on a straight C2. The TT has the extra power that I wouldn't lose on the Tip.

i happen to have an M3 with SMG2 in addition to an 03 boxster S 6speed the M3 is a hugely comptetant and fun car to drive daily, as is the boxster, but there is nothing like getting supermooth F1 style downshifts with the m3, every time, and then when you hit traffic, slap it in automatic mode and its just like an auto , without the power leeching torque converter once F1 style trannys like SMG2 get smooth enough , they should eventually replace the torque converter entirely, 5-10 years down the line. that said, when i was speccing my 2005 Turbo S Cabriolet.... it wasn't an issue at all, 6 speed. that should tell you something

very well put. This is why I decided to get a tip

so what im hearing is tiptronic is for the ladies and their femine husbands!! P.S.race cars dont come automatic, GT3 cup cars dont come automatic. another example of the feminising of north America like Bill maher would say

All I know is that my wife, teenage son and teenage daughter have no problem with the 6 speed. Possibly some people just can't get the knack of the shifting with a clutch. For them the Tip is best. I drive in heavy traffic all day, up and down hills, stop and go, etc and I don't even notice I am shifting. As far as wear on the clutch...2 teenage drivers and still going stong 40,000 later. I just can't see giving up performance by going the way of the Tip. But if you just can't drive a stick properly, you're better off with the automatic. That's my 2 cents.

well said..all the ladies in the house say owwwwwwww...say ow ow...

so what im hearing is tiptronic is for the ladies and their femine husbands!! P.S.race cars dont come automatic, GT3 cup cars dont come automatic. another example of the feminising of north America like Bill maher would say I showed my wife your little note and she suggested you stop by whenever you're in the area. There's a nice winding road near us that she will challenge you on.

she sounds nice..lets see some pics!!

Interesting to see how some manual shift owners look down upon tip owners as if tip owners do not know how to shift properly. I do prefer manuals and own nothing but mauals except SUVs but dont assume people buy tips/autos because they dont know how to drive a stick. Remeber that there is no clutch you have to manually enagage in f1 cars either.

yes there is a clutch in f1 for starts. and you can shift any car without the clutch by backing off on the gas. not that its a good way to do it

I am curious. We have a 6 speed manual 996. We also have a Mercedes ML with Mercedes version of the Tiptronic transmision. While it technically works, there seems to be a total lack of "feeling" when shifting the gears and a noticable amount of delay. While I know that it is very hard to compare the transmissions of a sports car and truck, I'd be interested in peoples opinions on the "feel" of the 996. To make it more clear, we had an auto 928 and often "shifted" the gears ourselves. While there was no clutch, there was still a connection when going from 2 to 3 for example. The Mercedes on the other hand feels completely electronic, a sensation that I'm not as fond of (for enjoyment... I'm sure it works 10 times better). So, does the 996 tip feel overly "electronic", or is there still some sort of mechanical feel to the system? Jeff

Having just gone from a manual gearbox to the tip gearbox in a 996 there are obviously changes in the "feel" of the car. Also going to a C4S , the car feels heavier but alot more solid then the Targa. There is certainly some mechanical feel to the Tip transmission under hard or spirited driving but then there is also a smooth feel while just cruising to work in traffic. The shifting is smooth but not as lifeless as the ML we had years ago and "feels" better then the BMW system we had on our 540. I look forward to tracking the car this Monday at Dunnville, a very tight circut, will be a good test of the system. I intend to get back into a 6speed for track days anyway, but it will be fun to throw the tip around.

Carbon is correct. No comparison between an ML and a 996 Tip. My Cab is a TipS and I enjoy not lifting when shifting in manual mode.. I like downshifting approaching a curve or stoplight. I always drive in manual mode and start off in 1st gear. It is definitely different than std. but has it's own benefits. Also the stats for a Tip and a manual are not that different if you check.

It is definitely different than std. but has it's own benefits. Also the stats for a Tip and a manual are not that different if you check. Porsche's own performance figures show almost 10% less performance when using the TipS. That's a pretty substancial difference if you ask me.. That's like lowering your horsepwer from 330 to 300.

"Porsche's own performance figures show almost 10% less performance when using the TipS." That's straight line performance. Put the two cars on the track and the difference, according to race car drivers like Hurley Haywood, is negligible. Tip's advantage on the track is that it's easier to keep the car stable. check some of the posts above on that.

I prefer sticks over tips, but I do not look down on the tip. However, since my car has PSE, I cannot imagine having as much fun with a tip. I have noticed that I have changed my driving since installing the PSE just to hear that sweet, sweet sound. I have also, on occassion, used it in place of a blast of the horn. Porsche as musical instrument?

I went with the TIP for the same reason that I bought a cab. Flexibility, so that I can drive the car every day, enjoying it for the situation that I happen to be in. Sunny day in the mountains - top down, manual mode Rainy day on the freeway, talking on the phone & drinking coffee - top up, auto mode (and a whole lot of circumstances in between, that I can re-cofigure for in seconds). Do I lose ultimate performance by having a cab or by having a TIP? Perhaps, but the overall package is still quite satisfying for any situation I find myself in. I drove manual performance cars for many years. Do I miss "rowing the gears" ? Not really. Keeping my left foot still and my hands on the wheel is different, but not worse. If you ever dreamed of shifting while your right foot was planted, you ought to actually test drive a TIP and have a first hand experience before nay-saying. It's not for everyone, but I'm sold.

PSE sounds just as good with a Tip...in Manual mode it's the same sweet sounds.

i prefer a stick over tip - generally. however, there are times during stop-go traffic (especially on a hill) when i might prefer a tip. that said....my girlfriend and i keep tossing around the idea of getting a 996. in that case - despite my best efforts to teach her a stick - she'd be more comfortable with a tip. and since we'd both be driving it, i can handle a tip in the garage. i'd rather have a tip 996 than no 996 at all....unless i'm 'stuck' with my 951!!!!

Yes, but what about the sound of rev-matching, or even pushing in the clutch and blipping the throttle as a signal to that pedestrian who appears to be considering crossing the intersection on a "no walk" signal. I view it as the Porsche equivalent of "loud pipes save lives"

You can Blip the tip...

No joke? How? "Blip the Tip" sounds like a campaign or marketing slogan . . .

Thread from antoher board...on blipping the Tip..man that sounds nasty... Blip you tip...

Sounds like a modern name for a traditional, albeit not very reliable, form of birth control

HAHAHAHA