tiptronic or manual for red jane

I'm shortly buying a 2002 996 and want an tippy auto box but my hubby wants a manual shift says their far superior..surely an auto is much easier to use, just as fast ...lets face it we are not all mike shoomaccers and far better in town..I need help what are the pros and cons pleez. Thanks Red Jane

6spd on a Porsche will be MUCH better for resale IMO, not to manage the "fun factor" that is priceless. To be honest, the transmission on the 996 (as long as the clutch is good) is extremely easy to opperate and VERY forgiving - its near impossible to stall in 1st. I'd try driving both, and I think you'll be surprised how civil the manual trans is (when you want it to be).

I am biased towards the 6 spd, but I'll try to help. 6 spd 1. it's what sports cars are "supposed" to have. 2. More fun, gives a higher sense of communication with the car. 3. More control over the car. 4. I suppose more work, although I consider the work fun. tiptronic 1.It's what "modern" sports cars now have, albeit paddle shifers. 2.In manual mode, can have as much communication as the 6 spd. Less fun, though. 3. Car controls more of the driving, rather than the driver controlling. 4. less work. In my opinion, this would be the only factor where I would agree to a tip. If you live in the city, mostly stop and crawl traffic or at least a lot of it, then go for the tip. If you've never driven a stick before, it's easy to learn. And, I agree, the 996 6-spd is VERY forgiving.

My 996 tip is the my first car I've owned with any form of auto trans. All past have been manuals which I loved for the "driving experience". Since I use the 996 as a daily driver, I haven't regretted going with the tip. For 95% of driving time, it's mindless auto mode, with a quick click down any time a punch is needed. For the 5% of the time "spirited" driving, just push the shifter to "M" and click away without taking your hands from the steering wheel. Very convenient and very different than driving any other auto trans car. Incidently, the 996 tip has a really nice feature that allows you to force a downshift from the steering wheel without touching the shifter. The downshift is nearly immediate (faster than engaging a clutch for most non-professionals) and then 10 secs after you settle the dynamics it will automatically revert to auto mode. Very nice for passing or hitting an offramp at high speed. The comment about tips having worse re-sale is absolutely correct. There is simply less demand. But use that to your advantage as you work a deal for the MY2002 that you are searching for. You should be able to pick it up for a few thousand $ less than a comparable 6-speed. Let us all know what you decide, and remember to post pictures when you have yours! -jerry

I live in the city and despite the traffic and the fact that the C4S is our only car, I would still not even consider the Tip. It's personal preference of course, but I just feel that a Porsche is all about driver input and communication, some of which is lost with the Tip.

Here's a very relevant post from another list on the same subject. <a href="http://www.funcarsonline.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=996&Number=61251&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31 &fpart=1" target="_blank">http://www.funcarsonline.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=996&Number=61251&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31 &fpart=1</a>

Thanks for the info guys...I've been trying the tip and isn't very good it's so smooth you have difficulty feeling any acceleration my mercedes 320 diesel auto feels almost as quick. Jane needs speeeed so it's the manual for me. Thanks Red Jane

Who is the majority driver? Before we bought our 01 we went out and tried out both tip and manual. My wife vastly perferred the tip but agreed that since I would be driving the majority of the time it should be a manual. Before anyone goes off the deep end my wife is diabetic and has foot problems so driving at all is more of a task for her than for me. She lets me drive her to/from work each day even.

I wouldn't even buy a Porsche if I wanted an automatic transmission. May as well buy a Lexus.

Seeing stick as the only choice for a Porsche smacks of "Moldy Fig Clutch Fundamentalism" and not based on reality. Perhaps those people should spend some time driving the roads Tip owners drive everyday, and also drive Tip on the track to get a sense of what it and they can do. Compare times: you might be surprised. Some 40% of Porsche owners choose Tip worldwide. That doesn't mean they are any less enthusiastic about performance driving, nor any less skillful at performance driving than their stick shift friends. Given the often poorer driving conditions for Tip drivers doesn't it make a lot of sense to spend more of your driving time enjoying your Porsche, rather than less?

I don't see traffic as an excuse not to buy a stick at all, unless you have a bad knee or something. But I agree that someone who is skilled with a Tip can deliver great track times, and be just as in tume with the car.

I love my 6sp but with the traffic being so rediculous here in the UK, my next car will be with triptronic. Sorry but sitting on a motorway traffic jam is no fun with manual shift. Cheers, Scouser

The Tip gear changes seem so smooth and uniform there is no real feeling of acceleration through the gears I guess Porsche have got it too perfect, does anyone have another fast auto and know what I mean?? Red Jane

The tip transmission has 2 different personalities...leave it in "D" and "drive it like a lexus" for your commute. Or flip the shifter to "M" and drive it like a manual, keeping the revs above 4000 rpm for instantaneous response. You won't have the thrill of heel/toe shifting, but you'll also be able to attack corners on rough country roads with out taking your hands off the wheel. Safety Fast. The manual proponents have some good points about feeling connected to the car. But the tip has its advantages as well, even for those of us with two strong healthy legs. I'm not trying to talk you out of the manual. That is a fine choice too. But your repeated questions make me think that you're trying to justify getting a tip, but you have reservations. Question for you is, are your reservations based on the thrill you'll be able to seek as a driver, or what you think other people will think of you for having a Porsche w/tip? Test drive a tip in "M" mode on some twisty fast road. Then make an informed decision based on works best for you. Either way you'll be in a car that is more fun than 99% of the cars out there.