996 carrera 4 tiptronic s ????

Can anyone help me ? What's the s'

It mean it has the buttons on the steering wheel to change gears.

Are you looking at some private sellers discription for a 4S model with tiptronic transmission? All 996 tiptronics have the buttons on the steering wheel. Their available function improves in the later years where even if in automatic mode the buttons can be used to change gears even if not in manual mode. The first years of the 996 tiptronics have to be in manual mode to use the steering wheel buttons. The S model cars have better goodies in them.

ah ha. Thanks very much, so its the 2000 update of the 8 second m shift. Makes sense thanks. Terrible design though. I've been thinking of making some flappy paddles for mine instead. some alum and some micro switches. I could do better in half an hour in my garage than Porsche managed to do. Is it me or do those buttons suck?. id expect to see that on a MPV.

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This is where I get confused, Mine will shift when not in m so does that mean I have the faster newer tip? and therefore is my 996 a mk2 ?. thanks for the help.

Please forgive me for not knowing where the year change to mkII was I've got the 1999 mkI tip so eh. Somebody else will pipe in with what year the mkII started. Probably around 2002 or so.

Yep - '02.

When my Indi dropped my tip to do the IMS and subsequently trans flush/filter, he stated I have the standard Tip, which was made by VW; Tip S's were "supposedly" contracted out to Daimler. Yes beefier, better, and even use a different ATF. But, in my 00 Tip, I can change gears in Auto Mode....so I think there may have been some changes in the works even from 99 Tips and onward

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The wife's Outlander has the Paddles similar to EVO's. And FVD also has a nice wheel with the paddles that looks Ok. IMO, it's a luxury to have the " +/- " available to both thumbs which alllows for shifting ambidexterously, whereas with paddles...the "+" is on the right hand and the " - " is on the left hand on the Mitsu. Either one just takes some getting use to.

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Yup I can change gears in "D" also it will hold for 8sec. Mine is also a 2000. I believe only the 99 had that missing option.

Wow... im confused mine an 01 by the way. Thanks all.

I don't like the way the tips like to start in 2nd then climb through the gears and then sit in top. Surely long term this is not good?.

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If you want it to start out in first, you can just click (-) on the Tip switch, or put your foot all the way down when accelerating from a start.

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Blame US fuel economy laws.

The tiptronic cars for mk1 and mk2 have completely different transmissions. In the US, 1999, 2000 and 2001 cars are considered Mk1. They have the "fried egg" GT1/boxster style headlamp and the 3.4L motor for easy identification. They use a very old school ZF sourced tiptronic box that is similar to units used 90s audis and VWs, not a huge fan of this box in terms of feel, but it is relatively reliable as older design automatics go. 2002, 2003 & 2004 model C2s and 2005 model Turbo S and C4S are consdered Mk2 cars in the US. They have the turbo headlight and a 3.6L motor. These cars use a Mercedes Benz electronic 5 speed tiptronic trans, which I have had a lot of experience with and which I consider to be one of the best transmissions ever made. I have seen it work reliably in very high torque applications in AMG cars, much higher than anything the 911s are putting down, and it has even proven reliable (and quick) in highly modified turbos pushing 700+ rwhp. There are 3 different versions for the 996, a high torque AWD version for the turbo, a lower torque RWD version for the C2, and a lower torque AWD version for the C4S. I can't say enough good things about this transmission. The ability to kick down 3 ratios near instantly before entering a corner, while braking, is just amazing, and you will never bounce off the limiter on 1-2 or need to short shift. It's a lot of fun but you need to keep it over 3500-4K, fully locked up, if you feel like driving and not just grinding through a commute. From idle to 3K it feels like all autos, it does have a torque converter, and when left in D with a lazy foot you will be below 3K all day and never experience the car, so don't drive in D. There are paddle wheels available from FVD and others, but I actually like the toggles, they are very very fast. It could not possibly be difficult to fit paddles if you were truly so inclined. The "S" has to do with electronic features. Here's the article from the Porsche Knowledge Base: The highly advanced Tiptronic S transmission is available in all new 911 models as an option. This versatile gearbox combines fully automatic five-speed operation with the capability of manual control. In automatic mode, Tiptronic S has different gearshift patterns ranging from “Economy” to “Sport”. Depending on driving style and the topography of the road, Tiptronic S selects one of these five patterns and applies the optimum sequence of gearshift points. Even in automatic mode, the rapid gearshift action ensures a fast and agile response. Within a short space of time, the driver will develop a feel for the system and learn to influence the gearshifts using the throttle alone. In manual mode, the driver can change gear by hand using rocker controls located on the steering wheel. Simply press up to change up and down to change down. The system responds smoothly and immediately to every driver input with virtually no interruption in drive. This race-derived function is particularly useful when performing an overtaking maneuver. If there is no manual input for a period of eight seconds, the system reverts to automatic mode. The overall performance of the Tiptronic S compares favorably with that of a standard Porsche manual gearbox. In addition to the above, Tiptronic S offers a range of useful functions. When the car is started, a warm-up program increases the speed of the engine to bring the catalytic converters up to temperature. If the car is driven assertively, the system automatically selects the “Sport” gearshift pattern without any need to use the kick-down function. In contrast with conventional automatic transmissions, Tiptronic S will not perform an up-shift before entering a corner, only to shift down on exit because the speed has dropped off. This ensures that acceleration out of corners is smooth and uninterrupted. Mid-corner gearshifts are also prevented thereby enhancing stability and safety. Under heavy braking, the system shifts down a gear to use the engine's own compression to help slow the car. An incline sensor improves uphill acceleration and makes better use of engine braking on descent. If traction is lost under braking in the wet, the system automatically shifts up to restore lateral grip and bring the car back into line.

I have an '01 C4 tip and have enjoyed every second. Nice to be able to change gear when not in the manual mode but just a heads up, you will accidentally change gear while turning. It just happens. The buttons are not in the best spot. Would have also been nice if one was up and the other down.

@htny nice bit of reading there thanks. @lazydays yeah I like the box when I'm thrashing it but in town it feels a bit laid back at times. totally agree about the buttons that's why I thought of doing some paddle shift. I have a highly modded Smart car that has paddle shift 107bhp in a car that weighs as much as a box of corn flakes, She's so much fun with the paddles.

Thanks htny. Your posted referencem mentions incline sensors for the trans to figure how to handle shifting. I've wondered if there is some sort of lateral sensor since the while cornering the trans likes to hold the gear it entered at. Anyway the things I don't like about buttons is when in tight turns I'd have to practice to know where the + - taps are. The idea of practice involves taking the eyes off the road negotiating tight spots eh yah right. For tight turns after going manual to downshift to 1st or 2nd I'm left with go back to automatic for an up shift or spaz out for figuring how to get 1st. Oh well tiptronics aren't too good for tight turns as far as I've seen.

That information is regarding Tip S only, and some features referenced are specific to the Mercedes units. Almost all automatics have "hill sensors", basically to keep you from lugging the motor, the assumption being that automatic drivers don't know which gear they should be in, an assumption which I find to be correct for the most part. Pardon the advice, but my recommendation to you regarding your specific question is never to shift in a corner, up or down, in any kind of car, manual or automatic or tiptronic or sequential or DSG or PDK, until you've taken at least a few high performance driver's education classes and learned how that action effects weight transfer and balance. At anything less than an advanced level of education and experience, if the wheel is turned far enough that your hand can't differentiate up from down on the wheel, DON'T SHIFT! Brake before the turn to the appropriate speed for the specific corner, select the correct gear before the turn, THEN turn in with steady throttle application. Don't lift, don't shift. Especially not down into 1st gear in the middle of a turn. Progressive throttle on the way out and when the wheel returns to center you can shift up again as necessary. Can you eventually learn to trail brake and shift deep into corners in a tip? sure. Not on the street though, spins have much more significant consequences out there and there are no awards given out for endangering yourself or the public on public roads. Plus you can't put both feet in on a spin in an auto That having been said, a flaw of the mk1 tip is the ones i've tried will not hold a gear in a turn at part throttle in auto mode (I don't like the mk1 tip, it's like a different car to me, so excuse my bias). Neither trans will bounce off a limiter and will upshift at redline on 1-2, so remember to plan throttle inputs accordingly. Your trans will upshift from 1-2 when you hit redline, so be careful not to allow this in the middle of a turn. Sign up for a DE Pac996! It will change the way you feel about your car PS. I have never, ever changed gears accidentally in a turn on any tip car. Nt sure why your hands would be off the wheel rim while turning

Shift in corner = Coast = BANG.