[EPIQTodd]

I've owned both a tiptronic Boxster S and a 6-speed Boxster S. I switched because I hated the transmission lag on the track with the tiptronic. I'm chasing down a friend in his '01 S (same year and everything) and staying right behind him on the corners, even gaining a bit, then on the straight, I might as well be standing still, as I would mash the pedal just like he did but I was quickly 6 cars back, then 10, then 15, etc. The torque converter does lose power, and when you are trying to get maximum performance out of the car, you will not get it the way you will with manual transmission. I was tracking a lot and still am, so I had to go with manual this time, and I'm having a great time with it - far more challenging. All you have to do with tiptronic is worry about brake points and carrying momentum through the corners. Adding shift points, using gearing to slow you down, etc. all adds a new dimension to the track.

Now, that said, no matter how awesome you are with a clutch and manual transmission you will NEVER be faster at shifting than a tiptronic, which changes gears in something like 0.2 seconds. In a drag race (provided you overrode the 2nd gear start mode that the tiptronic has) you'd have the shifting much faster in the tiptronic. I don't think it would be faster, though, because it is a low torque car and some power is lost with the torque converter of the auto tranny. Cars like the 500hp turbo have no problem and are faster with the tiptronic, and frankly I'd rather have a tiptronic with all that power so I don't break my clutch!

If it will be your commuter car, get a tiptronic if you have any traffic around your place, as even with a nice smooth manual transmission, it's still annoying as can be in traffic on the freeway.