97-2001: What are the MUST HAVE options?

[IceBox]

Jeannot, I didn't say you can't get it that way, only that the porsche gods would get you if you did...hmnnnn.

[Adam]

If getting a TIP is a bad idea on a boxster S, what do you think of all those 911 turbos floating around with tips. It's crazy how many there are.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Adam

If getting a TIP is a bad idea on a boxster S, what do you think of all those 911 turbos floating around with tips. It's crazy how many there are.

Well I don't see tip tronic shifting as any different than a car with paddle shifters like the Ferraris. In those Italians you can switch to full auto gearbox which seems to be the future unfortunately.

But as for "watered down" Porsches, they have to sell cars. Which means people who have allot of $$$$ and know very little about driving or racing hisotories will buy their mid life crisis Porsche. And the 911 interiors reflect that plush Lexus taste of the majority of Porsche owners.
Doctors and Lawyers who want to pick up young girls think they will do a better job at that if they are driving in 911 Turbo CABRIOLET. Even though they will be sucessful at picking up the girls they will have to do it looking ridiculus. But I guess I would pick the girls too

[RandallNeighbour]

Let's not compare a 911 Turbo with a Boxster when it comes to torque and HP. The tip trans. in a 911 Turbo does take the power down a notch, but that lowered notch is still quite higher than a Boxster S. IMO, the 911 Turbo can afford it and the driver can still enjoy a very quick car.

Moreover, I'm THANKFUL those doctors driving the Tip versions of them are not in 6 speeds or they'd kill themselves AND their young girlfriends! One cannot enjoy one's midlife crisis if he does not live to see his 60's.

Perfectlap, you are absolutely right though. It all comes down to what people want to buy and pay for... if it was bright pink paint with glitter in the clearcoat, doggonit, they'd make it a base factory color and put the car on billboards to advertise it's available. It's all about making more Euros!

[Jeannot]

Icebox:
oops, sorry, I fully agree with you on this one

Perfectlap:
Hmmh..totally disagree, paddle shifters on a Ferrari can't be compared with tiptro.
While true, it can be put in auto mode, a robotized manual gearbox is actually faster than manual. You can't say the same about the tiptro which is an auto gearbox.
Porsche will hopefully soon catch up with the DSG, apparently featured in the upcoming 997 turbo...

[Brucelee]

The reality is that the Tip is a very fine transmission and will work very well in a Boxster S. There is a market/demand for the Tip and for the manual. It is a preference issue IMHO.

Frankly, as a dealer it is easier to sell the Tip here in SOCAL>

[DIAZ]

A tiptronic transmission in a porsche cannot be compared to a sequential manual, or other f1 style gearboxes such as the ferrari or lambo, except for the cambiocorsa in the maseratis which is jujst terrible. A tiptronic porsche gearbox is an automatic transmission with better electronic technology that allows you to override the auto and make it go into a a gear you select. A porsche tip is better than a regular automatic gearbox becuase it has such technology as sensers and servos that detect if you are in a corner so it wont shift gears and you will lose the torque and power, which would make you lose the grip. If you are looking for an automatic that allows you to downshift into curves and hold the gears go for a tiptronic, but if you really want to puch the car and feel why a porsche is a drivers car go for the manual. The boxster just handles so well with its mid engine and near to perfect weight distribution, that its only flaw is that its underpowered for the potential it has. This is why porsches top of the line car, the Carrera GT is a mid engine supercar. Once you really start driving the boxster you will see how glad you were you got it in manual. I have seen boxsters with a 3.4 996 engine woop all other 911's around the track. I am in the same position as you, I want to buy a boxster, it just handles so well. So look for a low mileage one with a service history and if you can run a paint check to make sure that it has all original paint. A car with all original paint means the car has never had any paintwork done, so the body has never been damaged. While all the used car dealers tell you the car is carfax certified, if possible get an 120 point inspection from a porsche dealer for about 200 dollars, but then you'll be able to separate a perfect car from one that needs work done to it, because fixing up a box would be pretty expensive.