987 owners...no offence

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Daniel R

I have never driven a PDK, so I am probably not in the best position to comment. I have driven a 996 turbo with tip however, and it was, in my opinion, not a sports car experience in the least. For a start, due to the massive torque of the turbo, the tip always starts in 2nd gear. If you give it enough gas it then drops back to first, but being in 2nd obviously wastes valuable time, and is just plain annoying. Not to mention the whole changing at inappropriate times etc...

The PDK certainly sounds very appealing in theory. The fast shift times are impossible to match even by an experienced driver. It is most likely the perfect thing for traffic light drags and highway racing. On a track however, it could well be a different story.

I'll keep my manual box for now, and when the guy in the car next to me flies past with his PDK he might smile for a second or two because his car is faster. I can promise you that I will be smiling the whole way, with every perfect shift and heel-toe down-changing and balancing the clutch just right to get the perfect launch.

Ultimately, I own sports cars for the thrill of driving. Take out the shifts, then all I do is accelerate, brake and steer. Perhaps in years to come some technology will be available that reads the corner and steers the perfect racing line to the 1/32". Give it a few more years and cars will accelerate and brake all by themselves too. No doubt cars will be much faster, but where does that leave driving enthusiasts, on a Disney ride??

Good points. But, FYI, the TipS is programmed to start in 2nd, even in the 2.5 Boxster. This is mostly to increase range (MPG). You can manually shift into 1st at launch, or mash the wow pedal and the car will downshift.

Cheers!

[tawheed]

Just wanted to drop in my $.02 on the 986 vs 987 debate.. The 986S is my first Porsche. When I was looking at Boxsters, I was hoping to somehow be able to swing a 987 as I thought it was far better looking. After owning the 986S for some time I've come to truly appreciate the shape and styling. Looking at it from different angles I constantly find new things about the design that I hadn't previously noticed.

I thought the 986 didn't have any presence next to a 996 but I was completely wrong, it has presence - just in it's unique, unassuming way.

After owning thirty or so vehicles, all I have to say is "Thank you, Porsche." I now understand why people own Porsche after Porsche.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Good points. But, FYI, the TipS is programmed to start in 2nd, even in the 2.5 Boxster. This is mostly to increase range (MPG). You can manually shift into 1st at launch, or mash the wow pedal and the car will downshift.

Cheers!

It's strange because my wife's Audi A4 S-line has a Tiptronic also, but it always starts off in 1st gear (I can see it on the dash display), even in regular driving mode. To save gas, in D mode, it just upshifts faster than in Sport mode, but it starts off in 1st. Wonder why the Porsche tip or pdk starts in 2nd.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

It's strange because my wife's Audi A4 S-line has a Tiptronic also, but it always starts off in 1st gear (I can see it on the dash display), even in regular driving mode. To save gas, in D mode, it just upshifts faster than in Sport mode, but it starts off in 1st. Wonder why the Porsche tip or pdk starts in 2nd.

The only thing the Porsche and Audi Tiptronics have in common is the name. Starting in 1st or 2nd is a software programming difference and a manufacturer's preference. GM is very good a getting vastly different behaviors out of the same transmission in different cars. They all suck, but to different degrees

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

The only thing the Porsche and Audi Tiptronics have in common is the name. Starting in 1st or 2nd is a software programming difference and a manufacturer's preference. GM is very good a getting vastly different behaviors out of the same transmission in different cars. They all suck, but to different degrees

That's why I thought it strange that Porsche, the more performance oriented car, would have their Tip programmed to start in 2nd.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

That's why I thought it strange that Porsche, the more performance oriented car, would have their Tip programmed to start in 2nd.

You could drive a Viper in just 3rd gear in just about any situation, 0 mph to whatever.

Maybe Porsche felt it's not detrimental to driving dynamics to start in 2nd in all but the most heavy footed situations. Turbocharged engines like the Audi 2.0 are usually pretty weak at lower RPM, so maybe Audi felt driveability wasn't acceptable from a start in 2nd gear. I know I'd hate it in my WRX.

[blue2000s]

I found this interesting from cars.com. The 986 has more occupant space than the 987. Maybe they're wrong?

Specifications- 2010 Porsche Boxster S - 2000 Porsche Boxster S
Exterior length - 172.1 " - 171.0 "
Exterior body width - 70.9 " - 70.1 "
Exterior height - 50.9 " - 50.8 "
Engine - 3.4L H-6 - 3.2L H-6
Horsepower - 310 @ 6,400 rpm - 250 @ 6,250 rpm
Torque - 266 @ 4,400 rpm - 225 @ 4,500 rpm
Fuel economy - city - 19 mpg - 18 mpg
Fuel economy - highway - 26 mpg - 26 mpg
Bore-and-Stroke - 3.80 / 3.10 " - 3.66 / 3.07 "
Curb weight Standard: - 2,987 lbs. - 2,855 lbs.
Wheelbase - 95.1 " - 95.2 "
Front track - 58.5 " - 57.3 "
Rear track - 60.2 " - 59.4 "
Turning radius - 18.2 ' - 17.9 '
Drag coefficient - .30 - .32
Front legroom - 41.6 " - 44.0 "
Front headroom - 38.1 " - 38.4 "
Front hiproom - 53.4 " - 53.4 "
Front shoulder room - 51.7 " - 51.7 "
Luggage volume - 9.9 cu.ft. - 9.1 cu.ft.
Fuel tank - 16.9 gal. - 17.0 gal.