Whats better Triptonic or Manual Boxster?

[Perfectlap]

the first time I drove my six speed after years of driving the short shifting Miata 5 speed was interesting.
The Miata has to be one of the easiest cars to learn how to drive "a stick" on.
In a matter of five minutes I was rowing gears and after a few weeks I was fully on it and boy is that car fun to shift in.
THen I got into the Boxster. The first thing you notice is how heavy the clutch pedal is, just like on a high horsepower/torque sports car (which obviously the Miata is not). The clutch doesn't bite nearly as quickly as the Miata would.
I felt like I was about to stall the car, meanwhile that incredible sound from the Boxer engine starts to raise the hair on the back of your neck!
My eyes got bigger and bigger and then I let er rip in 2nd gear and could immeidately feel the torque that was lacking in my little Miata buddy.
Both revved in a very sporty manner, except in the Boxster everything is so much more magnified. Third gear and I'm nearly up to 90 mph in flash.The rookie salesman was about my age so he was having fun too. My friend said he could feel in his gut the first time we did a 0-100 run. He has a v8 Merc so I guess even on less power my BoxsterS had something special about it.


This whole experience whould have been very different in a tip.
But there are times sitting in NYC traffic that I would have given my left arm for a tip tronic. But then the traffic only lasts 30 minutes and snick snick snick away we go. The Boxster gear box is not one of the better ones I've driven since first learning on the Miata. This really baffles me with Porsche so proud of being a top engineering outfit. Take a spin in the S2000 and you see EXACTLY how a shifter should be. Like a precise bolt action rifle.

Rowing gears is not for everyone, chicks hate it, old guys are sick of it and some people will simply never master it. I still make mistakes all the time depending on my cafeine levels. Learning how to do it well enough to get from point a to point b is not rocket science. But doing it in seamless fashion is a very fun skill to learn.
Just remember to push your foot all the way in. People develop lazy habits that became part of their driving style to the detriment of the very expensive car.

[tqtran]

If you don't drive in constant heavy traffic, then I say get the manual.
If you are in constant traffic jams everyday then your left leg might like a tip better.

[motoadve]

Personally I would prefer manual, but not by much.
Here are my 2 options of cars offered to me here in Costa Rica.

2005 new version, with 6,000 miles
Xenox
Triptronic with shifters in the steering wheel.
Silver in great condition with 1 year warranty left

For $56,000 here in Costa Rica (We pay 50% import duty)
A car has to be $37,000 at least in USA to have it for that price here.

Another option is a 2003 with 13,000 miles for $42,000
Manual gearbox
Blue Color
Warranty expired.

Im planning to keep the car many years , so I dont mind the $14,000 extra for the 2005 over the 2003.

What car would you guys choose?

It will be an everyday car , commute car with slow traffic, most of the time.
Maybe once a week a mountain ride and once a month a track day.

[Ronzi]

Dante,
try this.
Leave your Tip in auto mode. Approach a corner at a good rate of speed. As you brake, jab the accelerator to the floor and release, like you would if you were double-clutching on a manual box downshift. The Tipper will actually JUMP from say 4th gear to second, skipping third.
This technique, or more properly an undocumented capability, was discussed in Panorama, the PCA monthly magazine, a year or two ago.
I have tried it and it does work.
I would also say it is of marginal utility, except maybe on the race track.

[Dante]

Originally Posted by Ronzi

Dante,
try this.
Leave your Tip in auto mode. Approach a corner at a good rate of speed. As you brake, jab the accelerator to the floor and release, like you would if you were double-clutching on a manual box downshift. The Tipper will actually JUMP from say 4th gear to second, skipping third.
This technique, or more properly an undocumented capability, was discussed in Panorama, the PCA monthly magazine, a year or two ago.
I have tried it and it does work.
I would also say it is of marginal utility, except maybe on the race track.

Wow, that's a good tip. I am gonna be trying that tomorrow on the way to work. Thanks for the info!

[Ronzi]

Make sure when you try it that you leave some room for error. I don't want to be blamed for that lamp post that jumped in the way.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

The soundest advice here has been to drive them both and get the one you like best with nary a thought of what others may think. I have the Tip S and for me it's just fine. I own a race car and two other sports cars, and both Daily Drivers with manual trannys so I can get a fix anytime I want. The Boxster, as mentioned, brakes and handles great and this is what I enjoy most about it.

With Hybrids looming and ever-increasing needs to raise MPG and lower Emissions, the Manual Tranny is going the way of the Buggy Whip anyway, it's just a matter of time. Even the Auto will disappear in favor of the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Cars, like Cameras, are slowly becoming Point & Shoot. Some the new Acuras will even apply the brakes if a collision is immanent, we'll all just be passengers in 20 years anyway...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[boxsterx]

I live in L.A. and i got a tiprtonic boxster......best choice i ever made!

[Dante]

Originally Posted by Ronzi

Make sure when you try it that you leave some room for error. I don't want to be blamed for that lamp post that jumped in the way.

LOL - no problem. By the way, the method that you described worked like a charm. But I guess the only problem is that I drive the car in manual mode 99% of the time. But at least my wife will be able to use that feature in automatic.

Thanks again for the tip.

And motoadve, congratulations on your new car.