Whats better Triptonic or Manual Boxster? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

motoadve · 07-18-2006, 05:21 AM

Im a newbie looking for a 2003/2005 used Boxster
Which are the advantages of Triptonic over manual gearbox or viceversa.

Which is faster a Manual Boxster or Triptonic?
Which is more reliable and less maintenance?
Which is more fun?

der Geist · 07-18-2006, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoadve

Im a newbie looking for a 2003/2005 used Boxster
Which are the advantages of Triptonic over manual gearbox or viceversa.

Which is faster a Manual Boxster or Triptonic?
Which is more reliable and less maintenance?
Which is more fun?

I am sure that you will get a couple of more replies from people with a broader experience in the differences but here is my 2 cents worth:

On the street, I doubt if the manual will be that much faster. If you are buying it for the track that may be another story entirely. I think that the Tiptronics are so advanced now there would be very little difference. I just read a review in one of the British Porsche magazines that the new turbo actually ran slightly faster with the Tiptronic.

Obviously, if you go with the Tiptrnic you will never have to replace a clutch which in this car may be quite expensive labor wise.

IMHO-The manual is always more fun. Course I am pretty old school about things like that.

One other big advantage the Tip has over the manual is that if you are planning to use this as a daily driver and you live in a city where you must drive a lot in congested traffic, you may want to go with a Tip to save the wear and tear on your legs.

I really love cities like NY, Chicago and LA but I honestly don't know how people can bare to drive a stick in all that traffic every day. That would make me nuts.

jangobox · 07-18-2006, 05:52 AM

The manual is definately quicker and gives you a feeling of better control. Easier to shift gears when cornering too. The only way you can shift gears on the tip is on the steering wheel (which can be a bit awkward at first)but it easier to eat drink and talk on your cell phone all at the same time while weaving in and out of traffic with the top down, a good choice if that is what you need. Can't go wrong with either. Test drive both.

super66 · 07-18-2006, 05:58 AM

suck it up and go stick.....I live in a suburb of chicago and am in the big city twice a week at least.....sure sitting in traffic isn't fun but you get used to it.....I went with stick primarily because....

- love at first site with the carerra white black interior but it was stick, I couldn't find that color combo anywhere....searched all through ebay and the auto traders....the dealer claimed they could get me a tip in april (it was late Jan) but the car was slated for cali so there was a chance they could have had a buyer.....who knows if it was true, regardless

- 0-60 in 6.8 tip which probably means closer to 7 flat for a 52K car!! no way, camry's would eat me up.....that was as depressing to see as when I jumped on the scales and it read 360 a while back

- lastly and I stress lastly cost, didn't come into play until after the decision was made....once I accepted I could drive stick (1st stick car) then I thought why spend the extra money.....

Brucelee · 07-18-2006, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoadve

Im a newbie looking for a 2003/2005 used Boxster
Which are the advantages of Triptonic over manual gearbox or viceversa.

Which is faster a Manual Boxster or Triptonic?
Which is more reliable and less maintenance?
Which is more fun?

Drive both many times. The answer is not in your head, it is in your heart!

Good luck.

drburton · 07-18-2006, 05:54 AM

It's a sports car, gotta go manual. I guess that's just my opinion but its alot more fun. The exception would be if you drive in traffic all the time, then it gets annoying.

From what I have read, if you do it right the manual will be faster as well (lower 0-60 time).

kyle986driver · 07-18-2006, 06:04 AM

definatly go manual...anyone that owns a non-stick porsche SHOULD be driving a mini van.

Ronzi · 07-18-2006, 06:33 AM

Kyle, as a person that has both an automatic Boxster and a minivan (Honda Odyssey), I can tell you there are many times when the van beats the crap out of the Box. Try hauling four adults and two little kids from Vegas to Santa Barbara in a Boxster some time.
Even a stick shift Box wouldn't help.

EPIQTodd · 07-18-2006, 06:41 AM

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.

cfos · 07-18-2006, 06:32 AM

I'm quite happy with the tiptronic. Of course, if you are looking for a used 2003/2005 Boxster, you may wind up with whatever turns out to be the best deal for the options you want.

I don't buy the statement that anyone using a tiptronic "... should be driving a minivan." I mean, if we are going to make those statements, why not say this:

"I don't think that anyone who can't order their Boxster NEW with the OPTIONS they want, should buy a Boxster since they are only buying a car based on someone ELSE's selection of options and can't afford the car. People who buy their boxster used should probably should get a new car, perhaps something more economical with the options they want... like a Tiberon."

Obviously these statements are as ridiculous as the minivan statement, right?