Tiptronic? Opinions? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

mikefocke · 04-14-2009, 05:15 PM

Varying from the "manual is for real men" to "the TIP is actually faster on the track for some experienced drivers" (article about 3-4 years ago to that effect in Excellence or Panorama...P-car mags).

I'm driving my second TIP Boxster. Drove exclusively stick for about 30 years and then traffic in the DC area got to me. I didn't go looking for a TIP Boxster initially, but when I tried a 99, I liked it enough that it became my daily driver in all seasons in tough traffic. I totaled it and replaced it with a '01 S which has an even better TIP due to its ability to manually shift even when in auto mode.

If you like driving what you have, be happy with it and don't seek the approval or validation of others. And if you don't...there has never been a better time to be a buyer.

Jaxonalden · 04-14-2009, 06:30 PM

Same thread, different day...

Why is it that an innovative, competition transmission, produced by the most premier name in the automotive world, Porsche, always has stones thrown at it by its very own? We Tip drivers don’t dog pedal pushin' gear jammers. I've owned a stable of manuals in my day and now I have an auto that I can (at any time) drop down two or three gears with the flick of my thumb. Its fun, enjoyable and fast.

Lets stop the trash talk and just enjoy the fact that we all drive a Porsche.

cnavarro · 04-14-2009, 07:48 PM

Yes, tips sap horsepower. Jake and I did a back to back test - we pulled the 2.5 from my 99 tip which dynoed at 163 at the rear wheels then did the same engine in his manual, it was well over 180 hp at the rear wheels. He posted on rennlist a graph of the two compared, it was shocking to say the least. We didn't even change the oil in the engine between comparisons! I had been told years ago that a slushbox ate about an additional 8-10%, but from our test it's as much as 14% on top of the typical 20% loss figured between flywheel hp and at the rear wheels on a manual. Just food for thought.

The PDK is awesome. Having owned several cars with VW's DSG and driven other sequential manual gearboxes, if I could figure out how to shoehorn a PDK in my 99, I would do it in a heartbeat.

mikefocke · 04-15-2009, 09:11 AM

When, in the driving I do, will I ever ask for more than 60% of the capability of the car? The only case I can think of is a freeway merge and maybe a passing situation and I already have way more power than all the Priuses that pass me.

I'm of the opinion my '99 2.5 TIP was more fun than my '01S 3.2 TIP because it didn't have as much power and you got to drive it harder for longer in more situations.

signed,

the contrarian

who is going to go out and drive his slow slushbox for the first time in 4 weeks (medical) and enjoy the heck out of it.

Adam · 04-16-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikefocke

And of what great loss is 17 HP? .

Well in monetary form that is about $1,700 dollars in aftermarket power adders!

MikeM · 08-06-2009, 10:25 AM

I have a 2000 S tip. Too good a deal to pass up and extremely low mileage.
It had the color and options I wanted. But...it was a tip. I drove it and loved it right away. Bought it and couldn't be happier. I think I've driven it twice in full auto mode, as it's alot of fun to shift manually.
Each to his own they say...

Thumper · 08-08-2009, 11:00 AM

+1 on loving a Box with a Tip. It's a great driver. While I do think that shifting a manual is major fun, I really wouldn't trade my Tip for anything.

Topless · 08-08-2009, 11:59 AM

LB nailed it. I drive a 5 spd but would have bought a tip if in the right car. A modern tip trans is so good (PDK is incredible) that the old manual trans seems like a bit of a dinosaur on a modern Porsche.

Yes the manual trans will reveal more RWHP on a dyno. Yes a well driven tip will often turn faster laps on a track. Drive what suits you best. My next Porsche will have PDK.