Tiptronic? Opinions?
 

I've heard that the Tiptronics are being replaced with PDK's in the new Boxsters, but I was just wondering what people thought of Automatic Boxsters in general. I drive a 2004 Boxster in Automatic, I would have taken a Manual anyday, but when I went to buy my Box, there was a deal that I just couldn't refuse.

I know you lose a lot of the sporty feel when you drive a sports car in automatic, but I was just wondering if that translates to this car as well. It's still fun to drive and all that, I'm just wondering if I'd be ridiculed for driving a car like that in Automatic.

I have a tip.. and its fun as hell to drive. If it were so ridiculous... they wouldnt make it. I enjoy the tip more than the manual, if youre using it for a daily driver like me.. in a suburb, the tip is a lot better to drive and a lot less fatigue. Is it going to be a DD, wheres it going to be drivin?

FYI, the 986 tiptronics have a lesser chance to have the recurrent, dreaded RMS leaks. That's one big reason to be pleased about :)

The new PDK is a faster shifter than most all humans. It is also reported to be abrupt even in full auto mode. It will be great for the track I think. I'll certainly consider it if I get a new Boxster.

I've always thought there was no shame in an auto shifter. Even the original Sportomatic, which was more of an auto-clutch.

Especially for slow traffic commutes. Which is why my RX-7 in Tokyo was an auto.

For me, the shifting and clutching are a pleasure - especially when done well. So even if I got a new 987, it would be 6 speed. Even if I get whupped by a PDK at the stop light gran prix.

An automatic porsche is like eunuch. Sure it's still technically a sports car, but castrated and dull. That's how I feel towards them, but who cares what I think just be happy with what you have. If you like auto's then go for it.

I love my TIP and would not have it any other way, except for a new PDK. Both of these opinions are right. Get the maximum pleasure out of your car with the tranny that suits you most. Just don't get into putting down others because they don't do it your way.

AKL :cheers:

Any automatic transmission is nice only if you commute to work everyday in any major cities, or if you have health problems with using your left foot or hands.

Otherwise no excuse to have them on a sports car. Unless you admit you're too old to use the clutch. :)

Yea yea it shifts faster than humans blah blah blah that's what Ferrari tries to sell ya. :ah:

Remember, the ultimate Porsche - Carrera GT is a manual. :cheers:

Oh and I wonder if FTD or Lovebunny drive manuals?? :D

I wouldn't get a tiptronic because it saps hp and performance, but I wouldn't mind a PDK if it had F1 style paddle shifters like Ferarri does it. Keeping the push buttons on the wheel was a mistake.

The problem with the tip or any auto in a sports car is that the torque converter robs your ability to be accurate with the throttle to control the car. I am a hard core manual guy, and feel uncomfortable driving an auto for that very reason... but...

The PDK has none of those issues, and I drove a new Boxster with the PDK the other day and probably will never order another car without it... its that good.

I'm sure today's ultra-fast automatics are a few tenths faster around a recatrack, but I want to drive my car, not just point it.

You'll get opinions from lots of points of view
 

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.

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.

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.

It depends on personal taste and how much you are in stop-start traffic.

I personally chose a manual because I wanted to learn first off, and second I don't have much stop and go traffic where I live so I can really wind my car up if I want to, I dont think I would have had this much fun in a tip.

But I don't see any shame with driving a tiptronic, everyone has their preferences. The new PDK seems to be amazing, fast shifts and no jerkiness.

I have a TIP, I love it and I autocross it all the time :D

70k mi. and climbing...

Lordy, I didn't expect some of you fellas to actually be on my side on this. I was under the notion that people would be like, "get out of this forum, you tip whore" or something, hahaha.

Where it is true that I probably won't get as much out of my car in a Manual, I also live in a part of Southern California where it would be next to impossible to find a place where I could unleash it's full potential anyway. I'd have to take an hour drive to some random canyon to drive it in its element. And when you work so much like I do, I just can't find the time to do a "canyon run".

Currently, I'm driving this Boxster in a pretty urban environment, and usually to work each day. I'm no stranger to traffic everyday and I thought that it would be far too much of a trouble to drive a manual in a place where I'd be stopping and going so frequently. Despite that it's not a manual, I am absolutely in love with this car. I've only been driving it for about a month, but it's such a blast to drive.

But like Jaxonalden brilliantly said, "Lets stop the trash talk and just enjoy the fact that we all drive a Porsche."

My Boxster is Tip, my 914 and M3 are manuals, and I've had many other manuals. I like the Tip more than I thought I would, I got the car with Tip because it was a great deal. It's a fun contrast to a manual, there are some interesting things you can do with it. That said, I'm glad I also have some manual cars to play with, it's a more direct and visceral connection than Tip is.

Okay let's go back to the weekly threads of...

1) OMG I'm so scared to drive my Boxster because the engine will blow up.

2) My Boxster is so underpowered, should I trade it in for a Vette?

3) Will these wheels fit my car?

And ocassionally Jake will jump in to one of these threads, and say "I have been gathering extensive data on this..."

:dance:

I think FTD is the only one here that understands my humour.

Tip
 

I currently own a Boxster with tip and think it's great. My 2 previous ones were manual and I have just as much fun and go just as fast in the tip equipped car. Plus it is hassle free when stuck in traffic. I'm enjoying it very much and would recommend it.

And of what great loss is 17 HP?
 

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.

From FTD: Well done!

:D :D :D

:cheers:

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

Very funny and interesting thread including;
"tip whore"
"lets get back to the regular postings . . ."
"Ive had my fair share of manuals in the past"
and "now any crappy rice burner has tip anyway"
GOLD

'Rowing' is slowly becoming a thing of the past. What we're seeing is just the beginning.

In order for car cos. to maximize range (mpg) and minimize emissions, it's becoming increasingly important to turn over as many operating duties to the computers as possible. Add to this that it broadens the appeal in the marketplace for a respective car (which is why Porsche created the Sportmatic and Tip to begin with).

All the malarky about manliness, skill and control is just that. I'm sure there were many who clung to their start cranks when the electric starter came on the scene too, and lest we forget, there are still plenty of guys out there claiming that the only true Porsche is an aircooled one.

Power? Sure a torque converter parasitizes some power, so what? Charles and Jake are always saying power and torque curves (usable power) are more important than max power anyway, but we've yet to see any stats there. I've seen guys in Tip Boxsters and 911's spank the crap out of many on the track driving a manual. In fact, the 911 Turbo is quicker with a Tip than a manual (and this assumes a highly skilled driver doing the cog swapping).

The Tip is very well designed and produced, there are very few reported failures. And, over the life of the car, it's less maintenance intensive and less costly to own than the manual.

There's no wuss factor in driving a Tip, nor are there any man points to be had for driving a manual - anyone can be taught to do it! The best drivers in the world, F1 and Indy car drivers, now only push buttons in response to a light on their steering wheels. And that light is controlled by the computer making the driver the weak link in the chain.

There's nothing to lament, it's just evolution. Porsche knows this and that's why the 2012 911 is expected to do away with the manual altogether, relying on the PDK and a 7-step CVT (continuously variable transmission) as the only tranny options.

The Tip Boxster is a great car, and so's the manual. But it's not a contest, each has it's merits and it's weaknesses. To quote Stephen Stills: "Love the one you're with"!

:cheers:

Kudos on the well written response. I specifically looked for an auto when shopping for my boxster. When I was a kid, my first car(mgb ltd) had a manual and I loved it. It was easy to do burn outs(tires were cheap back then), But as I got/get older, I just don't have the energy for a full time manual tranny. One less thing I have to be concerned/aware of when I am driving.

Now I do have one big complaint with it, Every now and then, mostly when turning or backing up, I hit the buttons on the steering wheel. It has almost caused an accident as I am used to gassing it in 2nd gear on take off, and when its in first I tend to go a little too fast. But other than that I love it. :cool: I really think its state of the art and very intuitive.

Lil-B, sums it up rather nicely. Wife and I both love our 2.7 TIP and both remarked while driving today how much enjoyment we get out of this car. I drove a 911SC manual since 1988 and it was always a bear with downshifts with those cylindrical syncs. The newer cone shaped sync's were supposed to be better along with the hydraulic clutch. I drove a PDK and it is fabulous and maybe someday.... ;)

For those that enjoy getting that shift just right which adds to their enjoyment of the car, I say have fun and keep on keepin on. For those who enjoy driving a manual but feel compelled to woof on those of us that drive TIPs, I say go whistle up the cats a** and get back to your driving and leave the rest of us alone.

AKL :dance:

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...

+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.

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.