On Getting used to Tiptronic

[Brucelee]

That is the article I was referring to.

[Lux]

C'mon, having a manual in a sports car has nothing with being macho. But trying to justify an automatic against a manual is pretty amusing.

First of all, Schumacher's F1 tranny is a manual transmission with hydraulically actuated clutch and shift rods. The Tiptronic has neither of these. The Tip is a torque converter automatic transmission, just like every other automatic transmission. Ferrari, BMW (not Steptronic), Aston Martin and Toyota (MR2... )offer a true sequential manual. The 2 have as much in common as Rosanne Barr and Catherine Zeta. I know you've got cars to sell, Bruce. But please...

Sequential shifters will blip the throttle and do a perfect rev matched downshift. Regular automatics can't. With sequential, you can hold a gear thru the corners (same as a manual). With an automatic, you hope it doesn't upshift on you during a corner (or worse, kick down a gear and upset the car's balance). Sequentials can shift as fast as 50 milliseconds. Regular autos can't.

Sure a novice can be faster with an automatic on a track. But why stop there? Let's program the Navigation to control the steering wheel too. Surely the computer would be able to run a more consistant line and be faster. Take away all the things that make driving fun and what's the point? If you can't work a manual, well...start learning.

Any car that I'd buy for mundane transportation would be an automatic. So I have nothing against autos. But for my fun cars they'll always be manual.

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[Brucelee]

I drive both all the time. I like them both for different reasons.

In my experience, most drivers (men especially) think they are better at manual shifting than they really are. I have guys who come and test drive my Porsches who are HORRIBLE with a stick.

It is those guys who think they are the best drivers around.

It is sad really.

Anyway, it is THOSE guys who really should buy a TIP and forget that they are racers. Man, if you can't work a stick by this time (most of these guys have been driving for many years), it is time to just admit it and get a TIP.

[Ronzi]

I seem to remember this same discussion (auto vs manual) from about a year ago, Lux. In the intervening period I don't think anybody has changed their mind, so what's the point for either side to think the other a bunch of dopes for their opinion?
If you like to shift, shift. If you don't, that's the reason Porsche offers the Tip in the first place.

[KRZTACO]

The closest I would come to get in an automatic is the Sequential on a Ferrari.

KRZ

[scoobyrex27]

I admit the to me the TIP is a compromise (wife thing again) but I am not unhappy with it and find it has some advantages when i just want to cruise and be lazy.

Again, it is a compromise, but not a bad one at all.

[Lux]

Yeah, this discussion comes up every now and again. Same with Base vs S. Aren't we about due for one of those?

Again, I'm not trying to bash automatics. And yes, most people can't drive manuals for ********************. Hell, most people can't drive period!


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