Can you really have fun driving a Tiptronic Porsche?

[986_inquiry]

when my manual 986 died I bought a manual 987. I can't imagine buying a Porsche with an automatic, just seems so poser soccer mom-ish

Yes I know the new GT3 isn't available as a manual which just seems so wrong to me. I find it hard to believe manual GT3 sales were so poor in previous years that Porsche felt they could offer automatic only

That said the only automatic Porsche I've driven was a Cayenne. It was a awful experience that I would only want to wish on a soccer mom. Shifts were slow and sluggish, only a Camry driver could appreciate a tiptronic Cayenne

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

when my manual 986 died I bought a manual 987. I can't imagine buying a Porsche with an automatic, just seems so poser soccer mom-ish

Yes I know the new GT3 isn't available as a manual which just seems so wrong to me. I find it hard to believe manual GT3 sales were so poor in previous years that Porsche felt they could offer automatic only

I don't think the move to automatic Porsches like the GT3 are entirely about sales.
That car has a limited production and in good times (like now) for the wealthy Porsche have no problem selling those small numbers. Dr. P's decision to go with a PDK only GT3 seems to be more about pace. The rear engine Porsche has been taken to its performance limit, it needs the quicker gear changes to squeeze every split second it can muster. Ditto for the four wheel steering which would not be necessary on a shorter car like the Cayman/Boxster but the swollen proportions of the Carrera have created those weirly abrubpt handling quirks.

People say that the an automatic GT3 will open up the car to more buyers but It seems like a stretch to me. If you're not into sports cars I doubt you're going to spend $150K on a GT3 (PDK or not) over a Panamera, Jag or Aston. I would think a big plush grand touring like the 991 Turbo would be a more likely choice than the GT3.

The other thing is engine maintenance/longevity. With that much power I think Porsche's engineers have deduced that keeping the gear shifting out of the hands of the deep-pocketed but not really experienced driver will result in much more reliable Porsches. Or conversely, as Porsche have themselves complained "some people only buy this car to use it on the track, that's not what we intended, this isn't a racing car, it's a racing car for the street". In other words it only costs like a racing car and if people are going to punish it on the track then PDK will make that harder. It's a win win for Porsche on possible reliablity. Some of the track junkies complain that the GT3 should be manual but track junkies are only a small part of the small part of Carrera buyers. If anything the manual transmission super sports car was on borrowed time, Ferrari dumped the the lever long ago. The bottom line is that as these sports cars need to go faster to outdo the other brand, the less they will allow the drivrer to mess up. With the engine in the rear, the Carrera is already on the back foot agains the midengine cars like the 458 and R8. Case in point, Porsche reclaims the N-Ring lap record and it wasn't a rear engine car that did it and by the margin that the 918 Spyder laid down, I doubt it will ever be anything but midengine going forward. That's was a game-change momment for the brand.

[cfos]

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

when my manual 986 died I bought a manual 987. I can't imagine buying a Porsche with an automatic, just seems so poser soccer mom-ish

Yes I know the new GT3 isn't available as a manual which just seems so wrong to me. I find it hard to believe manual GT3 sales were so poor in previous years that Porsche felt they could offer automatic only

That said the only automatic Porsche I've driven was a Cayenne. It was a awful experience that I would only want to wish on a soccer mom. Shifts were slow and sluggish, only a Camry driver could appreciate a tiptronic Cayenne

Poser soccer mom-ish? Ouch. Your opinion to which you're entitled. I mean it must be tough for to find situations where a Boxster driver can sound tough, right? I mean it is the Porsche for girls, right? Even with a manual?

Frankly, I similarly devalue the opinions of those that buy used, non-classic cars. It's only money, right? Just make more (if you need to) and build your own car, if what you like isn't on the lot. Why waste all that time and effort looking for someone else's throw-away, or sloppy seconds, thirds, or fourths?

I mean hey, if you don't like something, that's fine. Personally, I think that there is no uglier feature than the fried egg lights on 986, 996, etc., and I have yet to see conversion kits that allow 987, 997, etc., the option of retrofitting them. Actually, I spend all my extra time NOT looking at used cars trying to find a positive thread about the fried egg lights, and haven't yet.

Disclaimer: I have not driven a manual Porsche or one with fried egg lights, but willingly drive all tips and pdks. By choice, by choice.

Say Anything -- by choice - YouTube

For those scoring at home: I should say I'm also joking/sarcastic in my words above, much like I'm sure the other poster was joking/sarcastic.

[Allen K. Littlefield]

[QUOTE=986_inquiry;369844]when my manual 986 died I bought a manual 987. I can't imagine buying a Porsche with an automatic, just seems so poser soccer mom-ish



Gee 986, sure sure don't feel like a soccer mom driving my tip! Maybe because I am having too much fun??? Do you think denigrating you by calling you a name would make you run out an buy at TIP? You have fun driving a manual and a lot of us have fun driving a TIP. End of story.

AKL

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Allen K. Littlefield

Gee 986, sure sure don't feel like a soccer mom driving my tip! Maybe because I am having too much fun??? Do you think denigrating you by calling you a name would make you run out an buy at TIP? You have fun driving a manual and a lot of us have fun driving a TIP. End of story.

AKL

Bah give him a break... he is just back from a $2,320 clutch change job, got stuck in heavy traffic, his knee, heal and wrist hurts bad, and then he saw this succer-mum freely passing in the emergency lane with her super aftermarket paddle'd steering wheel mimicking the revs of an F1 car with her lips

That, is enough to make anyone jealous believe me

[Steveinsouthborough]

I've got an '00 Boxster S with Tiptronic, and love it. Sure, I would've preferred a full manual tranny, but I got the car from a very good friend for only $4000.00, regularly maintained by Porsche mechanics. At 121,000 miles, it runs like a champ.
I've seen 125mph indicated on the highway in 4th gear/5500rm, still pulling hard.

I ran a Carfax on it, and retail came bach at $10,790