to "S" owners- how clunky should it be? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

MNBoxster · 12-21-2006, 08:03 AM

Hi,

IIRC, Porsche switched from the German-sourced Getrag-ZF Manual Transmission to a Japanese-sourced unit produced by Aisin AI in 2005 (not 100% certain of the Model Year switch, but the 987 is definitely the Japanese unit). This could explain the noticed differences in Shifter feel from the earlier cars to the latest ones.

The Tiptronic unit continues to be produced by Getrag-ZF in Germany...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

limoncello · 12-21-2006, 09:51 AM

Japanese tranny? So the Subie engine swap might not even need an adapter plate...

Sorry, couldn't resist.
Ouch! Just took a lightning bolt from the Porsche gods...

fwiw - the shifting on my 2001 2.7/5 speed was great. A little notchy at startup, sure, but the feel was perfect (for me) once warm. On the track it was flawless, never thought about the shifting at all. Maybe the desired shifter feel is a personal preference thing? Never drove an S2000 so can't comment.

kenkamm · 12-21-2006, 11:02 AM

I drove an S2000 for a year before buying a 986 S. The initial impression from just about anyone regarding the S2000 tranny is that it's the best thing since sliced bread, except for perhaps the miata. The long term impression for many is quite different, me included. It is a very light effort unit, like the miata, and a lot of that comes from the fact that it doesn't have to handle much torque. The less torque the engine produces, the lighter the effort will tend to be because everything in the tranny can be smaller and lighter duty. So, one would expect something like a Boxster S to require more effort to shift. The flip side of that is that the S2000 tranny feels fragile, and it is. Troll around on s2ki.com for a while and read about the high wear rate of the synchros... the crunching into 2nd gear due to light-duty synchros... the recommendation not to do 3rd-to-6th gear changes because of the splines on the shafts rounding off... all of this increasing shift effort over time and causing one to have to be very careful about shifting too quickly and getting the "crunch." Many S2000s that are not new have the "dreaded 1-2 crunch."

So IMO, the S2000 tranny is harder to use properly than the Boxster unit, by a mile.

Personally, after worrying about that for a year, I am very happy with the feel of the Boxster unit, because it feels substantial, rugged and easy to use.

Ken

Perfectlap · 12-21-2006, 03:02 PM

Well the 986S gear box was not intended to be coupled with tbe Boxster engine.
Kind of an after thought, let's take the Carrera six speed gearbox and stick in the Boxster. I think the differing and wide ranging opinions on the B&M short shifter bolster this opinon as nearly every Carrera owner sees an immediate improvement with a short shifter while BoxsterS owners seemed very mixed.
It's crunchy and noisy but I much prefer it to only having 5 gears.

THere's no comparing anything to the S2000, like a precise bolt action rifle.
But you're paying for it. An S2000 is now creeping over $35K and they still look
like...well an s2000. Compare that to the 1993 Boxster concept car which still looks great today.

I had a miata and I wouldn't trade that gear box for my clunking 6 speed for even a day. That darn thing was notchy as hell. I played with all flavors of Redline fluid and sometimes it was smooth (when the it got hot) and sometimes it was like
cracking walnuts. The best improvement came when I replaced the shift boot, snick, snick, snick. Too bad I sold the car the next day.

AUDIOGUY · 12-21-2006, 04:29 PM

I dont mind mine so much.. it is a little notchy when cold but otherwise pretty nice. My prior BMW M roadsters gear box was definately better. I drive S2000s all the time as I work at a Honda Collision Center and typically dont like the cold feeling aluminum shift nob. It doesnt feel very connective with the car. The shifter is short and accurate though.

By the way Perfectlap, I would have bought that concept design in a heartbeat!
That thing is awesome looking!

wanna986 · 12-21-2006, 06:45 PM

So the consensus is, "yeah, it's not the best but...redline will help!"
Good enough for me, I just wanted to be reassured there wasn't anything "wrong". I never thought I'd call my fox body Mustang's 5 speed smooth, though.

Thanks, all.

airboxster · 12-22-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

IIRC, Porsche switched from the German-sourced Getrag-ZF Manual Transmission to a Japanese-sourced unit produced by Aisin AI in 2005 (not 100% certain of the Model Year switch, but the 987 is definitely the Japanese unit). This could explain the noticed differences in Shifter feel from the earlier cars to the latest ones.

The Tiptronic unit continues to be produced by Getrag-ZF in Germany...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Actually the Boxster still has the Getrag as of the 06. I asked this question while at the factory. They showed me the Getrag transmissions ready to ship to Finland. All others including the Turbo are Porsche design made in Japan.

C5150 · 12-22-2006, 07:59 PM

Purchased my 6 speed in Sept - and noticed a huge difference when we hit a cold spell. Once I got her up to temp, it was back to normal. Asked my fellas at the dealership, and they concur. She likes to be nice and warm for smooth shifting.

wanna986 · 12-22-2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5150

Purchased my 6 speed in Sept - and noticed a huge difference when we hit a cold spell. Once I got her up to temp, it was back to normal. Asked my fellas at the dealership, and they concur. She likes to be nice and warm for smooth shifting.

Hope Santa brings us summer soon

(Couldn't resist; saw your "no rain" post.)
Happy shifting!

unklekraker · 12-22-2006, 09:10 PM

So Jim, when you said the tranny is "Japanese sourced unit", what else is foreign built unit on newer Porsche? I meant, what else, beside Finland, unit that was installed in Porsche that's not made in Germany?

Correct me if I'm wrong, if theres or major parts of Porsche are outsource is that mean it's not a 100% German built anymore

MNBoxster · 12-22-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unklekraker

So Jim, when you said the tranny is "Japanese sourced unit", what else is foreign built unit on newer Porsche? I meant, what else, beside Finland, unit that was installed in Porsche that's not made in Germany?

Correct me if I'm wrong, if theres or major parts of Porsche are outsource is that mean it's not a 100% German built anymore

Hi,

Aside from the Tranny (Aisin AI - Japan), there is the AC (Sanden Unit - Japan), Brake Master Cylinder (Lucas - UK), AirBag(s) (TRW - US), Brakes (Brembo - Italy), Rubber parts - Hoses, Serpentine Belt (Div. of Gates Rubber Co. - US), Sparkplugs (Beru - France), and probably many more.

Superior existing technology, Patent rights, lower production costs, Int'l. Trade Agreements and a host of other factors lead not only Porsche, but most Auto Manufacturers to use a Global Network of Suppliers...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

blue2000s · 12-23-2006, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Aside from the Tranny (Aisin AI - Japan), there is the AC (Sanden Unit - Japan), Brake Master Cylinder (Lucas - UK), AirBag(s) (TRW - US), Brakes (Brembo - Italy), Rubber parts - Hoses, Serpentine Belt (Div. of Gates Rubber Co. - US), Sparkplugs (Beru - France), and probably many more.

Superior existing technology, Patent rights, lower production costs, Int'l. Trade Agreements and a host of other factors lead not only Porsche, but most Auto Manufacturers to use a Global Network of Suppliers...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Make that ALL auto manufacturers. I'd be surprised if 20% of the parts in a Porsche are actually made in Germany. Remember where a part is designed and where it is manufactured are completely different things. Where they are manufactured and where they are assembled are completely different as well.