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

wanna986 · 12-20-2006, 05:03 PM

6 speed, that is.
I know there's a difference between the 5 and 6 speed trannies- I've driven both.
The 5 speed shifter is somewhat rubbery whereas the 6 is more metallic- feeling.
Mine's especially stiff and notchy when cold- better when it warms up but, quite frankly, it's none too refined.
Any comments? Is there some kind of additive I could add?

12-20-2006, 05:36 PM

The 6-speed in my 987 is very smooth and precise.

Adam · 12-20-2006, 08:33 PM

I feel the same way wanna. My 6 speed is a little imprecise and not the best shifter I've tried. I tried the B&M but hated it so I went back to stock. I just live with it knowing it will never shift like a S2000 or some other nice shifting automobile.

David N. · 12-21-2006, 12:03 AM

Yeap, pretty clunky.

I've noticed it's getting really annoying going from 2nd to 3rd. Partly is me being a little lazy in my throw I think, but it does want to catch a bit early on the divider. By the time I rethrow it correctly my revmatch is all off:P

Two things I want from a 300zx, the turbos and the transmission...

-David

airboxster · 12-21-2006, 03:16 AM

I agree complete wanna986. As the weather got colder shifting from second to third especially became more work. The dealer said it's normal with the cold weather along with a long technical explanation about Porsches and transmissions. But after driving for over 30 minutes hard it does smooth out completely.

IowaS · 12-21-2006, 04:06 AM

I have a 986S, Very difficult to shift in cold weather, and clunky in my opinion in any weather. In fact the only thing I miss about my Miata.

JackG · 12-21-2006, 04:56 AM

My 3rd and 4th were balky, especially when cold. I changed my tranny oil to Redline MT90, and it helped a lot.

z12358 · 12-21-2006, 05:00 AM

I test drove the 987 (5sp) and 987S (6sp) in the same day, and couldn't notice any difference in shifting gears.

blue2000s · 12-21-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackG

My 3rd and 4th were balky, especially when cold. I changed my tranny oil to Redline MT90, and it helped a lot.

+10000000000

Anyone dissatisfied with the shift action of their car, ANY car, should switch to redline. It's especially impressive in the improvement in cold operation. Incredible stuff.

IowaS · 12-21-2006, 06:51 AM

1JB, I think clunky is a relative term, driving a Miata for 15 yrs and then switching to the 986 leaves a lot to be desired...it's still a Porsche and I still love it. In fact of all the cars I have driven the Miata would beat most cars in the "feel" of the shifter department. I wouldn't trade my Porsche in a second though....especially for an S2000.

1JB · 12-21-2006, 05:12 AM

I've never driven and S2000 and I'm glad I haven't. People rave about that manual transmission. They must require absolutely no skill to drive compared to the Porsche. For me the six speed on my 987s is extremely smooth and easy to shift. As the miles have worn on it's only goten better, I am at 5k now. It is stiff in the cold but not prohibitively so. My wife drive's it, my kids have driven it, friends and relatives ahve driven it and they all think it's a breeze, though my wife thinks pressing in the clutch is too hard. You want clunky try a VW. Maybe it's because I started with a stick over 30 years ago. I've driven manual Corollas, Land Cruisers, Fiat 128s, Mustangs, VWs, Chevy's and Hondas and the Porsche's is by far the easiest for me. I just don't see why people grumble about the stick in the 987s. To miss third from second is a huge miss if you're hitting 5th. If you go from 2nd to 1st or 4th to 1st man o man you must have had a brain freeze. 1st to 2nd is sraight as an arrow as is 3rd to 4th. Sure I can feel the shifts and even hear them when I'm making sure I'm in 1st at a light but there's nothing difficult about shifting. Anyway my 2@s.