Updated first post. First X-50 is gone. New X-50 slides in its place.


2003 996tt X-50
Price: $45k
Miles: 44,000
Color: Seal Grey
Seller: Dealership
Documents: Claims to have all service records ($60k worth, in 2 binders).
Other: Only 2 owners. some tasteful visual upgrades. tiptronic tranny (is this a deal breaker?).

I love this car. The color, the tasteful visual mods, the color, low miles, all records. It's perfect. The biggest (and only?) downside is that it's a TipTronic. Is this a bad idea? Will I regret getting a TipTronic for a weekend/toy car? I've never driven a tip, what should I know about them? Do they hold up well?

 

For me the tip versus manual is like a boys versus girls decision....



Lots posted though, search

 

I'm confused... You like boys?

 

Tiptronic would indeed be a deal breaker to many of us, so you should quickly work to determine whether or not you fit into that category. Although the daily driver implications of it are very good, the ability to modify the car is ultimately diminished (ask BlackHorseTurbo as someone who really knows this), and I think the ultimate enjoyment factor of the Tiptronic is also compromised. Best wishes on your search!

 

first one of these i drove was a tip. i immediately decided to go get a real one. hah.

 

So what I'm hearing is that you guys would rather have an older, higher mileage, non-X50, less desirable color 996tt because it's a stick? I didn't think the tip was that bad. Guess I need to drive it and find out.

 

ya didn't hear that from me! all kidding aside, the tip is a "compromise" and it's still a "tt"..

now, the new pdk is another story.

 

I don't mean to assume here. But read, read every article you can find. Read threads on multiple web sites. Then drive as many as you can.
Find 1 that excites you, then buy it and don't look back.

Good luck.

 

My wife wants me to get the tip so she can drive it. That's why I want the manual!

PDK would be nice, but obviously not a consideration at this point.

 

I couldn't have said it any better. Do a bit of research, a couple test drives and at the end of the day, Find the one that grabs you, buy it and never look back!!!

 

Good advise guys. Ate there any major differences between 01, 02 and 03 models that make one better than the others? What changes were made with these model years?

 

That's an interesting way to put it, but effectively I would say 'yes' since that is what I would do in your place (and what I chose to do myself).

That being said, I'm sure if you're patient you won't have to compromise too much on color and mileage overall. You will pay a premium for a 6MT (over a tip), but it doesn't have to be huge...just like you would generally pay a premium for an X50 equipped car (and that doesn't have to be huge either).

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I found another car today. 02 996tt 6-Speed. I think I'm going to go tomorrow and drive it along with the tip. Anyone near Costa Mesa want to tag along?

-Tim

 

I have a 03 X50 Tipp. I stole it for what I paid for it but it did have almost 67K on it. I've had it 2 years and it now has 88K on it. The 1st 15+K coming in the 1st year. 1 trip I did 3006 miles in 8 days.
I've not had 1 single problem w/ it. None. The tip is fun IMO, it's the 1st car/truck I've ever owned that is an auto. I shift w/ the buttons 90% of the time but it's nice to have the option. Espeacilly if you live in an area w/ stop & go traffic for a commute.

As long as you stay at or below 650 HP at the crank then you'll be fine. Anything over that you'll start having tranny problems so I'd suggest a standard if 650+ HP is your goal.

1 great thing to think about w/ a Tipp. Unless the computer has been modified to allow for such, you can't over rev the Tipp. It shifts about 100 rpms before red line regardless if your in regular auto or manual auto. But you can't convert the car to rear wheel only drive either. So the Dif has to stay in. Pros and Cons, just find the car that excites You! You're the 1 buying and driving it, no1 else really matters.

 

I say buy it so we stop looking at the same cars and probably bidding against each other