Guys,

I got used to driving my S2000 but with the traffic on the 605 and 60, it could get pretty annoying. If you were lets say looking for a preowned 00-02 carrera, would you still get stick or go tiptronic? Im not a race car driver but would enjoy the drive of a 996. Damn, maybe Im just getting old and hate the road rage of stop and go traffic

 

This has been gone over many times. If you grow up with a stick, stay with it as you'll lose control and engagement with the car. If you grow up with auto and don't miss the shifting, a tip will surprise you how well it shifts and how it's in the right gear when you want to go fast.

If you get a stick, get the short shift kit $200-500 in parts dep on B&M vs OEM. You'll have a tranny that's easier to work with.

One note on S2k, you need to shift more due to lack of torque. 996 has more torque, esp 02+ so you won't need to shift as often.

What ever you decide, get a model year that is mint. Later model year 02+ are better but more expensive. You don't want to buy a beat up 996 and fix it. It'll be more $$ than you think.

 

oh dam..........I might need extended warranty

 

Extended warranty = good.

I have a tip, and I would like it more if I could find someone that offers re-programming and/or shift kits for it.

The tip always starts out in 2nd gear, and that make the car seem sluggish. Manually putting it into first at every stop light is really not long term practical. In addition, when you are at a stop and you hit the manual shift to 1st, it jolts the car slightly...What's up with that!

When you shift manually up, the shifts are very sluggish and mushy. Why the shifts are quicker and crisper in full auto mode is beyond me, but this seems to be typical of all tiptronic style autos (I've have 3 others from diff manufactures before the 911).

All of these are things that could be addressed with a little programming, but I don't think there are enough of the tips out there with enthusiast (real enthusiasts get manuals) that want to pay to improve them for someone to justify a business improving them.

I have to have an auto for the commuting and the g/f to drive, so I am glad they offer it...

 

PorschePRH, does your girlfriend ever ask to drive the car? My wife doesnt drive stick well, and I wanted her to be able to drive the car too but was wondering if I was losing out on performance significantly with going with the tip? I just hate traffic jams

 

The car is my g/f's daily driver and our weekend car. I used to have a Viper for the weekend car, but since my little girl lives with me, it never got used.

The 911 has everything you need for a daily driver: good ground clearance, good visibility, back seats, strong a/c, easy to get in and out, decent low end torque, etc... When you've owned an Esprit, you learn not to take any of those things for granted.

I don't miss the stick from my Viper or Lotus. Here in Houston it's a lot of traffic driving like LA and the auto is appreciated.

The performance is always going to be a little less with any traditional automatic, and you can't rev the engine and drop the clutch, but how often do you need/want to do that?

 

If you are tall you may like the tip better as you can stretch one of your legs into the area where the clutch pedal would reside.

A note of caution on the B&M shifter...there have been posts recently of problems and Porsche not honoring any warranty work on the tranny, unless you left the shifter stock or used the Porsche (expensive) short shift kit.

 

im about 5 eleven

 

Verone,
get the tiptronic stick.

 

arling, you can always make it faster for me right? or at least look faster

 

Stick.

 

I live in San Diego & I love my tiptronic... But my please remeber that my porsche is a daily driver.

The only reason to get a stick in my mind in southern cali is for the track.

If your worried about cornering? Don't, I seem to corner as good if not better than most of my friends in their manual 996's (In part because I have two hands on the wheel.)

If your worried about speed? I have not noticed much the difference their either. . . In fact, Here is a short story for you:

I signed up for the PCA Performance Driving School and on the last day we did a mini autocross. I drove the track 2-3 times in manual mode and thought that "wow, that was fun! and hey...I did pretty good ... " Then my instructor got in my car, stuck it in drive and showed me what my car was really capable of . I was so shocked to see him kick my butt while in auto mode!

Moral of the story: Most porsche owners never come close to being able to "Out drive their cars"

Which ever you choose, I'm sure you'll love it imenesly


Paul

PS
My girlfriend loves to drive my car in the twisties too.... & I grew up learning to drive on a stick too (300zx twin turbo)

 

I went through this EXACT issue in November '04. I went back & forth, back & forth, posted on 6 speed, etc.... Comments were very similiar to the ones above. I REALLY did not want a stick, I wanted my wife to have the ability to take it out with her friends, etc.

Well I purchased the stick and I'm very happy that I did. You can review the mod's etc. / '02 cab because of the glass window and Bose stereo and front headlights. With the louder exhaust you can really have a lot of fun with downshifting, etc.

However the car in more or less a weekend car. But I WOULD NOT buy an older 996 as a TIP, only the newer 997. If you want a fun car that can be driven as a daily drive, consider a SMG BMW - M3. My partner had one and is still talking about it, even though he has a very sweet '02 996.

What ever you decide, a porsche is still a porsche (and they are fun to drive). I agree with the post above. We will never take these cars to their limits, not even close! But the stick is FUN...

Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

I had a trip before and now a stick, I prefer stick, I live in Houston and traffic somehow is heavy but still I have more fun with the stick.

 

If your Lady is a consideration in the equation and you both want to enjoy the car then buy a Tip. If not buy the stick, You can control the car better and become one with the machine. Good Luck with your decision.