I love my 996 with Tiptronic. That being said I am a lazy guy most of the time. I'm getting tired of downshifting to 1st all the time to take off from a stop. I could just take off in second but it feels like I am pulling my boat. Can anyone tell me what wisdom the German engineers used when they decided to start in second gear on a performance sports car with an automatic? Most of all, can anyone tell me if there is a way to get the car to start out in first gear all the time? I know I could buy a 6speed but like I said I'm a lazy guy most of the time. Does anyone know how to make a 5speed tip a 5 speed and not a 4?

 

That is some impressive laziness! All it takes is pressing the down button on the wheel with your thumb.

 

Yup, Admitting your inadequacies is the first step to recovery. LOL Its not hard I admit to just press the button but in stop and go traffic it gets old fast. I'm more interested in why and if it can be overridden. Its a very strong tranny I dont think it is because all that extra shifting will wear it out. European german automatics at least have a switch to defeat this for dry or summer driving fun. For wet or slippery days you can flip a switch to start in second for better traction. I just think it is odd to always feel like I am pulling my boat unless I mash the gas.

 

leave it in sport mode?

 

Do you have PSM? My Cayenne also starts in D2, but if I deactivate PSM then it starts in D1 and th shift points become more aggressive. If this works for you, then you'll only have to push a button once for each drive as opposed to every time you stop.

I think it's silly that Porsche programs the car to start in D2, but I think they do this for fuel economy reasons. The other thing that drives me crazy on the Cayenne is how the transmission goes through the gears so quickly. It will get to 5th gear by the time I hit 35 mph. Again - I believe this is to conserve fuel.

 

Thanks I will try that. I will try it just in sport mode and if it still doesnt start out in 1st gear I will try it with the PSM off. Thanks guys! I guess I should have experimented more but then again......LAZY LOL