Ok so I am one of the most indecesive people I know

I am battling with myself over the stick / tiptronic issue. I currently have an sl55 (awesome power). If I was getting the Turbo I would definatley get the tiptronic. I am a 0-60 guy and feel that you lose the initial jump in tip. Is a tip really that bad? Someone said to me if you would want a tip then keep your Mercedes. Am I really losing the Porsche experience by getting a tip?

Thanks so much!

Jeff

 

Yes. The only decent automatic sports car transmission is available from Ferrari (lightning quick with perfect rev-matches). Sorry, I don't like the SMG, Tiptronic. VW's DSG is pretty good, but too bad they don't have it on a car with more horsepower.

Get the stick!!! I agree with you about the turbo tip though (due to faster 0-60 from torque braking), but even that will be obsolete once the PDK/DSG comes out and the GT2's launch control is available.

 

I have a 6-speed 997 that I drive daily and the only time I ever wish it was a tip is when I hand the car over to a valet. I find the transmission to provide nice feedback and that it compliments the driving experience nicely. I know two owners that have a tip and they too enjoy their cars a lot, so the best thing to do would probably take them both out for an extended test drive.

 

I have a Tip and if I could push the clutch pedal still I'd have the 6speed manual.

 

The resale on Tips are not very good. Most people prefer the 6 speed hands down.

 

Six speed.

 

Does anyone remember the old VW commercial "Fahrvergnuegen" ?
It means ( loosely translated ) " the pleasure you get from driving "

To me, that's shifting thru the gears on a curvey road in a Porsche.
It's what the car was designed for.
If I had to drive in heavy traffic every day, I'd be sitting in an SL.

 

I had the same dilema when I bought my 996 3 months ago and opted for a gently used Cab with a Tip. It was a wonderful car but I felt somehow disjointed from the experience.

So . . . today, after taking a bit of a hit, I'm the owner of an 07 997S WITH a 6-speed. The difference in driving fun is just unbelievable. Shifting in traffic is fine and on the track, well don't go there unless you want to have a permanent smile tattooed on your face.

Long and short, take the chance and get the stick, you will never regret it.

 

I have a 6 speed I use as a daily driver. It is awesome, one in a while, it is annoying in traffic. I think you will enjoy the car more with a 6 speed.

 

i have the luxury of owning a Rover for around town BUT I couldnt imagine a tip in my C2S. In the summers I have the car dropped in San Fran and do lots of city driving out there. Even then, Hyde St, Fillmore, pick one - having a six speed is what makes it worth owning. Driving the PCH through Big Sur is the most fun I can imagine having while sitting down.

 

I've had a C2S/Tip for about 15k. I use it as a DD and love it. All my friends that owned a P-car before me never seemed to drive them and it seemed to be the hassle of driving a stick in LA traffic. I wanted a car that I could enjoy everyday under all the circumstances of city living and I found it. Good luck on your decision.

 

I would say go for the 997s. 996 TT is 6 year old tech. I was much more impressed with the 997s ride and interior. Just my 2 cents.

 

look I LEARNED how to drive 6speed just for this car. It's not even a question. 6speed all the way.

 

I drove my manual 996TT home from the dealer after a quick 10 min lesson. 6spd for sure after a disappointing E46 M3 with SMG. If they made the SL55 in manual, I'm sure it'll sell. In my SL55, I feel like the car drives me instead.

 

You might want to reconsider the whole "Porsche" thing. From what you say, you are most interested in off-the-line, 0-60, etc. Gobs of torque, wheel spin, etc. That's not the Porsche, tip or otherwise. To everyone I know with a Porsche (hundreds actually from all of my PCA / DE experience), 0-60 is inconsequential. The Porsche is all about the package, which is designed so well for carving, road courses, etc. If you change from the Benz, you may end up regretting it. I'm not saying not to change cars, just to really think about what it is you want, test drive / borrow / rent a 997 variant, drive the SL again, and figure it out. Heck, you should try to find a Skippy event where you can spend a whole day pushing cars like the 997, M3, etc. A lot cheaper than selling the SL, buying the 997, and then maybe selling the 997 again to get a 0-60 machine.