Do any of you guys regret buying the tip?

If so, why?

I can see arguments for both transmissions.

Just trying to learn from others who have debated the same and chosen the tips.

Please don't start a flame war.

 

So here's my 2 cents: I came from an SL65 years ago when I bought my 997.1 tip. I loved the ridiculous power of the SL but the power was useless as the transmission wasn't designed for that much torque (704 lbs). Anyway, I drove a friend's manual tip and the acceleration was phenomenal. I wanted something that could be faster than my SL 0-60 (3.8/3.9) and more dependable. So I chose a 911 turbo with the tip. It's been great for the most part (I did have a known transmission seal leakage that required a transmission replacement thankfully covered under the CPO). I drive in manual mode 90% of the time and like that I can have a free hand for other things.

I'll be honest there are times that I miss rowing gears (my other benz was a manual and I drove manuals most my life). The acceleration is still ridiculous on the tip and the fact that you can't over rev it by dropping the gear or making the wrong change is nice, as well as the fact that you can't lose boost. However because technology keeps moving forward, the tip is a inferior transmission now compared to the PDK. A manual is a timeless transmission and gives the car a more instant classic appeal. Having said all this however, I plan on keeping my car forever and am happy to drive it in "manual" mode most times and still run on cars that are 10 years newer and supposedly better than mine. Also depends what premium you're willing to pay for the manual. Even when I bought my car I got a much better deal than the manual and I wasn't willing to wait to get one. Just depends what's important to you: comfortable, quick acceleration, better pricing likely or the joy of rowing gears, bragging rights because you have "the last of the manual turbos", but higher likely price.

 

I chose a tip beacuse the majority of driving i do can be in traffic and when i find my self crawling through traffic i'm pleased that i went tip. Secondly i'm in the process of tuning but not decided on turbo yet - with that im pleased the TCU can be modified for faster shifts and box strengthened to suit the tune. i'd hate to be using a heavy clutch to negotiate may way through traffic. I personally love the tip because it changes the characteristics of the car when you just want to relax and cruise - but when it's time to flame on you can also switch to manual mode.

 

Tip is the way to go because driving the car around town/traffic is nice and comfortable. Where as shifting all time does get old. Maintenance is more to worry about with a 6 speed vs. the tip. From my research it seams that you replace the clutch at 30K. And if you feel like shifting in a tip just throw it in manual. I have had stick all my life and my 997 turbo is my first auto but if I need the feel of some torque in a 6 speed I'll just take the AC Cobra out for a spin.

 

I've migrated from Tip to 6MT and now PDK. All are great and it really does come down to personal preference. Clearly the Tip and PDK win in moderate to heavy traffic whereas the 6MT captures the fun factor. But, like any other car with an automatic, it does get boring unless you drive in manual mode that will keep you engaged. JMO

 

Absolutely no regrets. I have had three 911 turbos ('87, '94, and current '08) and I have to say that although the MT is fun, at my advanced age, it is hard on the left knee in traffic. Put the tip in manual and sport mode, and the adrenalin still flows. As my son, who races SCCA said when he first drove it and put the hammer down, "Holy Sh*****t."

 

Yep, you guys are echoing my thoughts...better in traffic, can be had for less, upgrade TCU.

I am a mod junky...so then the question would be...upgraded TCU plus bolt-ons v. 6spd a push the stock block (really dont want to build a motor)

Straight line I would imagine an upgraded TCU could potentially make better use of the power.

However, resale would go to the 6spd...

I'll have to think more.

 

I bought a tip due to being part of the "PlayStation generation" and not really identifying with the manual, plus it was $40k cheaper...

I guess I don't know what I'm missing out on having never driven a high power manual sports car, but I struggle to see how I could be any more engaged when driving at the track or pushing it on a B road.

 

I have been driving sports cars for about 20 years, and most of them have been manuals. That said, when I was out shopping for my 997 TT I drove both a manual and a tip. I ended up purchasing the tip because it was such a better deal. Don't get me wrong, all things being completely equal I probably would have bought the manual, but the tip was the exact color combination I wanted with the exact options I wanted as well, and all for about $9,000 less than the manual. I could not justify spending that much more money just for the manual transmission. To me, it just was not worth it. I accepted the fact that my resale value will also likely be about $10,000 less, but I did not buy this car for an investment.

​​​​​​Kind of a funny story but my daily driver is actually a manual, and I purchased this daily after I had already purchased my 997 TT.

 

I've been a PCA member since 1973 and have had over 40 Porsches -356s, 911s, 914, 944 turbo, 928, and 7 911 turbos. All have been m/t with the exception of my present 997.1 turbo with tip. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them and really enjoy the tip in my present car. The m/t cars are more involving and the PDK is better and improved over the Tip, but with the power the turbo has the tip is more than adequate and more fun to drive than a m/t [for me]. I love my car and it will probably be my last Porsche -I haven't looked back.

 

I've owned several manuals and autos in higher HP vehicles. That said, buying the 997.1 turbo was a different experience for me. I test drove all three power trains and realized that this car has an immense amount of torque. To handle this torque it was easy for me to see that the autos would give me the most control. There is no way I can shift quick enough, up or down, to effectively use all this power. So it came down to the autos. The PDK would have been the best choice with all things being equal; However, all things were NOT equal and as has been stated earlier in this thread the car I bought had many of the options I wanted, along with very low milage, and was offered at a VERY appealing price. So I chose the TIP version. Having done that I soon found out that this transmission does not hamper this cars ability to haul A-S. Zero to any speed is quicker than a manual and it's nice to be able to just cruise around without having to think about shifting gears if that's what I want. With that said whatever transmission you choose I'm sure you will enjoy your Turbo.

 

997.1 with a 6speed and a Tilton carbon clutch. Oh my goodness...

 

I agree with those before me. Traffic is, IMHO, the biggest reason to have and love the Tip. I can enjoy my car all the time, not just in the country, on the weekend, on a clear road.


However, the question of Auto vs Manual WRT the 997 is not the same as with most other cars. The Porsche Tiptronic is not your average "slushbox" with the typical soft slow gear changes people think of when you mention automatic. These things are built specifically to handle and optimize the output and computerized performance of the TT! Sure, a weak argument could be made that the tactile/hands-on engagement of the MT may provide a better experience for some, but I would seriously challenge any "Manuals are a must for a "Real" Porsche" advocates to be honest with themselves during and after a spirited trip around the track in a Tip. These are truly not your average grocery-getter automatics!

 

I wanted to get a manual, but there are simply none in my market. When one did come up, it was a heavily modded car (I like things stock), with tacky wrap, and asking $40k more than an equivalent tip. That said, tip has not disappointed at all, particularly for the type of driving I do these days, which is 95% commuting to and from work. It is very smooth around town, and can be pretty sporty in "sport" mode if the car is optioned with sport chrono. I actually like it better than my '08 C2 PDK. I hear the new PDKs are much better, but the Gen 1 PDK in my C2 was a bit clunky around town (tip would start from 2nd gear in normal mode whereas PDK always from 1st, and the 1-2 shift is not very smooth) and does not shift that quickly when you press the toggle buttons on the wheel.


I think it depends on what's available in the market, price differential, and the type of driving you do. I may have gone for manual if there was more to choose from and the price difference was only $10-20K.

 

Almost two years ago, I became interested in 2008 997.1 at my local Porsche dealership. It was a one-owner, fairly low mileage car in excellent condition. Two big considerations for me though were: in was a cab and had tip. I've owned Corvettes for the last 10 years that were 6MT and all my sports cars over the last 50 years have been manual. The cab decision was easier for me because the more I thought about it, I couldn't have a sports car without being able to drop the top in nice weather. The tip issue I wrestled with. I watched the car over 3 months (winter months) and the price kept dropping. It got to a point I knew I had to act - I bought the car and accepted the fact I had a sports car with auto trans. Surprisingly, I have not really missed the MT. Sure, there are times I would like to row gears but I have trouble imaging utilizing the full power of this car at WOT and shifting as quickly as the tip shifts. Is the PDK far superior than the tip - sure, but I don't track my car and I can't imagine the difference for daily driving is that remarkable. At my age, this car will probably be my last Porsche and I'm fine with that.