hey i am definitely going to buy a cayman S in in exchange for my 04 targa but i am stuck with a major dillema. Since the cayman S will be my daily driver i am torn between buying an automatic/tiptronic though i know it will most certainly be less involving and less engaging than the 6 speed manual. Can someone please offer some input so as to help make this decision easier?

 

if you sit in traffic for more than 40 mins each way, just go with the tip if you cant handle shifting and a cramping leg. To me, I just dont drive during rush hour, I use the toll road or surface streets

 

The tip can be a lot of fun and have the convenience element, borrow one and push it in manual mode and see how you like it. It might not be as involving as a manual but it's still a lot of fun. The brains it has really are impressive, it's not just auto or manual, while driving in auto you can put your foot down and it'll drop a gear (or two) and leap away, as you ease off it will automatically go back in to auto mode.

Similarly if you start shifting while in auto mode it keeps an eye on things and can decide when you're done and takes over again. It's not for everyone but it is a very impressive piece of engineering, sounds like you need to drive one for a day or two.

 

all practical everyday issues of driving a manual aside, does it really kick the **** out of tiptronic/automatic as far as performance is concerned (not including its performance on the track but how fun it makes the drive on the streets and the highway)

 

I don't think driving a tiptronic restricts how fast I can drive a car. To be pushing a car so close to the limits that the performance difference is significant you'd have to be a pretty amazing driver and in a place where you could drive like that.

If you were a regular track racer I could see it maybe, if it's how "involved" you feel then maybe... but performance? I doubt it. Just my opinion.

 

My wife drives a Tip Cayman S and even though I like driving it, I feel that the involvement is just not there compared with the 6 Speed box. It certainly is a fun car to drive but, to me, I'd prefer a 6 Speed just for the added fun it provides.

A friend of mine got a Tiptronic Cayman S as his daily and a year later, he's looking to trading it in on a manual because he got bored driving it.

 

I owned two Boxsters, one with tiptronic and now with manual.

Tiptronic is much better than most of people think, and you can outshift most of manual drivers on the street. (If that's the performance you are refering to). But it takes some time to really get used to it, esp for manual shifting. I recommend to use manual shifting for the first several months after break-in even in heavy traffic. I also strongly recommend Sport Chrono if you decide to go by Tip.

Tip is fun, but it's still not stick shift. You will miss the clutch eventually.

 

I cant do a Tip. I feel it takes the soul out of the car. It is a lot better than people think but for that car I say stick all the way. Just my .02

 

damn. my dad told me today that as long as he is paying for it he will never buy me a car with stick shift. i quote his words "it's an accident waiting to happen" This coming from the same person who convinced me to get a porsche and who used to race with his buddies down to mexico in his stick bmw.

 

Trick him ; ) A little white lie never hurt anybody lolol By the time he notices(hopefully) it will be too late. He'll be mad of course but at least you'll have your stick! ; )

 

Life is tough *lol* !

 

Hey it's like I always say.... " if it's free it's for me" : )

 

poor you

 

yes dru its me but im pretty sure you know that by now considering i just spoke to you in person about being a member of 6speed. and yes poor me, i tried playing the "it's cheaper to get a manual car" but he (my dad) said he basically didn't give a **** because he estimated my life was worth the extra few grand. He seems to be convinced that driving a manual is both unsafe and impractical but hey its a cayman s and im happy

 

Who are you?