Would it be a sin if I had an automatic transmission put in a Porsche 911?

Question

Or should I just learn how to drive a manual?

So I went on a tour of the Porsche factory in Stuttgart, Germany and every single Porsche is custom made. They don't just produce cars that don't have owners and ship them to dealers for people to look at, orders come in and the cars are made specifically to someone in the world who ordered it. So when I do get my Porsche it will be made exactly how I want it. That's why I ask about getting automatic put in.

I have the option of getting whatever transmission I want. They make them specifically for the person who buys the car. I'd be living in Germany when I get the Porsche, so I have the autobahn to take into consideration. Wheeeee! I ask because besides being 'fun' are there any other perks to driving a manual as opposed to an automatic?

Answer 1

Yes it would be a sin. Better to just buy a automatic in the 911 stock and not mess with putting one in. Stick shift isn't that hard to learn. May be easier to learn on a car alittle more forgiving. 911's are known for there stiff clutches.

Answer 2

I don't know if it's a sin, but it could mean missing out on the "full Porsche experience." Part of what makes a Porsche so desirable from a driving perspective is that it is how it involves you as a driver. And while the tiptronic is a pretty good automatic transmission, it is not as involving.

But aside from the "experience" of driving (and admittedly, if you are not used to a manual, that experience will not be a good one when you are caught in slow traffic), there are a few other considerations. First, performance. An automatic gearbox will lose more power than a manual - the Tiptronic is not an automatic clutch like Ruf or Ferrari uses, but an actual automatic transmission that uses a torque converter. The normal Porsche manual gearboxes are quite efficent at transferring as much power as possible, and the end result is likely to be 5-10% less power reaching the wheels in the Tiptronic car. Further, the tiptronic is also heavier.

The Tiptronic will require a little more maintenance, and will likely add a small premium to the cost of ownership over the car's life. Another consideration is that the tiptronic will not be seen as a desirable option if you should ever come to sell the car.

I know a few people that have tiptronic Porsches, and they are still good cars. I've had students at track events with tiptronic cars, and they can still turn in decent lap times. Even with the tiptronic, a Porsche is still a Porsche and it's definitely not a "sin." Yet, if I were to get another Porsche, it would definitely be another manual and the tip wouldn't even get a consideration.

Answer 3

over 70% of porsches made are currently automatics (at least here in the states they are). Its an absolute disgrace.

The thing porsche is best at is making cars with incredible amounts of feedback. You loose at least half of that by having the tiptronic in the car. Its a total and complete waste of a car. Theyre heavier, slower, and 100x less fun to drive.

Also, Dont buy a new porsche (specifically 911). Buy a used 996 Turbo. theyre much faster for roughly the same (or lower) price.

And you cant just put an auto into a 911. The manual and auto ones have different engine management systems and also different wiring harnesses. Not to mention the center console and such is also different.

Learn to drive a stick. Its a great skill to have, and theres a reason sports cars have always been primarily sticks. Go buy an old beater with a stick in it and learn on that. volvo 240s and old f150s come to mind.

also, id imagine it would be much harder to find a tiptronic 911 in europe. Almost every vehicle there is a standard.

lastly: If youre going to get a porsche, go to an instructed trackday or autocross event when you get comfortable with the car. not only are porsches wasted in auto form, but also when theyre not at least occasionally tracked, or driven by a person with some track time. You wont realize waht the car can do (or how to properly control it) until youve been on the track with one.

Answer 4

If you are more comfortable driving automatic, then by all means get automatic transmission. Learning to drive manual properly isn't as easy as it might seem. Additionally, if you are driving in traffic more often than on open roads, a manual transmission can make driving a chore -- shift, shift, shift, shift. If you talk on a cell phone when you're driving (a process we don't recommend) then by all means, go automatic. When you drive a manual transmission, you need to be adept at driving with one had on the wheel and be able to shift up and down as the engine rpms dictate. If you are a person who might slam on their brakes often, get an automatic transmission. People who don't drive manuals properly end up replacing clutches and clutch plates so often that the cars don't last that long.

Don't listen to people who put you down. Drive within your experience and competence level. Take this from a race car driver -- We KNOW!

Answer 5

Yes. Any and all years offer both manual and automatic transmissions. I have a Black Boxster. I race it at the track, go to car shows with it, and autox it. Everyone loves it. In the 2+ years I have owned it from 21-23 years old, no one ever called it a girls car. But then again, I do have a race exhaust system, test pipes, cold air intake, and other goodies.

Answer 6

You don't have to "put" one in...they make them with automatic.

If you mean ordering one with an automatic---if it's the new type of paddle shifting automatic, that's a pretty cool transmission.

As for learning a manual transmission, this depends a lot on your location, what kind of roads you find yourself on, and what type of driver you are.

For instance, somewhat mild, slow driver, going in heavy traffic most days----don't even bother to learn stick shift.

Aggressive driver, suburbs, live in the hills, or mostly on open freeways---manuals are fun.

Answer 7

Please do not put an automatic transmission on a Porsche!!!
You are ruining all the fun that you can get out of stick shift.

Do you want to have as much fun as you can from your Porsche? Please drive manual shift. You will see the fun come out of your body and your Porsche. .....

Good Luck...

Answer 8

while it is easy to learn to drive stick i wouldn't say its a sin, but before you have an auto installed why don't you buy one with an auto. It will be expensive to swap the transmissions your better of selling your Porsche and buying one with a factory auto there will probably be less problems that way too .

Answer 9

The benefit of the Tiptronic is it's actually faster than the manual, and of course in traffic, it's a LOT easier to drive, plus you never need a new clutch!

Answer 10

please dont put an auto in that car sweetie!!
once you learn to drive stick you will understand why lol, its FUN. i introduced my wife to manuals and now she hates automatics just as much as i do. Also an automatic tranny slows down your car, it weighs more and sucks up horse power with all its many moving parts ect. (this will turn into a debate im sure)