Porsche 991 Turbo: Which is Faster The Tiptronic or The Stick?

It is no surprise that Porsche’s Tiptronic electronically controlled automatic transmission is good, but it is a surprise to learn that it makes the 2007 911 Turbo quicker down the drag strip. Aside from special applications, the torque converter has always been considered a hindrance. In this case the Tiptronic even has one less gear, being a 5-speed. The 6-speed manual on the face of it should clearly out-drag the two-pedal car. Nay, it does not. Power-braking the Tiptronic loads the turbo and builds boost before the car leaves the line. To build boost in the manual-equipped car would require excessive slipping of the clutch. This delay in building boost gives the advantage to the torque-converter-equipped Tiptronic — the gain being a tenth of a second to 60 mph despite its taller first gear.

The ability of the Tiptronic system to quickly shift gears shaves time the whole length of the strip — pulling out two more tenths. This is because the turbo stays under load while the Tiptronic shifts — keeping the 480 bhp at work pushing the car. In contrast, the manual is given pause three times in the quarter- mile as the driver changes gears.



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DarkOneForce - 11/9/2006 12:39:08 PM

+2 Boost

So after sequential and twin clutches, the manual looses
again.

answer - 11/9/2006 1:40:15 PM

0 Boost

I believe the Porsche Turbo has been faster with the automatic for the past couple generations.

Not having to play around with a gearshift frees your hand to actually wave good bye to people as you floor it.

stone - 11/9/2006 1:47:07 PM

-2 Boost

Personally,

I could care less about a couple of tenths of a second. I would get much more satisfaction shifting my own gears (although both of my current cars have auto trannys). I understand that these new SMGs and DSGs allow anyone to drive faster, but there used to be a price of admission to high performance driving and there is nothing like having your passengers compliment you on not being able to feel you change gears in a manual. I have no doubt that these new gearboxes are better than manuals, but when I purchase my sports car, I will not consider anything other than a manual tranny. Maybe its my loss, but its my dollar.....

skoobyfl - 11/9/2006 6:00:06 PM

+1 Boost

Your right stone what's a few tenths, buy a ZO6 corvette then and save yourself about $70,000.

bigslick83 - 11/9/2006 2:30:24 PM

0 Boost

i agree stone. i prefer driving a manuel in cars that were made to be drivin. however in a commuter car in the city its a huge pain. and those autosticks just dont do it for me.

Homer008 - 11/9/2006 4:21:50 PM

0 Boost

Why do I need this to crap to go on grocery shopping, pickup dogfoods, drop off videos and watch idiots crashing their 911's to a back of a semi-truck. Why?

Homer008 - 11/9/2006 4:21:55 PM

-1 Boost

Why do I need this crap to go on grocery shopping, pickup dogfoods, drop off videos and watch idiots crashing their 911's to a back of a semi-truck. Why?

lewissalem - 11/10/2006 10:22:00 AM

+1 Boost

This is also true of the A3's dual clutch system. But I still like to shift! I guess I'm old fashioned.

DarkOneForce - 11/10/2006 2:48:00 PM

+2 Boost

Hello guys, dual clutches and sequentials do have MANUAL MODE.

They're not what you'd call real automatics.