G-50 is for Wankers!

[RWebb]

I realize this treads in both the religious and political arenas, but since some recent comments I made about the wt. of the G50 transmission on the tech. forum seemed to gore a few righteous defenders....

I thought we might have some fun....



I'll pre-announce that I admire the 993 trans. - and in some ways it is an evolution fo the G50.

But the real G50, itself....

[notfarnow]

I dunno.

I've only ever driven 3 911s, two w/915s, one w/ g50.

The early 915 I drove was a dream. It was very mechanical feeling, like you could feel the synchros actually working as the gears engaged. It was fantastic... not slick, but a very nice transmission to use.

On the other hand, the 915 in my father's carrera is a dog. It sometimes slips into 2nd beautifully, sometimes it feels completely blocked. 3rd can be hard to find. It only has ~80k on it. I've tried adjusting it, put in a Stromski coupler, done engine & transmission mounts, Swepco. None have made it a nice-shifting car. Plus, it doesn't have the same "direct" feel of the earlier one I drove. If anything, I can't tell what the hell is going on in there.

The '88 I drove with a g50 was like shifting a Toyota. It just went into gear without drama, over and over, time after time. It didn't have the same mechanical feedback as the nice 915 I'd used, but then again, I didn't need the feedback if it's just plopping into the next gear effortlessly. Not the same mechanical experience as a nice 915, but sure beats a balky 915 like my dad's.

[imcarthur]

I guess I'm a wanker because the 915s I drove belong in tractors! One was balky as above & one was downright pitiful. And that long throw . . . like I said, it's a decent tractor transmission. Call me a wanker will you . . .

Ian

[Rick Lee]

I've owned them all, first generation G50, 915 and G50/20. I've driven great and terrible examples of each. If I had my choice, I'd stick with a 915, since they're cheap and easy to rebuild by comparison. But they don't make them for 993's. I dread the day I have to rebuild my G50/20. I really want the G50/21 or to shorten my gears. But that's big $$.

[masraum]

I've driven a few SCs and two different G50s. One of the G50s that I drove shifted amazingly. It was really, really nice. It had been rebuilt in Maryland.

Some other 915s were OK, and a couple of the other 915s were pretty bad. I had 2 G50s in my car. The first was moderate shifting 1st when cold, but otherwise was good. The second G50 had was great all around. Both had a very mechanical feel. There was a bit of tranny noise in both G50s. I actually thought that the tranny noise was endearing.

My miata tranny reminds me of my old G50s. My wifes miata is similar, but I test drove a miata a while back that had a tranny that was VERY slick and shifted like a hot knife through butter. It was pretty amazing.

[Dutchie]

Thats the second time i was called a wanker on pelican first time for backdating my car and now because i have a G50.

I will ask Wayne to ban RWebb

[Aerkuld]

Thank goodness for that. I thought I'd bought the wrong car!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I have the 915 in mine (albeit with a Wevo short shift kit) and it feels WONDERFUL. Just how a raw, unadulterated mechanical piece of equipment should. Dunno what the G50s are like (I haven't had the pleasure) but I wonder if they feel more "detached". That's perhaps my only complaint about the 6-speed manual in my SLK. It's a true manual, but the linkage is so tight and solid it feels kind of separate from the actual gearbox.

[ted]

my mech said women have less trouble shifting the G-50.
G-50 vs 915 same lap time.

[Seric]

I have driven both and I lucked out with my 915. It was rebuilt about 10k miles before I bought it and a short shift kit was installed. Second can be a bit "dodgy" sometimes, but overall shifts very nice.

The G50 I drove, '87 Targa, was really nice *shrug*

[livi]

My, perhaps silly, opinion is that I would hate having to drive any other more modern car if it had a 915. In a SC or Carrera however I feel it fits perfectly. The whole reason for my owning a Carrera (as opposed to a 964/993/996) is to get that old, mechanical, simple, primitive driving experience. The floor hinged pedals, the non servo assisted steering, the 915, the noise etc. I like how it needs getting used to. How it takes time to learn how to negotiate the 915 smoothly. How I still after four years am learning and improving my driving in it.

Nothing worthwhile is easy.

[Jeff Higgins]

A 915 makes you earn every gear, where a G50 justs gives it to you. It's always more satisfying when something is earned. These are "hobby" cars, after all - we are looking to them for fun and satisfaction. My wife can't drive mine, finds it intimidating. I take some satisfaction in that. A truly adept 915 driver has accomplished something, while a G50 driver has not.

[Dutchie]

Originally Posted by livi

My, perhaps silly, opinion is that I would hate having to drive any other more modern car if it had a 915. In a SC or Carrera however I feel it fits perfectly. The whole reason for my owning a Carrera (as opposed to a 964/993/996) is to get that old, mechanical, simple, primitive driving experience. The floor hinged pedals, the non servo assisted steering, the 915, the noise etc. I like how it needs getting used to. How it takes time to learn how to negotiate the 915 smoothly. How I still after four years am learning and improving my driving in it.

Nothing worthwhile is easy.

7,807 posts in 3 years and time left how to drive a 915 ? wow !

[livi]

Originally Posted by Dutchie

7,807 posts in 3 years and time left how to drive a 915 ? wow !

I don´t sleep much..

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

A truly adept 915 driver has accomplished something, while a G50 driver has not.

Ya got that right.

The 915 isn't for someone who doesn't have an afinity for the feel of things mechanical, not for those who must ask others to tell them how they can tell if they are lugging their engines and not for those who have to ask what rpm to shift at. It's not for someone who doesn't even know what the term "double clutch" means, much less how to do it (NOT that the 915 REQUIRES double clutching).

For those who appreciate such things, there's nothing sweeter than the feeling of direct connection of driver to machine that a properly operating and adjusted cable clutch and a 915 gives to the practised driver.

Sweeten it up even more with a WEVO shifter, PSJ and engine mounts.

Ya don't let just "anybody" drive yer 915!

[imcarthur]

But I dare you to drive a 915 blindfolded.

Ian

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I realize this treads in both the religious and political arenas, but since some recent comments I made about the wt. of the G50 transmission on the tech. forum seemed to gore a few righteous defenders....

I thought we might have some fun....



I'll pre-announce that I admire the 993 trans. - and in some ways it is an evolution fo the G50.

But the real G50, itself....

Don't know how to break this news to you but.... a 993 G50/20>33 is a G50. The case is virtually identical to the g50/03 used in 964s which is very little changed from the origianl g50/00 used in '87 911s. As w/ 915s there were incremenatal changes and improvements along the way.

This trans was also used in the early 996s at least until they went to the cable shifters

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

But I dare you to drive a 915 blindfolded.

Ian

I'll TAKE that bet!

But it has to be MY 915
(the lightweight little buggers each have their own personality).

Edit: Practice develops muscle memory; it's ALL about muscle memory with a 915 .

[Bob Goding]

I'm about to sell my old '76 and buy a later car with a G-50.
When will I start masturbating?

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Bob Goding

I'm about to sell my old '76 and buy a later car with a G-50.
When will I start masturbating?

You may lose your satisfaction after shifting w/o gates for years and end up with selectile dysfunction.

No WAY would I trade my 915 for a G50!