Complaining about the Gearbox?

[randywebb]

Here is a sampling of what car test magazines said about the transmission and shifter -- and these mostly deal with the 901 gearbox...


The [newly introduced 911’s] 5 speed gearbox is probably the new car’s best single feature.” – CAR & DRIVER, April 1965, p. 30.

The gear “lever remains delightful to use…” Motor, Jan. 29, 1972

The 901 transmission is a “superb five-speed gearbox… provides a ratio for every occasion…[and] requires so little physical effort that winding up and down through all five ratios… when pressing on in twisty or hilly country, is one of the most rewarding pleasures in motoring.”
-- Motor, Feb. 8, 1969

The 901 transmission “gate [is] well-defined.. and the powerful synchromesh is so utterly smooth and unobtrusive that the lever seems hardly to be attached to any mechanism. Upper changes are made as fast as the lever can be sliced through the gate….”
-- Motor, Feb. 8, 1969

The gear lever “movement is so natural, if you try to change across the gate, you’ll muff the shift.” “When other manufacturers want to [brag] their specifications often list Porsche-type baulk-ring synchromesh. The yardstick is Porsche and Porsche gear syncronisation is perfection.”
-- Wheels, July, 1969

The five speed, all synchromesh gearbox is one of this Porsche [911’s] greatest delights; it is light to operate and I find it almost impossible to change too quickly.”
-- Motor Sport, Jan. 1970

[911pcars]

How many of us got to shift/break-in a brand new gearbox? Not many I would guess. My original gearbox was a 901-4-speed. How many of these are still around?

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[livi]

I remember how they praised the first home computers and video tape players. They were all thrilled!

But yes, when new, I suspect the 901 and 915 were better than after 100+ k miles - when most of us took over.

It was fun to read the comments though. Thanks for posting!