Love/Hate 968 6 speed

[chuckw951]

I recently purchased a 968. My daily driver is an older diesel Benz.

Today I decided to drive the 968 to work. My commute is 20 miles of 65-85mph highway driving and then 15 miles of DC beltway gridlock.

The entrance ramp to the highway was much more fun this morning. With the slow Benz I need to plan my merge...because the car doesn't have the power to jump in to the mix. Not so with the 968...

I really like the 6 speed transmission in this car. The gears seemed to be spaced just right. I didn't shift in 6th until 65mph or so. Sure would be fun to take it to 150mph.

Anyway the drive was great until I hit the DC beltway gridlock. Clutch gas brake clutch gas brake for 45 minutes. At that point I missed the Benz! At the same time I don't regret getting the 6 speed over the tiptronic. I guess the solution is not to drive in heavy traffic.

Chuck

[drew1]

I would like to try a 968 transmission. I hear not so much rpm drop when shifting to high as 4 to 5 on the others.

[Harpman2]

My 944 has 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th gear.

[fast924S]

Chuck, I think your just use to a auto, keep driving the 968 and you will love it, in or out of traffic. If you really dont like it I will trade you my 2000 toyota tacoma v6 auto for your 968

[chuckw951]

Originally posted by fast924S
Chuck, I think your just use to a auto, keep driving the 968 and you will love it, in or out of traffic. If you really dont like it I will trade you my 2000 toyota tacoma v6 auto for your 968

I really like the 968, bought it last weekend. You are probably right about being used to the automatic. The other thing I need to get used to is the big blind spot when the top is up. I'll have to learn to "trust" my mirrors. Toyota trucks are nice, but if I were to buy a truck I'd buy a 3/4 ton with a diesel....something that can tow a big boat.

[fast924S]

HAHAHA, it was worth a try

[seaboltman]

read this, not only will you make life easier on you, with your manual transmission, but you will help traffic move smoothly, and get better gas mileage

http://amasci.com/amateur/traffic/traffic1.html

DC traffic convinced me to go auto in my 944 and my "944 part shuttle" (durango) after driving nothing but manuals for ~6 years. As much as I love stick, it's just not the right transmission for a 6 mile, 45 minute commute.

[Damian in NJ]

968 clutches get notoriously grabby in extended stop and go traffic, it's not fun.

[sayporsha]

968 clutches get notoriously grabby in extended stop and go traffic, it's not fun.

That's "good" to hear. I thought mine was the only one that did that. The torque tube flex makes it especially fun to control.

The 6-speed has taken me a long time to get used to. It suits the power curve of the 3.0 Variocam nicely to keep it in the sweet spot under hard driving. I don't think I would retrofit a 951 with one of these boxes, though.

On that note, I'm getting ready to put my 951 back into service after a couple of years, and I hope I don't grab reverse at 100 mph out of instinct!

R stands for "reverse"? I thought it was "race"!

[jacks911]

I know all you Shifter Guys don't like to hear this - but that is why Porsche designed the Tiptronic. Yes it is not quick of the line - but it will merge with any traffic & ease your left leg (& nerves) in any traffic. And mountain roads - with the flat Torque curve of the VarioCam - the quick Tip shifts - and four gears gives you all the fun you (I mean I ) need. IMHO

[Damian in NJ]

Jack, if I were buying a new Porsche I'd certainly get a tip if it was a daily driver. For 968's, most aren't daily transportation, and the penalty of the early version tip plus a cab weight equals plus 8 second 0-60 times-not for me.

[Roger Hall]

Its not the 968 any manual transmission sucks at rush hour

[chuckw951]

Originally posted by chuckw951
...DC beltway gridlock... Chuck

That does it I'm moving to Montana!

That's about 1 mile past my favorite part of the beltway...

When you're on the outer loop, there's a dogleg where there's a sharp turn to the left followed by a sharp turn to the right and both turns are banked opposite of what they "should" be if it were a racetrack; I think it might be right in front of that church/cathedral. If you hit it at night, it's very conducive to testing your car's weight balance, if you know what I mean.

...and then try not to hit the jersey wall exiting the second turn.

[jacks911]

Damian,

You are correct, The Tip is a slow Dragster. I think most tests show a 0-60 in the 7.5 to 8 sec range with the Cab's extra weight. Porsche as always give us High speed capability we can't use in the US. I wish they had put the 3.78 R&P in the Cab. I would give up 10 MPH up top for a Second off the bottom. None-the-less above 30 MPH the Tip performs well for everyday use. And as a Cab devotee I accept the extra weight penalty. Some say the lower center of gravity is a plus in the Cab ???

One thing I have learned. The '93 968 Tip is Much Better than the version I had in my former "91 964 Cab. It has a quick & undetectable Converter lockup - it Stays in First in the Tip mode in all throttle positions - and if you are driving agressively (PCA Drivers Skills event) it starts in first even in "D". I live in the other Washington and with our traffic I am OK letting the Tip do the work as I inch across one of our floating traffic jams...

Regards, Jacks Cobalt 968 in Seattle

[armandodiaz]

You guys are wimps
Try driving an 85 911 (915 gearbox/clutch cable TOB) in the I95 Miami traffic. My left leg looks like Arnold's and my right resembles a chicken.

[toolboy62]

I live in the same area and I still wouldn't trade my 944 for anything with a slushbox! Only problem is every time I get stuck in traffic I start thinking about how much a new clutch costs...

nate

[bulachip]

Traffic sucks in DC But the metro is awesome you guys should use it for your commute. I just got a place in Clevland Park and it takes me 15 min on the train to down town. I saw the silver spring sign in your post. I would hop on the red line right there and save your fustration and clutch!!