I just have to whine about my tiptronic...

Super 90 · 07:46 AM

Ok, if you don't like to hear people whine and complain, stop now! Go to another topic!

When I bought my present '08 Boxster S, it was a HUGE compromise to get get a tiptronic. It was either that or no Porsche at all. The wife has precisely zero mechanical ability and cannot fathom a manual transmission. There is no way. So... I only dream of the 911SC I commuted in daily, as I usually "manually shift" the tiptronic. Or the 356B I had. Or the '66 912. Or... all of them.

You guys with tiptronics out there... I almost always select the "Sport" mode, because the plain "Drive" mode is pretty much unbearable. The transmission continually shifts into too high a gear and if you need to accelerate, you're in an RPM range that just plain sucks. No other word for it. But the problem with the Sport mode is, after selecting Sport mode, you MUST hold something like 3,400 RPM for 2 seconds or more, for the Sport mode to actually come on. This is not an easy thing to do when you're in city traffic.... the tiptronic is in 3rd or 4th in the blink of an eye unless you really stand on the accelerator to prevent an immediate upshift.

I would pay money to Porsche if the Sport mode came on when you actually push the Sport button.

Although I am a happy man and would never wish it, if the wife gets whacked by a bus, this tiptronic is going on the block.

Anybody know of any reasonble solution short of buying a second Boxster S or spending thousands of dollars?

ronster · ronster's Garage

Wow! Tips must have really changed from the early ones. My '99 Tip gets aggressive the instant I put it in "M." I rarely drive the car in "D" anymore although the control module will adjust in "D" to my driving style. Too bad Porsche changed it as I wouldn't have a stick anymore after driving my Tip.

Super 90 · 09-11-2012, 07:46 PM

Interesting! According to the manual, I have to maintain something like 3200 or 3400 RPM for 2 seconds, for the sport mode to kick in and stay on. As I interpret the manual, the throttle sensitivity does change, just by selecting the sport mode - not entirely sure of that.

I've gotten so I simply don't use anything but the manual position anymore, and I do all the shifting with the buttons on the steering wheel. It kind of bums me out because other than that, the car is an absolute joy. It's in pristine shape (it's a CPO car) and its performance is so far and above any other Porsche I've owned, that I can't believe it.

Ok. I'm all done whining now.

I'll be happy and keep thinking that I'm very fortunate to even own a Porsche. It still beats driving any other kind of car!

Thanks for listening, guys!

ronster · ronster's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super 90

Interesting! According to the manual, I have to maintain something like 3200 or 3400 RPM for 2 seconds, for the sport mode to kick in and stay on. As I interpret the manual, the throttle sensitivity does change, just by selecting the sport mode - not entirely sure of that.

I've gotten so I simply don't use anything but the manual position anymore, and I do all the shifting with the buttons on the steering wheel. It kind of bums me out because other than that, the car is an absolute joy. It's in pristine shape (it's a CPO car) and its performance is so far and above any other Porsche I've owned, that I can't believe it.

Ok. I'm all done whining now.

I'll be happy and keep thinking that I'm very fortunate to even own a Porsche. It still beats driving any other kind of car!

Thanks for listening, guys!

I'm not familiar with the 08's but isn't Sport mode different than the "M" mode on the Tip? I remember I got really chewed out by a moderator, on another site, for commenting about the later model Tips because they were really different than mine. If I put my Tip in "D" and drive the car spiritedly the Tip learns and won't shift until I hit the higher RPM's but if I putt around the Tip will shift into 5th very quickly to save gas. Does yours do that?

Super 90 · 09-11-2012, 08:43 PM

I don't believe mine "learns" at all, and I don't recall reading anything about that being the case either.

There are essentially 3 settings - 2 are mechanical - the D (drive) mode, and the M (manual) mode, both selected with the gear lever. Then there's the software-controlled "Sport" mode, selected via a button on the console. That provides a more sensitive throttle response and much more "sporty" shift points, both for up and downshifts. If I want the tip to shift automatically, I always use the Sport setting when in "D". When in this mode, you can always manually shift with the buttons, for instance if you want to downshift for a pass, or if the tip stays in 4th when you stabilize your speed on the freeway at 60-70 and you want it to upshift for simply cruising at speed.

I don't think the "D" mode learns anything. It seems to merely do its best to shift into a higher gear as quickly as possible, to provide max MPG. The only way to get it to downshift is to literally pin the accelerator to the floor.

The "M" mode is just that - you have to manually shift with the steering wheel buttons. You can shift whenever you want, until you hit the rev limiter. This is my primary mode.

(I've never ridden as a passenger in the car with the wife driving. I'm sure she simply uses "D" and has no idea she is loading the engine when accelerating at a moderate pace, in the 2,000-3,000 RPM range... it would drive me insane to hear it. That's my price for owning a Porsche again!)

ronster · ronster's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super 90

I don't believe mine "learns" at all, and I don't recall reading anything about that being the case either.

There are essentially 3 settings - 2 are mechanical - the D (drive) mode, and the M (manual) mode, both selected with the gear lever. Then there's the software-controlled "Sport" mode, selected via a button on the console. That provides a more sensitive throttle response and much more "sporty" shift points, both for up and downshifts. If I want the tip to shift automatically, I always use the Sport setting when in "D". When in this mode, you can always manually shift with the buttons, for instance if you want to downshift for a pass, or if the tip stays in 4th when you stabilize your speed on the freeway at 60-70 and you want it to upshift for simply cruising at speed.

I don't think the "D" mode learns anything. It seems to merely do its best to shift into a higher gear as quickly as possible, to provide max MPG. The only way to get it to downshift is to literally pin the accelerator to the floor.

The "M" mode is just that - you have to manually shift with the steering wheel buttons. You can shift whenever you want, until you hit the rev limiter. This is my primary mode.

(I've never ridden as a passenger in the car with the wife driving. I'm sure she simply uses "D" and has no idea she is loading the engine when accelerating at a moderate pace, in the 2,000-3,000 RPM range... it would drive me insane to hear it. That's my price for owning a Porsche again!)

Sounds like Porsche added the Sport mode to replace the learning mode in the older Tips giving you a choice. I've never driven a newer Boxster with a Tip but you've got my curiosity up now. Have fun!

Super 90 · 09-12-2012, 01:02 PM

Ronster - I just happened to be at the dealer today, as one brake light burned out when I was literally a block away. I stopped in and talked to the service guys.

They told me that the tip DOES learn in the "D" mode. They said the longer I drive it in "D", the better it will be for my driving style. So.... I am going to spend a couple of my commuting days running it in the "D" mode and seeing how smart it is.

I have very little faith, but I'm a cynical guy.

I did lose a little respect for the service guy because he didn't know about the requirement to hit a certain RPM for the sport mode to stick. I think I'm one of the few people who read manuals cover-to cover.

Thanks for the comments. It's nice to have one person listen to my whining.