From: davor [davor-e@concentric.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 11:40 PM
To: 928
Subject: [928] Re: Convert Auto To 5-speed?

Ray,

I've heard from listmembers much smarter than I that "the swap" is not
something that's recommended.  Pretty complicated switch from what I
understand, but some may say otherwise.

Re:  5spd vs. auto.....here we go again.   In the spring I bought an
IDENTICAL S4 to my 87 blk/blk auto.  I had the opportunity to drive both for
a while.  The 5spd was a beast.  Seductive and savage in its power,
especially on the lower end which has been my constant gripe with my auto.
The auto was very driveable and civilized as a daily driver.   The stick was
"on" all the time.  As it's my only car, I did not necessarily want to be
"on" driving my car all the time.  I wound up selling the stick.  I've done
two trips to Montreal now in my auto...1,900 miles each trip.  The auto
serves the car well in the 928's "sweet spot" which is about 110 mph plus.
I've done a 155 clip in it(albeit brief).  Not much advantage to the stick
there....but how often are you gonna drive that fast!?!  Boils down to your
personal preference and personality....as my buddy says  "Thats why they
make 31 flavors!"

have fun

davor
87S4 auto schwarzhai




From: Wally Plumley [wplumley@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 9:15 AM
To: 928
Subject: [928] Re: Manual or Auto Box (Age old question)

At 08:06 AM 7/2/01, exofield@powerup.com.au wrote:
>This question has probably been answered a million times before but since
>I'm new to this forum I'll restate it.

Perhaps not a million times, but quite a few. You can go to the RennList 
Home Page and search the archives for past discussions on this or other 
subjects.

>Is the Auto or the manual gearbox
>better in the early 928's?.

Yes. Purely personal preference, based upon your driving conditions. Both 
of my 928s are 5-speeds, but if I were commuting into Atlanta every day, I 
would want an automatic. Approximately 80% of the USA cars are auto. The 
large, torquey V-8 is well suited to the auto. The auto will normally 
outperform the 5-speed in autocross, and is better on the track for a 
beginner, while an expert can do better with a 5-speed.

Either is a blast to drive!

>I have just recently purchased an auto 928s
>1981 model but I have always preferred manual gearboxes in sports cars.

The 928 is not a sports car - it is a GT (Grand Touring) car.

>Is it worthwhile converting this to a manual?

No.

>Is it possible?

Yes.

>And lastly are the manual gearboxes reliable?

Yes, very - with the exception that the earlier cars used Porsche-design 
synchronizers, which are not very effective when new, and tend to wear 
relatively quickly. These were changed to Borg-Warner-design synchronizers 
in later cars, which are more effective and longer-wearing. At best, the 
5-speeds tend to shift with Teutonic deliberation.

Wally Plumley
928 Specialists