I have been busy for the past 10 days in Carmel which accounts for no new posting on this thread in the past week! That is my favorite week in the calendar! This year my activities included the following:

1) Pre-Historics at Laguna Seca on Sunday!
2) Garage Style Magazine's 'Garage Tour' on Monday!
3) Carmel's 'Concours on the Avenue' on Tuesday!
Automobilia Monterey on Tuesday & Wednesday! (Automobilia Monterey: 11th Annual International Expo - August 13 - 14 , 2013)
4) Micro-Car Show in Pacific Grove on Wednesday noon!
Gordon McCall's Jet Center Party on Wednesday night!
5) Test Driving - Porsche Zentrum in Quail Lodge on Thursday!
Pebble Beach Concours Entrants Rallye - Lunch Stop in Carmel's Ocean Avenue!
6) 'Legends of the Autobahn' Concours in La Cañada Golf Club on Friday Morning!
'Concorso Italiano' near Pasadera Golf Club on Friday Afternoon!
7) Historics Racing at Laguna Seca on Saturday day!
'Carrera Panamericana Reunion' at Baja Cantina on Saturday night!
8) 'Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance' on Sunday day!
Gooding's Auction on Sunday night!

And I missed The Quail, Mecum's, RM's, Bonhams, Russo & Steele - ran out of time and money!

At both the Pre-Historics and Historics, a very unusual '09 Porsche Turbo was parked in the paddock area. It is a PTS color which the owner 'borrowed' from a Ferrari racing team he knows in Belgium. This hue is a close relative to my old '73 911's 'Signal Yellow' (although it looks almost 'orange' in the photos), but more intense! The owner had the Belgians provide him the color formula and then used it to paint a sample piece which was sent to PAG. It was approved and given the 'colour code' Z10. Yellows are an extremely difficult color on any car's surface. I could tell that over time, the plastic bumpers had retain the color pretty well but the metal surfaces adjacent to it were a shade different - almost giving a translucent look. This is one of the reasons that PAG so often does not approve a customer's PTS color request. They don't want to be liable for warranty work down the road if the owner complains about fading & mis-matching panels. The interior was also 'Leather to Sample' - blue with yellow deviating stitching. As with all 'Leather to Sample' interiors, the interior's plastic pieces (speakers, defroster vents, etc) will be done in black 'soft touch' paint. The factory actually encourages you to cover all of these plastic pieces in leather to achieve a better coordinated look. This owner did not do that, but the contrast with the blue is totally acceptable!

Next photo is of a beautiful PTS 'Riviera Blue' My2006 Carrera S that was on display at 'Legends of the Autobahn' on Friday. It belongs to a friend (Phil) from NorCal. Next to Phil is a 'Turquoise' 993!

Final photos are of the 'Agate Grey/Lime Gold' interior on a Boxster at the Porsche Zentrum in Quail. This is shown as available only in 'Partial Leather' on the Configurator for that model exclusively. But it's my understanding that it could be requested by special order in other models (e.g. 991) and even in a 'Full Leather' interior. As photographed at Quail, all of the Agate Grey components are in 'vinyl'. Only the 'Lime Gold' parts are real leather. 'Lime Gold' is an unusual hue and could look very interesting as an interior with other exterior colors besides 'Lime Gold' (e.g. Anthracite, Mahogany, Cognac & Agate Grey). This 'Lime' interior has been seldom ordered to date by any customer or dealer. So it was the first time I have ever seen it in person...and so perhaps by most of you!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

 

Although not yet offered on the 981, I anticipate that an option for a 'smooth-finished' leather storage compartment lid in center console with decorative stitching will be available soon. When it comes, this is one option to STRONGLY consider. The reason is that the alternatives do not look as attractive.

a) Without 'full leather' interior, console lid is covered in texture vinyl.

b) 1st photo shows area as it comes with 'full leather' interior in 'Pebble Grey'. 2nd in partial leather in 'Lime Gold' (where console is covered in real leather). The console lid is covered so tightly in leather that it is often confused for a synthetic leather (e.g. vinyl) and has not stitching what-so-ever.

c) 3th & 4th photos show console in a 'full leather' interior with decorative stitching option on a 991. The stitching is really pronounced and the whole thing looks very elegant & well finished. The stitching on the lid of center console (storage) leaves no doubt the material is leather!

Unfortunately, the lid is done in texture leather on the 'Black' interior in this 991 example. I believe that it will be all done in the higher grade leather if you order this option with the 'natural' upgraded leathers (e.g. Carrera Red). The lid on my Spyder's 'Carrera Red' looks even better due to the higher quality of the 'natural' aniline dyed leather!

This option was also not available on early orders on the 991's. I have only seen it on the 'Racing Yellow' 991 of Sascha Glaeser which he uses as a 'demonstrator'. However, it has been available to order for several months now on the PCNA configurator for the 991 and will most likely be offered on the 981 soon! At this time, this option apparently can NOT be ordered with deviating stitching on the 991. Not even the standard 'limited' colors offered for the seats, dash, door panels, etc. This restriction will change soon. Deviating stitching for all additional leather 'Porsche Exclusive' options is expected to be available later this Fall.

In the 991, the option includes the following:
Covered in smooth-finish leather in interior color with decorative stitching:
- center tunnel cover in rear
- storage compartment lid in center console

It is priced at $1,190. I expect it will be half that price on the 981 since it will not include the rear center tunnel.

Saludos,
Eduardo

 

Porsche added a few weeks ago option 'XNS' to their PCNA configurator. It is called 'Steering column casing in leather', Option # XNS, for $465. I think this option is very important and I will explain to you why. Without this option, all colored interiors in your 991/981 other than 'Black' will not be as well coordinated since it will come with a dual-tone steering wheel as 'standard'. In the 991/981, the front of the steering wheel is now color coordinated to the interior color (e.g. Luxor Beige, Yachting Blue, Platinum Grey, Carrera Red) and the back of the steering wheel is done in 'black' to coordinate with the adjacent steering column casing done standard in 'Black' plastic. See the first 4 photos below to see what I am talking about!

The steering wheels in the 997/987 models were not as awkward because Porsche did not color-coordinate the front of those steering wheels! For example, in early MY2011, the standard steering wheel was painted a shade of silver and only the leather rim was colored coordinated to your interior. In late MY2011 & MY2012, the standard steering wheel now came painted in 'black' and the leather rim was still colored to your interior (see photo #5), which was an nice look!

With the new 991/981, the standard steering wheel's front is now painted to match your interior, in addition to having the leather rim in that color too! If you order Option 'XNS', Porsche provides you with a beautiful leather casing with stitching so that your steering column can color match your interior's leather color. But that is NOT ALL. It also eliminates the 'black' rear part of your steering wheel since that apparently is also coordinated to the color of your interior and the adjacent leather-covered 'steering column' (see attachment #6 from the configurator in Luxor Beige)! Photo #7 lets you contrast the previous attachment to a 'Luxor Beige' Full leather interior without this 'XNS' leather casing option so you will see in the standard black plastic!

This 'XNS' option is brand new on the 991/981 and I have not seen or yet photographed any cars done with this option. However, I did ordered 'Steering Column Casing in Leather' on my 'Carrera Red' MY2012 Spyder and that is what you will see in the last two photos (#8 & #9). It is absolutely stunning!

For those ordering a 'Black' or any of the Dual-Tone/BiColor interiors, this 'XNS' option is interesting & beautiful but not necessary! But for anyone that orders the lighter/brighter color interiors like 'Luxor Beige', 'Yachting Blue' or 'Carrera Red', this option is highly recommended in order for you to achieve a blended & more color consistent look in your 991/981 interior! You will also love it simply for the great looking leather & stitching, which is very pronounced! Finally, it's also one of the least expensive 'Porsche Exclusive' leather options that Porsche offers...so take advantage of it!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

 

There was one leather option on the 997/981 which I loved. It was called 'Defroster Trim in Leather', Option #XV1 and it cost only $535. It finished up in leather the portion of the dash normally done in plastic even on the 'Full Leather' interiors! It also provided a wonderful stitching line at the base of the windshield (which was very visible) and covered the central dash speaker with leather and stitching. It was a great deal for $535 and I ordered it on my '12 Spyder! See first attached photo shows the dash of my '12 Spyder.

In the 981, I don't see yet an option that will do what Option # XV1 did for the 987! In the 991, they do an option for the defroster trim & side vents in leather BUT we don't get a bargain anymore! It costs $1710. It is option # CZW. This option was a delayed availability at the start of 991 production but it's now offered on the configurator. It is called the 'Additional Interior Package, Dashboard in Leather'. It is described as follows in the configurator:

Covered in smooth-finish leather in interior color and partly with decorative stitching:
- dashboard end trim
- defroster trim

The only thing remotely similar to #CZW on the 981 is Option # CZV 'Air vent slats in leather' for $1,190 (see representation attached, #2 for the 981). This option is described in the configurator as:

Covered in smooth-finish leather in interior color:
- side air vent slats
- center air vent slats

However, I don't believe this option provides any stitching around the vents. As a result, it will be difficult to notice the tightly covered smooth-finished leather from the standard 'soft touch' plastic on the vents!

I still wish there would be a future 981 option similar to the old #XV1 which covers the defroster trim near the windshield and provides a visible stitching. There is still a lot of plastic on a 981 'Full Leather Interior' dash (e.g defroster trim near the windshield) that could benefit from being covered in leather and with beautiful stitching! Some people think that given that the stitching on the 981 goes up & down and not sideways as in the 991, they are not hopeful Porsche will provide it. But I think differently. We had the same on the 987 and we still got option XV1!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

 

Forum member 'sfo' in England has alerted us to a recent article just published at PistonHeads in Britain. I think this is a significant development because the key to our beloved 987 Spyder is both the lighter weight and the NON-PASM based 'sport chassis'. This new 981 option might be the closest (to date) we get to make the new 981S feel & handle like the acclaimed Spyder! To my knowledge, PCNA has not yet talked about this upcoming option. But I believe you should all know about its existence and make your 981 purchase decisions accordingly!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

***********************************************
Friday 24th August

DRIVEN: PORSCHE BOXSTER SPORTS CHASSIS
A quick blast in new hardcore chassis option for Boxster S

For all that puff about high-tech ‘chassis control systems’ presented to us last week by Porsche. it’s interesting to note that for the new Sports Chassis option coming on the Boxster it reverts to passive dampers, rather than PASM.

Faster and with more feedback on trackThe German engineering team helping us navigate the technology brought this Sports Chassis equipped Boxster S to Silverstone too, providing an interesting comparison twixt the high-tech approach with active dampers and the more traditional ‘ramp up the rates and off you go’ Sports Chassis.

As you’ll have seen from a previous blog, getting to the bottom of why passive dampers are considered better for a more focused set-up wasn’t an easy task, this being somewhat contrary to the party line that tech – with a supporting cast of acronyms behind it – is best. Indeed, in some ways this and the basic, no frills (relative) Carrera 2 were the elephants in the room, both proving in their own and very different ways how good Porsches stripped of all the electronic gubbins and tuned with good, old-fashioned engineering know-how can be.

Harder, faster ... better?
The Sports Chassis will be available from later in the year and although the hardware is apparently more straightforward than the PASM option we were told the price will be more or less comparable with the active dampers, which add £971 to the price of a Boxster S. The implication seemed to be that the Sports Chassis would only be available on the S too.

Stiffer rear axle dials out understeerYou can check the numbers in the comparison table below, which details the changes brought by the Sports Chassis over both the standard and PASM options. And, on the face of it, it’s a significantly firmer set-up, not least in rear anti-roll which is 46 per cent stiffer than standard. Even the PASM chassis is only 10 per cent stiffer and this and significantly harder rear spring rates would suggest Porsche is dialling out some of the stock setting’s understeer to create a sharper, more incisive turn-in and generally pointier character.

Strictly hardcore

And, guess what, that’s exactly what it does. True, we didn’t get a chance to try it on the road so – unfortunately - can’t comment right now on whether it’s a step too far for that default bumpy B-road. But on the smooth surfaces of Silverstone’s National loop the additional front-end is really noticeable, in both slower, tighter corners like the Luffield complex and higher-speed ones like Copse. An ambitious turn-in to either in the standard S induces obvious understeer that you just have to offset with a slower entry or sit out until you can pour in more power.

PASM is the more all-round choiceBut the Sport Chassis means the front end turns in with much more aggression and bite and you can get on the power sooner and harder. Transfer that to the road and though you’ll be trading a bit of comfort you’d have to hope that would also mean a bit more seat of the pants feel and less of the slightly inert, aloof detachment of the standard car, at least at vaguely sensible speeds. Higher limits on the track and a bit more feel and feedback on the road? Sounds like just the ticket if you want your Boxster a little sharper and akin to the Spyder/Cayman R in the previous models.
Credit to Porsche for offering us the choice though. And if you want your Boxster as an all-rounder then PASM makes a lot of sense. If, however, you want something a bit sharper and intuitive, well, you can have that instead. Horses for courses and all that.

A PASM-equipped Boxster......and one with the new Sport Suspension

PASM Sports Chassis
Front axle height -10mm -20mm
Rear axle height -10mm -20mm
Spring rate front +12% +20%
Spring rate rear +15% +25%
Anti-roll bar front +12% +22%
Anti-roll bar rear +10% +46%
Dampers PASM 'Sport Set-up' (passive)

Note: all values compared with standard, non-PASM suspension

Driven: Porsche Boxster Sports Chassis
***************************************

 

A) Two Tone Interiors: Someone from 'Porsche Exclusive' mentioned to me two weeks ago (at the temporary Porsche Zentrum set up at Quail Lodge) that Porsche is about to allow an expanded selection of Bi-Color interiors on their 991 model. I sincerely hope they will allow them also for the 981 but I am not yet certain of that.

In the 991, they will allow a 'Black/Carrera Red' interior combination for which there is some demand. Currently, that is not easy to do well on the 991, other than the two standard Bi-Color offerings of 'Agate/Pebble Grey' and 'Black/Platinum Grey'. Up to now, a nightmare scenario may occur when folks order a deviating color dash and top of the door trims other than the standard Bi-Colors offerings! Take a look at the attached photo of a 991 Cabriolet with a 'Luxor Beige' interior and deviating leather dash & upper door trims in 'Black' leather. The current ordering system inexplicably allows all the soft-touch plastic parts in the interior to remain 'Luxor Beige', not 'Black' at the appropriate places in the dash (vents/speakers), rear cab shelf area and circular plug on door trim. The results is a visual mismatch of epic proportions!

I feel quite bad for the unsuspecting owner who ordered this cab with high expectations of a beautiful two-tone interior! It also shows that anyone must be careful in what you order from Porsche. PAG will build it as requested by your dealer in the computer order guides, even when it looks like a terrible thing (as in this case). There is no second guessing the customer or a friendly email to dealer asking someone to please reconsider! If that is what you order, we will build it, Jawohl! That is in part why I am doing my threads on Teamspeed. So that our forum members know how important it's to pay attention to all details in your order and choose wisely from the multiple options offered by 'Porsche Exclusive'!

B) The new ordering system will soon allow the subcontractors to supply the production line with color coordinated 'soft touch' parts when a customer makes a request for a custom Bi-Color interior. In the case of the Cabriolet in the attached photo, all the areas surrounding the 'Black' leather dash will be done in soft-touch painted in 'Black'. Same for the other trim pieces in the rear of the cabin. It's really a small change in their order guides which really should have been allowed from day one so that the owner of this 'Luxor Beige' 991 cab should not have had to experienced this abomination!

C) I would still want to know how they will coordinate the Alcantara on a Cayman or 991 coupe in the case of a Bi-Color customized interior. For example, if you order a full 'Luxor Beige' interior, the headliner and A & B pillars are done in 'Luxor Beige' Alcantara. Will they changed this to 'Black' or 'Charcoal' Alcantara if you order 'Black/Luxor Beige'? Or 'Agate' Alcantara when you chose 'Agate/Luxor Beige'? I would think so.

D) The impetus for all of this change (in my opinion) comes from the complaint of many that the lighter color interiors allow the dash to reflect on the raked windshield and obstruct vision! So PAG is trying to remedy this objection by offering consumers a choice. Personally, I also think it looks quite attractive. I expect to see quite a few 'Black/Carrera Red', 'Black/Luxor Beige' and 'Agate/Luxor Beige' interiors in all models where this customized Bi-Color interiors will be offered!

E) 'Natural Brown' leather is not offered today on any 981 or 991 models. 'Natural Brown' was one of my all time favorite interiors ever offered by Porsche. So far they have not even allow that color interior to be ordered in 'Leather to Sample' on the 991! I will talk about what I know about 'Leather to Sample' in some future post. But there is a new interior combination which is 1) surprisingly attractive, 2) is part of this brown family and 3) is ALREADY offered as a Bi-Color, or Two Tone interior, on the 981! That Bi-color is 'Agate/Amber Orange'. I talked about this on an earlier post on this thread. Don't let the name turn you off. Or the un-natural representation of the color on the Configurator. Take a look at the first actual photos I have see on a 981 with this interior just posted by new owner Michael 14 in Planet 9 (photos 2, 3 & 4). It's very attractive! I also think Porsche is experimenting with it on the Boxster. If it's well received by the critics and customers, it will too be offered on the upcoming Cayman and on the 991!

Right now it's only available on the new Boxster. But it could easily be expanded to the other models! The hold up is the obvious lack of corresponding 'Amber Orange' plastic parts & the coordinated 'Alcantara' color needed for other model's interiors. These parts are not currently needed for the Boxster for obvious reasons BUT will indeed be at hand when they start ordering 'Amber Orange' coordinated plastic & alcantara parts for the upcoming Cayman model, which will likely be offered with this attractive Bi-Color interior too! The Cayman will be introduced at the LA Auto Show this fall - 2012! Otherwise, PAG has all the other 'Amber-Orange' elements ready to go - the colored carpet, the corresponding airbag covers on the sides of the 'Amber Orange' leather seats (more important that many of you think, but we will discuss this on another day!) & matching deviating stitching color thread for the 'Agate' dash & door trims! In summary, we probably will soon see this color interior added to even the 991!

This 'Amber Orange' leather color has some of the visual qualities of 'Natural Brown'. Paired with the 'Agate Grey' dash, door trim and steering wheel, this interior is simply stunning! In combination with 'Agate Grey' exterior, or the standard browns and blacks offered, it will be very attractive! It will also go well with some unique PTS exterior colors you might be able to order. Let your imagination run wild! I am still a big fan of the old 'Natural Brown' offered on the .2 997. But as Stephen Stills wrote in his 1970 hit song: "If you can't be with the one you love...love the one you're with". I think I am falling in love with 'Agate/Amber Orange'!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

 

I have received many private messages & emails inquiring about 'Deviating Stitching'. I am hoping to get to that topic pretty soon. This is one of the areas where we, the Porsche consumer, are given the least amount of public information. It is not on any of Porsche market's Configurators worldwide, as far as I know. This lack of information is not entirely new. It wasn't readily available when I ordered my '12 Spyder either. During the many months that it took me to study all the options and to finalized my specs on that custom order, I got quite familiar with what deviating stitching could be ordered on the 997 and 987 by simply bombarding my dealer contacts and 'Porsche Exclusive' in Germany with questions!

So that is the base of information that I have to start out those discussions on this thread. However, that it is not enough to give a thorough review of the subject matter on the 991 & 981. 'Porsche Exclusive' is doing their 'deviating stitching' program slightly different in these new models. In the 997 and 987 for example, we could order any additional options that involved leather & stitching and be guaranteed that it would be done in the deviating stitching color by paying ONCE a fee which had a specific order code attached. You would be surprised at how many 997 interiors I have seen where some of the stitching on the interior (e.g. center console lid) did not match the rest! Neither the customer nor the ordering dealer realized that this 'catch-all' option was needed to achieved a coordinated deviating stitching in the interior! Similarly, even when this 'catch-all' code was ordered, many customers never were able to get the stitching on the steering wheel, shifter lever boot and emergency brake handle to match the rest of the deviated stitching in their interior! That is because you needed a separate order code to get those parts done (or it wasn't available at all in some cases). Rather than to take a chance of a mismatched interior, many potential customers gave up and never bother to order deviating stitching at all! In the 991/981 order guides, there is no 'catch-all' deviating stitching option so we need to know how this will be done in these new models (hint - deviating stitching for each leather option will be individually ordered with a different order code!).

Knowing all of this, I have asked in writing 'Porsche Exclusive' in the United States to address those and other questions I have on 'Deviating Stitching' for the 991 & 981. I have also asked what changes are coming which will allow options like XHS (center tunnel & console lid), XNS (steering column in leather), CZW (additional dash vents, speakers, ends) and others to be done in deviating stitching. At the present time, these options are NOT permitted to be done with any deviating stitching, apparently because they have supply bottlenecks and need to simplify production for their hard-pressed vendors. Similarly, I have asked when you might be able to order a different color thread (from the limited standard selection) in the case where you order a PTS exterior (e.g. Pastell Orange) and want to have a matching deviating stitching (e.g. orange) in the interior. So rather than give partial or erroneous information on this forum, I have been waiting patiently to hear back from Sascha Glaeser after he returns from vacation in Germany so that I get all of this 'right' before disseminating the information.

I leave you with one photo of 'deviating stitching' on the beautiful interior of BnB's 991 Cabriolet in Britain!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

 

I've ordered a couple of 987s with a lot of Porsche Exclusive options and the stitching is a minefield and a real PIA compared to say Ferrari where it is simple to change the colour of thread and much, much cheaper than Porsche charge.

Here are the cars I did. The first was PTS in Lamborghini Grigio Proteus with Lamborghini Arancio leather and inverted stitching (orange thread on black leather, black thread on orange leather). I had the dealer paint the calipers orange as the standard red clashed with the other colours on the car.

 

The second car was Carrara white with alcantara seat inlays, door armrests and storage cover with deviated stitching in white throughout.

 

I am in love with your first Boxster! Amazing color combo... love it... hope you will get a new Boxster like this! :-) Amazing build, great taste!