My Ideal Porsche 911
For some odd reason, I've been giving this a lot of thought for a while. Being that I make less than $20,000 a year, I don't know why I bother, but I enjoy thinking about these things, I suppose.
For the sake of being somewhat more reasonable, I'm going to first talk about my ideal, slightly realistic Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (base price of $68,000), my ideal 911 Turbo, an unrealistic Carrera Coupe, and then my "cost is no object" Porsche (911 Turbo, to be exact).
My 911 Carrera Coupe
Well, even this one isn't really all
that
simple, but it is simpler than the "perfect" one I'll do below. With this
one I'll try to keep things somewhat
reasonable, but that's not really saying much.
Exterior Color: First of all, I'm
torn on color. It's a toss-up between Guards Red—which has a nice, simple,
sportscar appeal to it—and Arctic Silver Metallic (an $825 option, since it's a
metallic paint). One of my old favorites, Orient Red Metallic, was discontinued
for 2004, so it's not an option anymore. Since cost is supposed to be
something of a consideration with this 911, I'll go with Guards Red. If
nothing else, it's slightly less common than Arctic Silver, even if it doesn't
have that metallic appeal to it.
Wheels: Since I love the 1999 Porsche 911 GT3's looks (not sold here in
America, BTW), I always choose the 18" Sport Design wheels ($2,940). I've
been tempted to choose the simpler Turbo-look I wheels, which look like those from
the 993 911 Turbo, but apparently those aren't available anymore, so that's not
an option anyway. Also, in tires, given the choice between the Pirelli PZero and
the Continental ContiSportContact tires, I'd probably negotiate to get my own
tires because I don't like either set. Instead, I'd get Bridgestone Potenza S-03
Pole Positions (about $900). If nothing else, that's what I'd replace the
original tires with when they wore out. (Maybe they'd let me get Michelin Pilot
Sports instead, since they're supposed to be Porsche OE.)
Aero: Another tough decision. Here's where things get sticky. The aerokit
available for 2004 is the Cup Aerokit II, based on the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3.
Back in 2001, before the 2002 redesign, the 911s had the Cup Aerokit available
which was modeled after the '99 911 GT3. The problem with the 2004 GT3 is that
it has a hideous looking spoiler, so I wouldn't want the Cup Aerokit II. There
is, however, another spoiler still available, the "Rear Spoiler Carrera" (for a
ridiculous $3,420) that I do like, though perhaps not as much as the old
Cup Spoiler on the '99 GT3 and Cup Aerokit I. Worst case scenario, I'd get the
Carrera spoiler and the "Flared Rocker Panels" (sideskirts, an equally
ridiculous $1,765) for a total of $5,185. Compare that to $7,980 for the Cup
Aerokit II. Ideally, I'd like the Cup Aerokit II with the Carrera Spoiler
instead of the '04 GT3 spoiler (Cup Spoiler II?), if they'd let me do that
without demanding too much in terms of price. From what I've read, Porsche's
rather flexible with these things, so let's assume they'd do that for the same
price as the Cup Aerokit II.
Interior Color: Black. This will get complicated later, so let's leave it
at that for now.
Exterior Options: Don't laugh, but there's no doubt I'd get the Rear
Windshield Wiper ($345). I love it on my Integra and I don't care if it adds
weight, it's very useful. Bi-Xenon Headlights with Washer ($1,090) are another
must-have.
Performance Options: I'm a wussy, so I doubt I'd really need the sport
suspension and all of that. For me, all I'd want here is the "ass-saving,"
phenomenal Porsche Stability Management (PSM) for $1,235—a bargain in Porsche
money.
Interior Options: Floor mats are optional for some reason, so that's a
must-have ($95). I think I'd want the Sport Seats (I think they're just powered
seats with thicker bolsters, and since I'm thin, I'd love that), but I'm not
sure. So, just for caution's sake we'll just go with power seats (includes
memory for driver's seat and the mirrors, $1,550).
Interior Aluminum Options: Why they call it the "aluminum" category I
don't know since it's just silver-painted plastic, but I guess it makes people
feel better. This category is sticky for me. The standard Aluminum Look Packages
(Small and Large) don't work for me. What does is the awesome interior pictured
for the Aluminum Look Package in the 2002 Porsche 911 brochure, so I'd want
that. I don't, however, know how much it'd cost, but let's assume it'd be the
same as the Aluminum Look Package (Small), at $1,080. But, selecting this option
forces the selection of a full leather interior for another $3,280 (not that I'm
complaining about getting leather in the interior instead of plastic... though
my beloved silver pieces are still plastic, which sucks, and the price is what
looks to be very high, though I don't know leather prices so I can't say for
sure). I'd never guessed I'd want silver-faced instruments until I saw a picture
of it with the other "aluminum-look" pieces, so I'd want those, too ($885), as well as the Rear Center Console in
Aluminum Look ($735). I'm tempted to get the Door Sills in Stainless Steel
($425), but I'll leave it out in this version.
Audio Options: This isn't really an audio option at all, but it's grouped
here: the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) II ($2,680) navigation system
is another must-have for me. Because I'd be getting this and the navigation
discs would be in the dash (where audio CDs go), I assume that I'd have to get a CD changer to listen
to music while navigating (if I even can), so the Remote 6-Disc CD Changer
($715) gets added to the list. And though I'm no audiophile, I'll upgrade the
sound package to the medium level with the "Hi-Fi Sound Package (Digital)"
option ($830, vs. $1,625 for the Bose one).
And that's it. Grand total is
$92,505... which is actually about $10,000 more expensive than I remember my
"reasonable" 911 to be. (There were actually some things I skipped, believe it
or not.) Oh, well. Since I live in California, I'd get to add tax to that
($6,706.61), upping it to an even more ridiculous $99,211.61. Assuming I put
$8,000 down, got a 3.9% APR loan for 60 months, my car payments would be $1,675
a month (and I'd end up paying $9,329 in interest). Drop that to a three year
loan, the payments jump to $2,688 but I save $3,742 on the loan (a total of
$5,587 in interest). If I let the car cost 11% of my gross income, I'd have to
make $293,236 a year to afford this car with a three year loan or only $182,727
a year (about $90/hour!) with the five year one. So the five year loan wins. :)
My Option Codes
I'm sure I'm missing something...
E82* Aluminum Look Package (Small) $1,080
P74 Bi−Xenon Headlights with Washer $1,090
M6A Black Floor Mats $95
AH Full Leather Seats − Black $3,280
G1 Guards Red $0
XRL 18" Sport Design Wheel $2,940
XAA* Aerokit $7,980
490 Hi−Fi Sound Package (Digital) $830
X71 Instrument Dials in Aluminum Look $855
P16 Porsche Communication Management (PCM) II $2,680
476 Porsche Stability Management (PSM) $1,235
P15 Power Seats $1,550
XCE Rear Center Console in Aluminum Look $735
425 Rear Windshield Wiper $345
692 Remote 6−Disc CD Changer $715
* Not exactly E82 or XXA, but close enough.
Pictures
And now the fun part: the pictures. First, what the car would look like
according to the 2004 Porsche Car Configurator I used to price it (I've
Photoshopped the Carrera spoiler on in place of the standard aerokit's spoiler).
Of course, the problem here is that Guards Red isn't a metallic color and the car configurator really makes it look that way (I think because they just apply filters to a generic, silver 911 to change the color in the configurator). So I'll dip into my archive of (currently) over 550 Porsche pictures and produce one of a real Guards Red 911 Carrera Coupe:
(It's surprising both how few Guards Red 2002+ 911 pics I have and
how tough they are to find on the internet.)
The car would be not unlike my favorite car I've seen in real life, only a
newer version of it. This one is
Guards Red but has the old body style from 1999-2001 (and I don't care for the
ridiculous 19" wheels):
Here are those 18" Sport Design wheels:
The following interior I've scanned out of a 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera brochure, which is
surprising because the Aluminum Look Interior pictured here is totally not
what the standard packages includes (looks way better, too, I might add):
Mmmmm... Only thing not pictured is the standard shifter (I hate the aluminum shifter) and the aluminum look rear center console (behind the shifter). The navigation system is there, it's just tough to see because it's in a menu. Because I can't just let it go at that, here's a picture of a 40th Anniversary Edition 911 with the normal shifter and aluminum look rear center console (I think these are also the sport seats, too, which look awesome):
Note also that junk bin at the bottom of the center stack I'll be losing with the navigation system (since the HVAC controls go there instead of the CD holder for some odd reason). Shucks.
My 911 Turbo
Before I go all-out with my perfect
911 Carrera Coupe, I'll do my perfect 911 Turbo. Fewer options are needed here
and my reasoning is the same as above for those that are repeats, so this one is
simpler.
Exterior Color: Unlike the 911 Carrera Coupe, I'm very tempted to
go with Arctic Silver on this one. The color just seems to fit the 911 Turbo. In
fact, metallic colors are a no-cost option on the 911 Turbo, so I'd probably
pick it:
...but, on the other hand, it
is rather common and Orient Red Metallic looks so good (pictured
below) that I'd go with it instead. On a 2003 model, this would be a no-cost option.
For 2004, however, because the color has been discontinued for some reason, it
becomes a "Metallic Paint to Sample" option for $3,490. For the sake of this
pointless exercise, I'll maintain that it's 2003 and this is a no-cost option.
Wheels: The factory 911 Turbo wheels are great (and very light-weight,
too), so no changes here.
Aero: The factory 911 Turbo aerodynamics look good (very muscular and
aggressive, in my opinion), so the aerokit, while cool, is not necessary.
Interior Color: As above, black is the choice for me (always is). On the
911 Turbo, full leather is standard, so that's what I've got.
Interior Options: I figure for this car, because it is the Porsche
911 Turbo, I'd go with sport seats ("manual length adjustment, electric backrest
adjustment," though I'd prefer full electric). However, I have no idea what the
difference is between the P77 and P78 sport seat options except for the price:
the P77 is $760 and the P78 is a no-cost option. I think the leather is the
difference, and the P78 is actually nicer but because the P77 would require
different leather treatment, it costs money to do. So, with that possibly wrong
idea in mind, I'll select the P78.
Interior Aluminum Options: Door Sills in Stainless Steel ($425), because
this is the 911 Turbo, now seem worthwhile. I'd want the same interior
options as on the Carrera Coupe above, otherwise. The only deviation to this
would be that, technically, I'd like Porsche Exclusive to replace the
silver-painted plastic pieces with real aluminum. I know they'd do it, I
just have no idea how expensive it would be (probably very, very expensive). For
simplicity's sake, I'll just keep the Aluminum Look Package (Small)'s price and
assume I didn't have Porsche Exclusive do the special interior for me.
Audio Options: For some reason, the navigation system is not listed in
the Porsche Car Configurator for the 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo. Because it's
standard or not available? The interior view with a nav system already installed
in the Turbo lends credence that the nav system is standard, but that seems odd
to have as a standard option. The only option in the
"audio" category available is the 6-disc changer, which I'll put on assuming
the nav system is installed (and the changer works like I'd want it to with a
nav system).
I'll skip the option codes because except for the steel door sills (X70), it's
pretty much all the same as the Carrera Coupe or something weird that's not
really on the option list. Base price is $118,400, with my options $122,210. Not
bad at all. Certainly not as bad as the above 911 Carrera Coupe, but the Turbo
needs fewer things added to make it perfect.
Pictures
I don't know for sure if this color is Orient Red Metallic, but I'm pretty
sure it is. And it's probably my favorite 911 color:
(You can tell it's a 2001 from the nasty bumperettes. Those are gone now, thank God.) Hard to tell for 100% certain from the lighting, but I'm fairly confident this is the same color:
To own this car (at 3.9% APR for 60
months, $10,000 down payment), I would have to make $2,224/month car payments
and make $242,618/year (assuming car payments were 11% of my gross income). Wow.
A note on Orient Red Metallic: A year and a half ago I took pictures of a
local 911 Carrera that I thought was simply gorgeous (hope the owner
didn't/doesn't mind) I spotted in a parking lot. This is what I believe Orient
Red Metallic is:
My Cost-No-Object 911 Carrera Coupe
I ended up putting so many options on
the "reasonable" version (used to only want an $80,000 911), I'm not sure if
there's any point to this. But, here goes anyway.
Exterior Color: Big surprise here: Orient Red Metallic again. Since this
is now a 2004 for this exercise, it's a "Metallic Paint to Sample" $4,315
option.
Wheels: I'm going for a '99 911 GT3 look here, so 18" Sport Design wheel
($2,940) are the option of choice.
Aero: Same hybrid aerokit as my regular 911 Carrera Coupe... though
perhaps I'd get a Cup Spoiler instead of a Carrera Spoiler. I'm not sure.
Interior Color: Black, full-leather interior. For some reason this
conflicts with the Arctic Silver Package (probably because leather is already
included on that), so I'm choosing the "Full Leather Seats - Black" ($3,280)
option.
Exterior Options: Once again, Rear Windshield Wiper ($345) and Bi-Xenon
Headlights w/Washer ($1,090) are included, but just for the hell of it, on this
one I'll add Park Assist (wouldn't want to hurt my 911, would I?) for $530 and
Rain Sensor/Dimming Mirrors for $705.
Performance Options: Since cost is no object on this one, I'll add the
outrageously over-priced X51 "Tuned Engine" package, which "raises power output to
345 hp [from 320 hp]. Includes modified cylinder heads, camshafts, exhaust
manifolds, ECU, additional radiator and aluminum-intake system." How much is
this 7.8% improvement in power? $13,990! That's more than I paid for my entire
real car! For only 25 hp... there better be more to it than that. This is, without a
doubt, the lamest Porsche option ever... but I'm including it anyway. And
you can't have this extra power without broadcasting it using the Sport Exhaust
System ($2,400), which actually is a, "Two stage exhaust. Includes interior
switch between normal exhaust and sport exhaust." Nifty. Probably adds a
butt-load of weight, but the X51 is countering that, right? As before, I'd be
adding PSM ($1,235) to save my ass from being an idiot. I'm too much of a wussy
to probably ever need it, but just in case, it's nice to know it's there.
Interior Options: I still want the sport seats, and as before, I'm going
with the P78 versions. I'm not a huge fan of seat heaters, but just in case I
want them, I'll put those on, too for $410. Floor mats for $95, also a must-have
(though there's some more expensive ones in the leather category... but, nah).
One of the more popularly-know over-priced options is the Footwell Lighting
($735), so I'll have that, too. Actually, it's not just the footwell lights, the
description reads, "Central switch for all interior lights and additional
footwell lighting (right/left)," which sounds slightly more reasonable.
I'm not sure what the deviated stitching would be on a black interior, but I'll
get it anyway for $290 on "ALL Exclusive Options" (sounds like this would be
redundant on the following options, but I guess not), $139 for upper dashboard,
$80 for the lower Dashboard, $230 for the seat, and $290 for the door panel
(total of $1,029 for all this hand-stitching).
Interior Leather: I'm just gonna go ahead and select every leather
option I can that doesn't conflict with my Aluminum interior options except for
"Supple leather." I'm not gonna list them, they'll be in the final option code
list.
Interior Aluminum: Same as the 911 Turbo except on this one I would
make sure Porsche Exclusive replaced all the plastic with real aluminum
pieces. I'm selecting the Aluminum Look Package (Large) to correspond
somewhat with the price ($3,440), but I don't want that package at all (the
air vent slats in silver? c'mon...) and I'm sure Porsche Exclusive would charge
much more for real, hand-made aluminum. Probably like $10,000 or
something (though if they want $3,440 for silver painted plastic maybe $15,000
is more realistic).
Audio: Nav system and changer again, but this time with the Bose sound
package.
Grand total comes to $126,075 (or about $58,000 in options). That's one
expensive Carrera Coupe! When I did the above, the Porsche web page doesn't like
me, so I I skipped option code list. (Who's still reading this anyway? :) ) But
now I kinda re-did it (sloppily), and it doesn't match up, but here it is
anyway:
Porsche Carrera Coupé $68,600
XRL 18" Sport Design Wheel $2,940
XAA Aerokit $7,980
E80 Aluminum Look Package (Large) $3,440
M6A Black Floor Mats $95
680 BOSE High End Sound Package $1,625
Z099 Deviated Stitching − ALL Exclusive Options $290
Z88 Deviated Stitching − Door Panel $290
Z109 Deviated Stitching − Lower Dashboard $80
Z84 Deviated Stitching − Seat $230
Z111 Deviated Stitching − Seat Insert $1,795
Z108 Deviated Stitching − Upper Dashboard $135
XZD Dome Lamp Cover in Leather $335
X70 Door Sills in Stainless Steel $425
XX1 Factory Floor Mats $425
XX2 Footwell Lighting $735
AH Full Leather Seats − Black $3,280
342 Heated Seats $410
XTG Inner Sill Parts/Release in Leather $585
X71 Instrument Dials in Aluminum Look $855
99 Metallic Paint to Sample $4,315
635 Park Assist $530
P16 Porsche Communication Management (PCM) II $2,680
XSC Porsche Crest in the Headrest $220
476 Porsche Stability Management (PSM) $1,235
XCE Rear Center Console in Aluminum Look $735
692 Remote 6−Disc CD Changer $715
XMA Roofliner in Leather $1,410
XSD Seat Control Trim in Leather $820
P78 Sport Seats w/ Full Leather Interior $400
XLF Sports Exhaust System $2,400
XNS Steering Column in Leather $315
XPA Steering Wheel in Leather $1,280
XMP Sunvisors in Leather $560
X51 Tuned Engine (6−speed only) $13,990
Total price $126,155
My Ultimate Cost-No-Object Porsche
No, it's not the Carrera GT,
actually. That car's a little too hardcore for me. Nope, it's the 911 Turbo with
all the gratuitous options above and a few more.
Color: Do you really even need to ask?
Wheels: I really do like the Turbo's wheels—no need to change 'em.
Aerokit: Because this will be one wicked-fast 911 Turbo (unless all my
options so much weight the thing can't move anymore), I'll be putting the
aerokit on this time. Says, "watch out!" without being as over-the-top as the
GT2's aerodynamics. This "Aerokit Turbo" is an outrageous $7,980. WTF is it made
out of?
Interior Color: Black, again.
Exterior Option: ParkAssist ($530) once again.
Performance Options: Perhaps the best known option code, the Turbo Power
Kit, or X50, "Raises power output to 444 hp. Includes modified turbo chargers,
intercoolers, electronic control units and transmission." 7% more power for how
much? A mere $17,880, or about 16% of the whole car's base price. A new option
on the 911 Turbo is the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system for
$8,150.
Interior Options: All the deviating stitching ($2,820) with the
P78 sport seats.
Interior Leather Options: All the leather options that don't conflict
with the aluminum interior, including the mysterious "Factory Floor Mats" for
$425 (what, the other, cheaper, floor mats aren't factory ones?).
Interior Aluminum Options: Not gonna bother explaining it again. It's the
Porsche Exclusive "real aluminum" interior.
Audio Option: CD-changer again.
Grand total? Even without the special Porsche Exclusive options, it comes out to
a staggering $171,905! (Which, since I live in the wonderful state of
California, would amount to $184,368 after taxes.)
My Option Codes
Porsche Turbo
Coupé $118,400
410 18" Turbo II Wheel $0
XAF Aerokit Turbo $7,980
E80 Aluminum Look Package (Large) $3,440
M6A Black Floor Mats $95
Z099 Deviated Stitching − ALL Exclusive Options $290
Z88 Deviated Stitching − Door Panel $290
Z109 Deviated Stitching − Lower Dashboard $80
Z84 Deviated Stitching − Seat $230
Z111 Deviated Stitching − Seat Insert $1,795
Z108 Deviated Stitching − Upper Dashboard $135
XZD Dome Lamp Cover in Leather $335
X70 Door Sills in Stainless Steel $425
XX1 Factory Floor Mats $425
XX2 Footwell Lighting $735
AH Full Leather − Black $0
342 Heated Seats $410
XTG Inner Sill Parts/Release in Leather $585
X71 Instrument Dials in Aluminum Look $855
99 Metallic Paint to Sample $3,490
635 Park Assist $530
450 Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) $8,150
XSC Porsche Crest in the Headrest $220
XCE Rear Center Console in Aluminum Look $735
692 Remote 6−Disc CD Changer $715
XMA Roofliner in Leather $1,410
XSD Seat Control Trim in Leather $820
P78 Sport Seats w/ Full Leather Interior $0
XNS Steering Column in Leather $315
XPA Steering Wheel in Leather $575
XMP Sunvisors in Leather $560
X50 Turbo Power Kit $17,880
Total price $171,905
What's a 996 Porsche 911 Turbo look like with an aerokit? Like this:
At long last, I'm done. The time you've wasted reading this you'll never get back. I apologize. :)
By
Robert McDonald, February 2004
Most pictures from Porsche's web site. All
the information obviously is. (Others are from public car ads and such.)
All Porsche anything is ©
Dr.Ing. h.c. F.Porsche AG; most is
specifically © 2004 Porsche Cars North America, Inc.