911 Shift knob?

[juan986]

Does anyone know if a 2000 911 porsche will fit on a 97 boxster? I think its the same fitting, the only difference is the 6 speed vs 5 speed on the boxster, what do you think?

[Tool Pants]

It will fit. If you have a 5 speed then the 996 will have a 6 speed pattern. I have a 996 shift knob on my 5 speed 1997 Boxster that came from a 2000 996, but I swapped the shift patterns.

[RandallNeighbour]

Jeff, where did you find the 5 speed diagram insert? Does Porsche sell this part?

I found a bunch of newer shift knobs on eBay but they were all 6 speed and I pounced on the first 5 speed I could find... which wasn't in the best condition.

[Tool Pants]

This is a long story since I have been Boxstering for 8 years.

My 1997 had the original mushroom shift, like most of the 1997-1999 2.5 liters.

Years ago I bought the new style 5 speed shift with the painted silver part from a local Boxster guy named Russell for $45. He imported parts from Germany.

Another local 1998 Boxster guy named Dave bought the silver shift from Germany. Dave's lease was up and I ended up with parts from his car just before he turned in the leased car to our local dealer.

A 1997 local Boxster owner named Calvin ended up with Dave's silver shift. I ended up with Dave's mushroom shift, and other parts from his car. Calvin's car is now owned by Dedes. My original mushroom shift went into Dave's car.

I scratched the silver paint on Russell's shift a few years later. A local 996 owner named Paul traded in his 996 coupe for a 2002 996 cab. He had the same shift I had from Russell except he had a 6 speed patern. So I put Russell's silver shift that had been in my car in Paul's car. Then I swapped the shift pattern, so that I ended up with a 5 speed.

Whoever bought Paul's 996 6 speed got Russel's shift that had been in my car for a while. At least that is the way I think it went. I still have Dave's original mushroom shift in a box.

Confusing. But us local owners swap parts all the time.

[RandallNeighbour]

Wow. That shifter made the rounds! The explantion also tells me you didn't just call a dealer and buy the 5 speed plastic insert.

One day I sure hope to meet you face to face. Your help is the only reason I didn't sell my car three years ago and swear off Porsche ownership for good.

Hey, did you ever get your speaker box?

[Tool Pants]

I got the box a year ago. In Boxster red to match my interior.

Funny now that I think about the shifts. My original 1997 mushroom shift is in a 1998 Boxster. My original silver shift is in a 996, but I have the 5 speed pattern from my original silver shift. My present silver shift is from the same 996, but with my 5 speed pattern.

I still have the 1998 mushroom shift in a box because it is in perfect condition. The silver shift from the 1998 went into Calvin's 1997 years ago, which is now owned by Dedes. The reason I did not get the silver shift from the 1998 back then is because I already had it from Russell.

Then there were the 3 and 4 spoke steering wheel swaps that went on....

[porsche986spyder]

The 2002 - 04 Boxsters have that same style shifter. You can buy the entire shifter with the 5 speed layout already in if you do a search on e-bay. I got mine for $85.00 brand new. Came with the leather shifter boot too.

[juan986]

Thanks for your replies! I will try to get the 6 speed which is the only one i seem to find on ebay for a reasonable price. The 5 speed new is about 180!

[blue2000s]

All of the 996s that I've seen have the 6 speed pattern built into the top of the knob like the one attached. They're not on a removeable plastic badge like the one on my Boxster.

Make sure you get one with a removeable pattern.