Are Porsches Over-Engineered?

[SeaNile31]

Whew, so it's not me. I opened the trunk to open check the oil and didn't see a dipstick. Thought I was going crazy so I closed the trunk and thought to myself.....now what car wouldn't have a dipstick? Glad to know it wasn't me not seeing the obvious.

[ekam]

Everybody says their alarm goes off when they haven't driven the car for a week.

Guys, it's not that hard to figure out.

Put the key in the keyhole in the door, turn right.

Hit unlock on key. Pull door handle.

Viola.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by ekam

Everybody says their alarm goes off when they haven't driven the car for a week.
Put the key in the keyhole in the door, turn right.
Hit unlock on key. Pull door handle.
Viola.

interesting... i do not have to do that. if it's gone into conservation mode, just unlocking the door does the trick. my alarm does not go off when i open the door.

as far as the original post goes - who opens the door with their hands full of stuff from the trunk? and if it didnt't relock people would complain that they had to relock it when all they did was open the trunk. (fyi our jetta would relock after unlocking and not opening the door or opening the trunk only)

[ekam]

Turning the key only physically unlocks the driver's side door but does not disarm the alarm.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by ekam

Turning the key only physically unlocks the driver's side door but does not disarm the alarm.

is this new? or programmable? i just tried it - unlocking the door deactivates the alarm. i don't have to touch the fob. i can go from locked + alarm active to unlocked with key to sitting in the car without the alarm going off...

*edit* interesting. it's right there in the manual...

"If the vehicle is not started or unlocked with the remote control within five days, the remote control standby function is switched off (to prevent discharging of the car battery).

1. In this case, unlock the driver's door with the key at the door lock. Leave the door closed in order to prevent the alarm system from being triggered.

2. Press button 1 on the remote control.

The remote control is now activated again."

you can also program (well the dealer can) the amount of time between unlocking the rear/front lids and the doors relocking.

[PhilNotHill]

Originally Posted by ekam

Everybody says their alarm goes off when they haven't driven the car for a week.

Guys, it's not that hard to figure out.

Put the key in the keyhole in the door, turn right.

Hit unlock on key. Pull door handle.

Viola.

And push the unlock button on the key fob to turn off the alarm. Viola.

Over-engineered. No other car that I have owned needs this to be done (except my 2004 986 S). they are:

Mercedes SL500
BMW 735i, 750iL, M3
Subaru WRX, Outback and Forrester
Ferrari F360 F1 Spider
Porsche 944
Maxda MX-5 Miata

to name a few.

[Stroked & Blown]

When you turn off the HVAC, it comes back on when you restart the car. Annoying at AX.

[stateofidleness]

and if you're lucky, sometimes you'll get showered with the black HVAC foam!! it's like a party!

[stephen wilson]

You don't need to do all that with the remote, at least on my 987. I just open the door with my key, put the key in the ignition fairly quickly, and turn it on ( but not start), no alarm problems. There's also no real need to do the hot oil check. I check the level cold every time I get in the car. It will read a bit high after sitting, but that's no problem.

[RandallNeighbour]

And under-engineered in places and ways as well....

• No manual door locking mechanism on the passenger side. When the solenoid goes in the electronic lock mechanism, the passenger side door cannot be locked. Period.

And I'm not sure if this is over or under, but it's worth griping about again:

In my 986, the temp gauge is an actual temp gauge. It rises and falls based on actual motor temperatures. However, in the 987's (that my friends own) the temp gauge is as stupid as a chevy cavalier... goes straight to the middle before the engine's fully warmed up and doesn't move a bit unless the computer tells it to slam to the right because the motor has overheated.

If I'm ever fortunate enough to upgrade to a much newer porsche, I will install a set of real gauges in the car to know what's going on.

[PhilNotHill]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

You don't need to do all that with the remote, at least on my 987. I just open the door with my key, put the key in the ignition fairly quickly, and turn it on ( but not start), no alarm problems. There's also no real need to do the hot oil check. I check the level cold every time I get in the car. It will read a bit high after sitting, but that's no problem.

I think mine says the oil is not warm enough to give a reading. I will double check.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

When you turn off the HVAC, it comes back on when you restart the car. Annoying at AX.

They fixed this on 2002 I think?

[Johnny Danger]

I think that the boxster has a very well rounded design .....

[sasha055]

If you look very carefully in the picture above ..... you will see a silver Boxster

Took me a while to find it

[PhilNotHill]

Originally Posted by ekam

They fixed this on 2002 I think?

Nice wheels.

When was the last year they had black engine air intakes?

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by PhilNotHill

Nice wheels.

When was the last year they had black engine air intakes?

The side air intakes were black up until '02. '03 and '04 were color matched .