3-Spoke vs 4-Spoke Steering Wheel
 

Can someone explain why the 3-spoke wheel is more desirable than the 4-spoke? What am I missing?

"3, it's the magic number."
- Schoolhouse Rock

3 spoke = S

Light and strong enough
 

The answer to your question is an engineering one. If you look at the great majority of racing car steering wheels, it is evident that 3 is considered the minimum number of spokes that will also provide the required strength. I've attached a picture of a 917K wheel. For most sportscars, the same lightness and strength is desirable. From a marketing standpoint, a 3-spoke wheel evokes racing, if what you are building is a sportscar.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/381336043807.jpg

Porsche introduced the 3 spoke wheel in the 2000 Boxster S and then installed it in all Boxsters starting in 2001. Frankly, while not a huge issue, I prefer the 4 spoke wheel as it allows your hands to be placed in a 9 and 3 position without interference from the spokes. I suspect that this was why Porsche introduced 4 spoke wheels on the 911's back in the 60's and continued to produce them, in one form or another, until 2001.

Brad

4 spoke = dated and fugly
3 spoke = very cool, get more chicks

I'm one of the few that prefer the 4-spoke over the 3. I just think it looks better.

Auf los, thanks for that explanation. Never thought about that. I always thought the 3-spoke was "desireable" because it was an "upgrade" on the order sheet, and nothing more.

Southernstar, haven't you heard? The latest info being taught at driver's ed is 9 and 3, not for comfort, but to be out of the way of the airbag during deployment. With 10 and 2, most folks were suffering from injuries ranging from abrasions to broken bones. But, I do agree with you, 9 and 3 just feels comfortable, especially right on top of the top-spokes. :)

Your d*** will fall off if you have the 4-spoke wheel!

As if a woman would know or even notice. All they see is that gold crest.

Oh great - dating advice from Sheldon :D:D

A darn sexy one at that! ;)

Was just thinking that if we're talking definitive Boxster, this is it for me, four-spoker and all...

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/u...xinsterior.jpg

I also prefer the four. It would allow me to place my left hand at the bottom of the wheel, where I prefer it. However, I'm stuck with a three and don't care enough to switch to a different wheel. If there were a choice at purchase, I'd choose four.

Hey, I got a 4 spoke sitting here doing nothing if anyone wants to do a straight trade for a 3!

Basic Volkswagens and its variants (Seat, Skoda, Audi) are equipped with tree spoke wheel, so it is probably cheaper to manufacture...

3 spoke

As someone said on this forum many yrs ago - it evokes thoughts of a woman's bikini underwear. I want my hands wrapped around that.

Ok, NOW I want the 3-spoke...

@Husker Boxster, you mean a THONG! I like that, YES! I actually changed out my 4 spoke to a 3 spoke because I had the phantom horn honking thing going on. I was going to replace the rubber "O" rings on the horn frame when I found a good deal on the 3 spoke tip wheel.

I believe this is a direct translation of the German language TSB issued by Porsche in 2000.

Just looks. 4spoke was more comfortable in my opinion.
btw I have 4spoke for sale with airbag to BO

Sport car design 101:

Steering wheel shall have 3 spokes.

Drive wheels shall have 5 spokes.

what is this wake up the 2 year old threads day?

Four spoke kinda reminds me of an American car steering wheel from the 80's.
Or a Mercedes from the early 90's.

Three spoke is the best steering wheel put in a Boxster.
The newer round ones look too VW/Audi-like to me.

Not sure this is completely accurate. . . :rolleyes:

^ its been well proven that women are more attracted to three part assemblies.

Sigh . . . :rolleyes:

You mean this gold crest?


Wood Steering Wheels | Vintage Steering Wheels | Horn Buttons | Porsche Steering Wheels and Hockey Pucks

I would love to figure out how to install this one, but I have stupid flappy paddles on my current 3 spoke (below).


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1397155049.jpg

Sigh . . . I'm out . . .

4 spoke are for women and men over 50.

just ask any jeweler...

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/7/0/3...6250228_tp.jpg

4 spoke on a 2.5 is fitting as I see my 2.5 as my little quasi modern 914. If the boxster was newer like the 981 I'd want a 3. I like the idea of more power in a 986 but overall for me the 986 is best as a fun hobby low HP classics out dated kinda car... The S and the updated interior feels like it is halfway to new. I'd rather have new or old not half a** modern. 2 cents lay on your hate haha


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

My beaters have 4 spokes- my Porsche has a 3.

it will be quiet a long while before any 986 or 987 is considered 'retro'.

I still get people telling me that they think the car is only "five years old" or some other number nowhere near 14.
I really can't think of another Porsche that after 21 years still looks this current.
In other words the total opposite of 356,550,912/911 nostalgia.
When I added the 997 Turbo replica wheels and the PORSCHE door decals my neighbohr came out and asked if I "traded in the old car".
You've got to have a very timeless design to fool the average guy in such a way.

Hmmmm... I would like to get more chicks...

T'was just shoptalk amongst us stupid boys :p
Pay it no mind...

Oh! Okay, I see what you meant . . . ;)

I think this is even better . . . :D

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1397163555.jpg

I see that the picture is from the private collection. :)

Sadly, no. :( I got to try it on for an nth of a second before she took it back.

But I still didn't let her drive my car . . . :D

^ I see women with those 8 carat monstrosities at this coffee shop near Wall Street. A colleague who is from a very old money family turns to me and says "flashy... how unfortunate". Her ring is maybe 2 carat, very understated. even though she could probably buy the whole building.

Those marketing guys in the diamond biz.... pure genius.

Meanwhile his mistress is wearing the 8 carat honker, lol. :D

*** RIMSHOT ***

Nice one, Porsche Chick!

Just laughin'....................:D

TO

I though the steering wheels were just evolving. Four were common on most cars late nineties early 2000s. Mercedes and other manufactures all seemed to swith over 03-04? Came across to me as a updated look. 4 seemed more practical but outdated.