center console ideas
 

Hey all,

Just like most that own an older Boxster, my center console is a bit scratched up. There seems to be no practical way to replace the rubberized coating that comes on the car. So that said, let's see some of the consoles you all have. Some of the ideas that I'm thinking of are:

1. Painted to match the body color
2. Painted to match the Boxster S interior silver
3. Hydro dipped dark carbon fiber
4. Painted black
5. Leather covered

Let's see what you guys have.

Thanks.

Tony

remove the rubberized coating with sand paper and hot water (220 grit works well).
I painted it with some plasti dip ! it looks great but I don't like the feel and it's easy to scratch... I think I will go for something else. a laquer works great but I didn't find any in flat black.

a leather covering may be difficult if you've never done it, the center console has a complex shape !

Ben

Mine is in the shop now having leather work done. If anyone has examples of a leather wrapped console id love to see it.

There's lots of info on all of this in the forums. Try searching 'painted interior' and you will get lots of good ideas if you decide to paint as well as lots of how-to's.

I like my silver console which matches my silver car and it was fairly simple to do.

I recently saw a post on one of the forums where someone used black leather paint and they said it was a perfect match to the matte finish

Check this out:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/31376-sport-design-interior-paint.html

Saw his interior in person, was pretty shocked to see spray paint turned out that great.

Tony,
Why not try and cover it with a black/silver carbon fibre wrap.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1418429966.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1418430052.jpg
Ivor.

Hydro dipped mine
 

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1418439944.jpg

Had mine hydro dipped almost two years ago and it still looks great.

Anyone tried this cheap eBay kit?

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...d4ab8b49b6.jpg

http://m.ebay.com/itm/131363592407?nav=SEARCH

I actually had it in my car when I bought it. I didn't like it. It felt and looked cheap. I took it all out last week. Not Porsche like at all. I think I like the hydrodipped carbon fiber look better.

Tony

Just finished installing my painted console
 

I think painting it adds some visual interest to the interior.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1419045010.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1419045088.jpg

It has an interesting shape that isn't that apparent when it is left black.

I picked this one up off of eBay awhile back.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps0d45909d.jpg
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/cwampler/media/Boxster%20S%202-18-2013/P1230135_zpsa2907b44.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/cwampler/Boxster%20S%202-18-2013/P1230135_zpsa2907b44.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo P1230135_zpsa2907b44.jpg"/></a>

Absolutely adds interest and a reveal of shape I have not really noticed.Would look great on my Arctic Silver Box as well.Super!

In the 2000 Boxster sales brochure, there is a picture of a silver console on a car with the red leather interior. It is a very nice combination.

So it looks like most of the mod'ed consoles are painted (either silver or body color). I like the hydro-dipped look. Keep the ideas (pictures) coming.

Thanks.

Tony

Hey can you post a link to this thread?

I would like to recreate stock matte finish (I think it was called soft touch by Porsche) for my console and arm rests. This time it has to be durable...either that or carbon for these high wear pieces

$20 worth primer, spray paint and clear coat and another $20 worth leather fabric

http://s16.postimg.org/mun758j9h/tgbiukj.jpg

Did you take the console apart to do it?

Yes, had to take apart. Seemed kind of intimidating to take apart at first, but with some good pictures and instructions, it only made for a 10 minute job take it apart

Denis Vogel has a detailed description of the procedure for removing the console in his instructions for installing heated seats: Dennis Vogel: Projects - Boxster Heated Seats

Here's a nice touch that was done in leather.

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/50640-%247-custom-leather-interior-3.html

So far, I'm liking this one the best. Either this or pained black (possibly flat black). How much did you pay to have it dipped?

Tony

I'm bringing back this thread for some opinions. I like the hydro-dipped carbon fiber on the console. I'm also looking at black alcantara (ultra-suede really) on the door pocket lids, and grey alcantara (ultra-suede again) on the console arm rest and leg pad. What do you think?

trim options
 

Like everyone else I had the same scratched up ragged looking problem. I decided to cover all of the trim pieces (mirror covers, door pull covers, arm rests) with a soft lambskin leather. I went to the local thrift store and found a woman's coat in good condition and tried my hand at upholstery. I will post some pics later but I must say they turned out great and I like the softer texture on the touch parts.

As far as the console, it is a much more complex shape and you will need a fairly large piece of leather or get good at matching the seams which is tough to make look good. Carbon fiber for this piece seems too "modern" so I will probably paint the center as it is a high touch area and really prone to nicks and scrapes.

My MY 2000 Tequipment sales brochure offered both carbon fiber and wood interior trim pieces. I was a little surprised that carbon fiber interior trim was being offered that long ago.

Personally, I like the center console painted to match the body color. I think it really ties together the interior and exterior of the car -- a great design element for a roadster.

I re-covered my pocket lids, arm rest and leg pads a few years ago now with black alcantara I also covered the windscreen surround too

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207254.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207282.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207312.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207342.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207374.jpghttp://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1485207459.jpg

Sorry the picture quality isn't great but the alcantara is holding up well!

Question: Is that real Alcantara or the UltraSuede stuff?

Tony

That is genuine Alcantara it wasn't cheep but the quality was good and it's stood the test of time.

How much was it? Did you put it over the existing vinyl? Where did you get it? How thick was it?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

I actually did this back in 2009 and from what I remember I paid about £80.00p for one and a half linear metre of black Alcantara 9990, I removed the original leather from the centre console before gluing (the old arm rest cover can be seen in my previous post) but the door pocket lids and windscreen surround were finished in plastic and the Alcantara was glued directly to them.
With regards to thickness I haven't got a clue, pretty thin maybe .5mm and very easy to use.

On the the carbon fiber hydro-dip, should I use a semi-gloss or satin clear coat?

Opinions/thoughts?


Tony

Can someone please enlighten me on the fascination with Alcantara (fake suede)? It's not inexpensive, so why not just use genuine suede? :)

Tony: Gloss or semi-gloss will look more like actual CF.

To PW's point. Why introduce yet another type of material into the cabin? Faux material at that. Why not stay with a genuine leather product (suede or tanned leather)? Much can be found at local thrift stores for practically nothing in cost AND it matches better with the "class" of this car.

I'm not trying to knock Christian's hard work. It looks great. But "genuine" Alcantara is still fake.

$7, genuine leather, and I still have some left over. ;)

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...8D3C588F06.jpg

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...77849BD485.jpg

What I gather from some European car reviewers is that they encourage choosing Alcantara for interiors because of the very fact that it is synthetic and not killing an animal for the leather to be used in the car. That and they say the alcantara doesn't get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Whatever....I still prefer leather.

There is also a matter of Alcantara's ability to repel stains. Suede doesn't really so much repel stains, as attract them. I can show you my wife's multiple suede jackets as proof.

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know if the center consoles and door pulls on a same year boxster base and boxster s are interchangeable?

Yes they are.

Yeah. I'm starting to see that. When I look at the ones done with the satin finish, there no depth compared to the ones with a gloss or semi-gloss finish. The satin finish just seems really flat looking (as in no depth or contrast). Here's an example:
https://wickedcoatings-n2oygzjkesj8b...403-001161.jpg
vs.
https://wickedcoatings-n2oygzjkesj8b.../P10400761.jpg


Same pattern, different look.

[QUOTE=particlewave;524300]I'm not trying to knock Christian's hard work. It looks great. But "genuine" Alcantara is still fake.

I'm fine with that