No spare tire for the 2006 Boxster.. Looking for one

[eslai]

I am about to curse myself right here:

I've never had a flat tire and drove around without one in my Eclipse for like three years. The prospect of not having one in the 987 didn't freak me out at all.

(damnit, now I'm screwed!)

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by eslai

I am about to curse myself right here:

I've never had a flat tire and drove around without one in my Eclipse for like three years. The prospect of not having one in the 987 didn't freak me out at all.

(damnit, now I'm screwed!)

Hi,

Interestingly, on the 986, Porsche advised against removing the Spare (except for a puncture in which case the Road Wheel replaces it) stating that it was an integral part of the Front Crumple Zone.

What changed with the 987? Has it been reinforced? Or have the needs to market greater Luggage Space and Fuel Economy supplanted Occupant Safety?...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Mini Coopers don't come with them either. They have runsplats (except the convertibles for some reason).

[eslai]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Interestingly, on the 986, Porsche advised against removing the Spare (except for a puncture in which case the Road Wheel replaces it) stating that it was an integral part of the Front Crumple Zone.

What changed with the 987? Has it been reinforced? Or have the needs to market greater Luggage Space and Fuel Economy supplanted Occupant Safety?...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Yeah I really do wonder about that too. I haven't investigated the issue, but my assumption is that they took this into consideration...I hope.

This is what the sales brochure says for the 987 (page # 58):

"Beneath the Boxster's taut skin lie layers of race-inspired engineering, designed to absorb the energy of a collision and protect the occupants with computer-calculated precision.

The front of the car is bolstered by a labyrinth of transverse and longitudinal support beams. Three seperate load-bearing levels help channel impact forces around the passanger cell. For added safty, the fuel tank and fuel lines are also positioned outside of the deformation area."

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

This is what the sales brochure says for the 987 (page # 58):

"Beneath the Boxster's taut skin lie layers of race-inspired engineering, designed to absorb the energy of a collision and protect the occupants with computer-calculated precision.

The front of the car is bolstered by a labyrinth of transverse and longitudinal support beams. Three seperate load-bearing levels help channel impact forces around the passanger cell. For added safty, the fuel tank and fuel lines are also positioned outside of the deformation area."

Hi,

I don't doubt the Owner's Manual, but you have to admit this section was clearly written in the Marketing Dept. and it speaks in fairly general terms.

I'm not aware of any specific basic redesign of the 987 Chassis vs the 986 wherein Porsche relied on the Spare to aid in the Front Crumple Zone.

It could all be good, but I have not seen anything which specifically shows that this piece substitutes for the strength imparted by the Spare. Were it me, especially after citing the importance of the Spare, I would have at least mentioned that the Spare has been removed to provide greater storage capacity and aid in better fuel mileage. It's role in Impact Absorption has been superceded by additional X...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

I am with Jim.

Marketing BS.

There is a very good drawing of the 987 in the Sales Brochure, showing the different types of metals used. If there was a similar drawing for the 986, then a pretty good comparision could be made.