Kirk's Ride...

[Kirk]

Some more photos from the coast when the sun came out:

[Kirk]

Okay, last set of pictures.... We got compliments on the car at every rest stop, lunch break, gas stop, etc. I guess it stands out.

[NickCats]

Kirk,

Absolutely fabulous ! Great pics...

Nick

[djomlas]

that would be a perfect boxster if the lights were stock (the oem red/smoke) and rest of the body parts painted...i dont see why you didnt paint those, reminds me of the kids running around with unpainted body pars on cars that cant afford to paint it (unless thats the reason, you ran out of money hehehe)

[carguy]

I like the car, well done! Like many, not crazy about the rear lights, think it takes the sophistication down a notch, but overall the car certainly gathers attention and looks nicely put together.

I actually like the unpainted hood and side scoops. The overall two-tone effect is different from all the other silver Boxsters out there, and looks good.

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by djomlas

i dont see why you didnt paint those, reminds me of the kids running around with unpainted body pars on cars

See you hit on it there djomlas... I'm just a kid. 37 yrs old, but still definitely a kid! Clearly you just don't get "it". Pick up any modified car magazine - Modified, D Sport, Sport Compact Car, and you'll see a LOT of cars sporting unpainted carbon fiber bits, especially hoods. It's a look, a new look. Take a look at the new Taurus and Prius and you'll see the same kind of tail lights too. Again, it's a look - a newer look.

Actually the carbon fiber hood is painted. The carbon fiber is covered with several layers of clear epoxy and/or clear coat. I bet the paint alone is 1/8" thick! But it's painted with a UV resistant material to keep it looking clear. It's actually produced and meant to be left clear like that... Clearly the manufacturer gets "it".

[kabel]

Kirk the car does looks nice in that last set of pics, and it appears as though your really enjoying it, and that's very cool. I'm jumping on the band-wagon IMO the carbon fiber (hoods) and altezza lights are so five years ago. The fact that the car manufacturers are offering such "looks" now clearly indicates the trend has passed

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by kabel

The fact that the car manufacturers are offering such "looks" now clearly indicates the trend has passed

Hahaha... very good point! It is pretty sad to compare the looks of my car to a Taurus or Prius!!! The truly hot look now is what they call the VIP look - a sleek looking car with an extreme drop, obscenely negative camber on the wheels, and chrome, deep dish rims. Nice look IMO, but the extreme drop is not real practical for a driven car. So I stuck with the dated, but more practical boy racer look.

[blinkwatt]

Darn Kirk,your making your ride one of a kind.

I'm with you on the carbon fiber parts,I kinda like it. I would buy;carbon fiber mirrors,hood,side intakes and rear trunk rear spoiler.

Does the driver side intake actually make a difference in the intake system?

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

Does the driver side intake actually make a difference in the intake system?

Ram air systems typically only work at illegal speeds 100+ mph. It should make a difference though at speeds along those lines. I know that a very similar system on my motorcycle had a measurable affect on the intake air pressure, even at more sane speeds.

The passenger side intake has a fan behind it for engine compartment cooling and it does suck in. So the scoop on that side should have a positive affect.

[SoCalKen]

That is a way cool ride. The carbon fiber hood looks good, in practical terms what's the point in having it if you are going to paint it, you're not doing it for weight purposes. Oh, and the school girl photos are great also.
I wish I had the free time you have!
Ken

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by SoCalKen

That is a way cool ride. The carbon fiber hood looks good, in practical terms what's the point in having it if you are going to paint it, you're not doing it for weight purposes. Oh, and the school girl photos are great also.
I wish I had the free time you have!
Ken

Thanks Ken! Who said anything about free time??? It basically took me four months to repair the rear bumper (got it cheap because it was damaged). I did it in my free time, bit by bit, batch after batch of epoxy resin and fiberglass then bondo. That was a major PITA because it took forever and my car was out of service the whole time...

It's all been worth it though. I took my 9 year old daughter out for a "date" last night to a fancy restaurant. She got all dolled up in a beautiful dress and was sitting high and mighty, like a princess, in her booster seat in the Porsche. Once on the way to dinner and once on the way home someone stuck their head out of their car and yelled "nice car" etc. at us. My daughter was grinning from ear to ear as she felt very, very special riding in Daddy's Porsche.

[Kirk]

I’d like some feedback on what you guys think of these photos. I got a free decal from Gemballa to put on my rear bumper. It’s pretty nice – carbon fiber look. I got it on and shot these photos at a car show this last weekend. What do you guys think about the Gemballa decal in relation to the “S” decal on the trunk? I think it looks a little funky in the pictures. Do you think I should ditch the “S” trunk decal or does it look good as-is?

[Gary in BR]

Hey Kirk,
My opinion is to remove the "S" and keep the Gembella.

I like the Carbon Fiber pieces.
As far as the tail lights, I think that they look good on your cars color but not a black or red car. The tails really go with the mods youve done on the car.

[boxs2000]

IMHO it looks a little too much. With the "s" on your windsreen, trunk and new Gemballa decal looks too much. I would remove all the decals except your "S" windscreen. Sometimes less is more.

[boxs2000]

The truly hot look now is what they call the VIP look - a sleek looking car with an extreme drop, obscenely negative camber on the wheels, and chrome, deep dish rims. Nice look IMO, but the extreme drop is not real practical for a driven car. So I stuck with the dated, but more practical boy racer look. [/QUOTE]

Ok I know you guys are gonna make fun of my old self because I need help clarifying this term. "VIP" look I though referred to 4 door sedans usually Japanese like Lexus, Nissan etc. I though this term originated with the Japanese car culture (VIP magazine and tuners, WALD, SPOON, HKS etc. ) were customizing their cars to compete with the likes of AMG, M, and other high price European makers and tuners.

[Stunin_Stud]

Kirk dont mind the criticism too much, these guys all have good taste and your no exception. Its brave to experiment and yours yielded good results. You car looks very unique. Love the gemballa sides and rear, it ties in the gt3 front well. The car looks very futuristic. You should take it to some shows. The back reminds me of terminator for some reason but its nice. If you get bored of the lights there are other LED alternatives out there.

I see your going for the modern interpretation of the speedster. Going along with your two tone you should consider black or carbon mirror covers ( in trend now) and covering your windshied frame with black vinly( or paint it) I have seen it and looks good ( S2000 has it too).

Overall your car will be a fine example that will be sure to show up on a google search under crazy boxtser or end up on a kids wall.

enjoy!


-Nick

[Stunin_Stud]

oops I just realized you have what looks like carbon mirror cover already. I guess I looked at your early pics.

again one of the nicest 986 on the forum.


-Nick

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Stunin_Stud

oops I just realized you have what looks like carbon mirror cover already. I guess I looked at your early pics.

again one of the nicest 986 on the forum.


-Nick

Thanks Nick. Actually I am strongly considering getting some carbon fiber shells for my mirrors, not just the covers. They're pretty pricey though. What I have on the car right now are just some mirror bras that came with the car when I bought it. I put these on to contemplate the look.

I know what you're talking about with making the windshield frame black. I've been thinking about covering it with black vinyl. There's a guy in the San Francisco area named Danny who has a two tone Boxster like this. He normally runs with the silver windshield frame, but as you can see in this photo, when he went to SEMA he put on a hard top and placed vinyl over the windshield frame.



That's the one thing that's missing in this photo of a two tone Boxster with Zeintec hard top. Looks a little incomplete without the black windshield frame.



I wasn't sure how it would look without a hard top though, but spurred on by your comment I found this picture, which I assume is Danny's car again:



This is similar to what my car would look like with the windshield frame covered in black vinyl and the CF mirrors. I have the CF hood and Kokeln scoops like the car in this picture. I really like it! I think this has convinced me to at least try the vinyl on there and see how it looks. Thanks again for the input Nick!

[Stunin_Stud]

yea i know mirror shells are expensive but sometimes they come on ebay so keep an eye out. or if you want you can just get black covers for the time being. but what you have works. yea I have seen that boxster in the pic you posted. I have talked to the guy who owns it and been on some drives with him. Im considering the black vinyl too...

Your car is still own of the coolest looking boxsters though. I have the gemballa front bumper to which you have the side skirts for, but i have aerokit1 side skirts cuz i couldnt find gemballa ones. so your car is deffinately unique.