Kirk's Ride... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Kirk · 10-16-2009, 09:32 AM

Slipped on the stock 17" rims for the winter. I finally got new tail lights too. A lot of people HATED my ricer, clear LED tails. I thought they were okay, but had also looked at the OEM updated clear and red lights pictured here. Price for these OEM lights was $180/pair but was going up now to about $360/pair. I found one dealer who had three sets left at the old price, so I snatched up a pair....

These are some pics from a Porsche club run this last weekend. The new lights:

I don't think the stock rims look too bad:

My Assistant and the car:

Here's a before and after, Porsche OEM later model tail light on driver's side, clear LED tail on passenger's side:

The new clear/red OEM tail light matches those on my C4S:

I've got a Gemballa-style carbon fiber wing I'm going to put on the trunk. Once I do that I'll have to disable the stock spoiler. Once I disable the spoiler I might replace the silver plastic cover with a red plastic cover to match the strip between tail lights that you see on my C4S. I don't know, I think that might look cool...

Stroked & Blown · 10-16-2009, 10:25 AM

Kirk,
I like the look much better!
Before I couldn't get past the taillights to take in the bumper. Looks fantastic now.
Your C4S is beautiful, as well.

You should get some chromed amber bulbs for the turn signals.

carguy · 10-16-2009, 11:41 AM

On behalf of many, thank-you! Ride has now transformed from interesting toy to serious machine.

Kirk · 10-16-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

You should get some chromed amber bulbs for the turn signals.

Yup, I was thinking the same thing... If you look at the picture with my C4S you can easily tell the difference. The C4S does have the chromed amber bulbs, while the Box does not.

Kirk

CVstarBoxster · 09-21-2010, 11:03 PM

I'm amazed at your dedication man! I have the mod bug as well, but unfortunatley not as handy as you are. Great looking car. I had seen your in your signature on your posts; nice to see how it all came together. So, which do you like better, the 986 or the 996?

Kirk · 09-23-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVstarBoxster

I'm amazed at your dedication man! I have the mod bug as well, but unfortunatley not as handy as you are. Great looking car. I had seen your in your signature on your posts; nice to see how it all came together. So, which do you like better, the 986 or the 996?

Thanks for your comments on my car. As for which I like better...

The 986 with JRZ coilovers unquestionably corners better than the 996 with TechArt coilovers (and a lot more weight). The top down driving is nice too since I live in California. If I'm going to autocross or drive a really twisty road, I take the Boxster. This will be my weapon of choice for the upcoming "Terrible Twisties Tour" that I'm leading for my local PCA region.

The 996 unquestionably gets more attention and has more prestige to it. When I'm taking my lady out on a nice date this is the car we always drive. I think this car is more about "face" then outright performance. Still, it drives better than 99% of what's on the road today and the TechArt kit looks great. This is the car people will take pictures of with their cell phone when they pass me.

My favorite though is actually my '72 Porsche 914.

I've had a LOT of fun working on this car. It's much cheaper to maintain. There's not one freakin' computer in the whole thing. Topless driving is a blast (especially if my passenger is topless too). Plus it's just got a ton of character. I'm really considering getting a late 60's or early 70's 911 now just based on my pleasant experience with the 914. The 914 is my current daily driver, but you do need to be somewhat of a mechanic to own an older car like this.

Kirk

Kirk · 09-23-2010, 10:37 AM

Just a general update on the progress with my car... Not much new except I'm running on my aftermarket rims now. I put Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires on those rims and they are GREAT! I gave up on my stereo system plans for the car. I just couldn't bring myself to weigh the car down with heavy subs and amps. I ended up installing the two 10" subs and a 1,000 Watt amp in my C4S. The bass is absolutely insane now, but that car is so bloated already that I don't care much about the extra weight. One of my other amps, CD player, and EQ/crossover ended up finding a home in my 914 with a stereo upgrade I did there over Labor Day weekend. No bass in that car yet though, but it's going to be more mild - one 10" sub running 160 Watts. The Boxster is getting by with its stock DSP system and rear speakers, which I think is really a "decent" system.

Lately I haven't done much with my Boxster because I'm just enjoying it as-is. I had a wonderful 7 day vacation in it touring the Pacific Coast Highway, the redwoods, and Sequoia Nat'l Park/King's Canyon. The Boxster was perfect for that trip, top down almost the whole time!

Winter is coming though and during my trip the rear plastic window got a crack. So I'm going to garage the Boxster for a couple months until my finances free up for me to buy a GAHH top with glass window or a four hoop used top with glass window. That will be my next big upgrade.

Kirk