Gotta love how Porsche sources items directly from the VW parts bin-
 

Bored, and want to do some more modding for fun, so I got this 987 style shift knob from fleabay that I'm going to transfer onto my aluminum horseshoe shift boot to make it work in my 986, and notice that the VW Jetta's shift knob looks pretty much exactly the same as the one they put in the Porsche... LOL

Porsche 987/997 style knob $260 at dealer (and no, I did not pay that ridiculous price for the knob!):
http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!BZISFM!Bmk~...ZR5d!~~_12.JPG

VW Jetta shift knob. About $20 bucks:
http://i15.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/03/51/1c40_12.JPG

I'm OK with Porsche doing the things all companies do to make money, however, their design of the M96 with an unlubricated IMS is not accetable. If my engine doesn't make at least 100K then it's "see ya" to the Porsche brand.

My 1972 Porsche 914 is mostly VW parts. Great car though, so what do I care?

The shift knobs don't look exactly the same, but close. How original can you get though with a ball at the end of a stick? I kind of doubt that Porsche just used the VW part. The materials on the knob look different. Chances are that they just used the same supplier. Germany is not that big of a country, so if it's sourced locally, then it's probably from the same supplier.

Kirk

You can ask religion on this one. :cheers:

I thought about 1/2 of VWs aren't even made in Germany...more like Mexico.

Heck not even all Porsches are made in Germany.

i've changed shift knobs on all my prior cars, and my boxster is the first car where I'm not feeling the urge to change it. I've always preferred the ball style shifter over the "pistol grip" type that is in my 986....but it's not bad.

has anyone ever put a small ball style shifter on? i think to make it look right you might need to cut the shifter stalk down so it's physically shorter...which might create a sort of "short shifter" effect...at the expense of more effort...

i just don't mind the OEM shifter. to me it kinda looks cool! the older ball/stick ones I saw on 97-99 cars kinda looks ugly...but the standard one on most 986 cars, the pistol grip one with aluminum highlights...to me looks nice and feels fine.

besides, to get a Porsche replacement...you're gonna spend $300.... which is just nuts when you can find really nice Momo knobs for $50.....

anyone do a momo, or similar style knob, and hae it turn out nice? i'm afraid on our cars, it might look ricey/cheesey...

A 914 is a VW. Originally, the 914 was going to be sold as a VW and the 914-6 as a Porsche but, Porsche decided at the last minute that they wouldn't sell enough 914 if they were sporting a VW badge.

914 in Germany
 

The 914 4's do wear a VW badge in Germany.
Don't forget, the 924 was designed for VW and then sold back to Porsche, manufactured in the Audi plant with an Audi truck engine that was restroked.
And, the 944 was also built in the Neckarsulm plant by Audi (with an engine built by Porsche this time.) And, the Boxster is built in Finland!

I wonder if we'll see more parts sharing or even platform sharing since VW now owns Porsche and is the Mothership. Just think, someone might be able to buy a 2012 VW Boxster! :D

You can get pretty fancy with a ball and a stick, just ask MOMO. I have an italian glove leather boot with blue stripe that matches the interior seats and a MOMO airweight knob, I think it looks way cooler than stock and the price was pennies compared to a Porsche fancy factory knob.

Ditto and some MOMO stuff doesn't even have a logo or stupid design on it so it looks OEM and slick at the same time.

http://www.harrisonmotorsports.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id= 8&products_id=121

My Dad had one in a car for 150k+ and just then started to lose it's top layer of leather.

This is nothing new.. Porsche has been borrowing parts from VW for over 60 years.

and, if I'm not mistaken, Porsche has built cars designed to be VW's

Yup, there was even a manual that listed corresponding parts that I had back in 1970.