11-12-2015, 04:39 PM
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#1
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Beginner
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,659
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Quick quiz - Why is the key to the left of the steering wheel?
I was told once and I believe it.
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2003 S manual
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11-12-2015, 05:05 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: DFW
Posts: 253
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I don't know...excited to find out.
I do know I love the reminder that this car is something "other" every time I start it.
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11-12-2015, 05:06 PM
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#3
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Beginner
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,659
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It's actually very cool.
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2003 S manual
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11-12-2015, 05:11 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Listowel, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,120
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I've been told of two reasons:
1) So your right hand is free to put the car into gear. All about racing and getting the car moving as quick as possible.
2) Weight. Shave every little bit. Apparently the left side is closed to the starter and therefore used a very slightly shorter wire. Every ounce counts.
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2011 Boxster 987.2 Arctic silver / Black leather, PDK with Sports Chrono Package Plus
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11-12-2015, 05:28 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 900
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Because of the old race cars turn the key while getting the car in gear
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11-12-2015, 05:51 PM
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#6
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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It was originally so the old Porsche racing driver's could (supposedly) start the car more quickly from a running start. Or so I have been told...
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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11-12-2015, 05:52 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 3,709
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Wow, this is Porsche 101. Races used to start with the drivers running to get to their car
& jump in to start the engine. Turn key with left hand & shift with right hand.
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OE engine rebuilt,3.6 litre LN Engineering billet sleeves,triple row IMSB,LN rods. Deep sump oil pan with DT40 oil.
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11-12-2015, 05:58 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 868
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Because of the original LeMans race start.
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11-12-2015, 06:12 PM
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#9
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CEL P0306
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
Posts: 128
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The book "Porsche Speedster - the Evolution of Porsche's light-weight sports car," by Dr Michael Thiriar, goes into much detail. It includes reference to the ignition switch orientation. He finds, less romantically, that it is so the key would be out of reach of the passenger.
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11-12-2015, 06:28 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Greater Seattle, WA
Posts: 534
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I'd say nowadays, it's probably a combination of "to be different," and to acknowledge the Porsche brand heritage of it traditionally being that way. (And thus, even though the modern -- starting with our 986 Boxsters -- water-cooled Porsches don't share any parts with the earlier air cooled models, they are still both Porsches.)
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11-12-2015, 06:43 PM
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#11
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Beginner
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,659
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I was told Le Mans. So you can jump in and get started faster.
__________________
2003 S manual
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11-12-2015, 06:57 PM
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#12
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Certified Boxster Addict
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by schnellman
Because of the original LeMans race start.
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This ^^^^^
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1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
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11-12-2015, 07:08 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Greenville, S.C.
Posts: 2,670
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Quick quiz - Why is the key to the left of the steering wheel?
I knew that.
Now what I don't know, why are our pedals hinged to the floor while most cars are top hinged.
Last edited by BIGJake111; 11-13-2015 at 03:01 AM.
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11-12-2015, 07:39 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BYprodriver
Wow, this is Porsche 101. Races used to start with the drivers running to get to their car
& jump in to start the engine. Turn key with left hand & shift with right hand.
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What I can't figure out is why some cars (944, 928 come to mind) have the key on the column. Seriously it shouldn't matter but I've thought about a 928 or 944 someday in addition to a Boxster or 911 and I hate the fact that the key isn't in porsche position.
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11-12-2015, 07:41 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIGJake111
I knew that.
Now what I don't know, they are our pedals hinged to the floor while most cars are top hinged.
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I know at least newer bmws are the same way. I rented an X3 for a while and it was just like the boxster. Even had the little click slot at the bottom. I like it, much more precise than a sloppy floppy pedal you get in your average minivan.
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11-12-2015, 07:55 PM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 2,486
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I always thought that it was on the left so that if you crashed on the track the marshall could reach in and shut off the car.
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'99 black 986
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11-12-2015, 08:13 PM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Toronto, Ontario. Canada
Posts: 73
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My understanding is it's homage to Le Mans cars that used left hand ignition to shave fractions of a second in the start sequence. Seems rather absurd given the race is twenty four hours, but whatever who am I to protest.
It's a real pain in the ass though when you've been programmed all your life on daily driver cars with it on the right side of the column, and you constantly enter the car and make a motion towards the wrong side.
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11-12-2015, 09:54 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 2,865
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Have you noticed the key is on the right in RHD / British versions of the Boxster? Guess Porsche wants the people with the wheel on the wrong side to get going tenths of a second faster too.
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GPRPCA Chief Driving Instructor
2008 Boxster S Limited Edition #005
2008 Cayman S Sport - Signal Green
1989 928 S4 5 spd - black
1987 928 S4 - Granite Green Metallic (Felsengrun)
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11-13-2015, 12:28 AM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 856
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I've always heard/read that it was tradition going back to the LeMans cars as well.
Does anyone else find themselves automatically stabbing the key into the left (or right) side of the dash when they get in another car?
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"Remember, I'm pulling for ya! We're all in this together."
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11-13-2015, 03:04 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Greenville, S.C.
Posts: 2,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retroman1969
I've always heard/read that it was tradition going back to the LeMans cars as well.
Does anyone else find themselves automatically stabbing the key into the left (or right) side of the dash when they get in another car?
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Yes lol. I think there is a mark by now on the dash of the other cars in the family. Get in, get the belt with the right hand as my left hand stabs the key into the dash lol. At least half the time I end up genuinely confused.
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