C4S Specs

Hey Everyone, I appreciate the advice I've read so far on my order, but I have a few more questions. I originally ordered Basalt Black/Black interior but have since changed my order to Seal Grey/Black because it's easier to maintain. It also has a crisper look, IMHO. Anyhow, my dealer said I only have a few more weeks to iron out my options (March or April Build/April or May Delivery - I don't recall what I have). Here's what I have so far: Seal Grey Black Interior Carbon Fiber Shifter/Handbrake Bi-xenons Sport Seats Bose Sport Exhaust Aluminum Dials Stainless Steel Exhaust Pipes (Dual-look) Porsche Crest in headrest Here are my questions: I originally had deviating stitching (red) when I had the black exterior. I have since thought better of it because of the grey exterior. Do you guys think the red stitching would work w/ the grey exterior? I think it's a nice touch and makes the interior look sporty. Is the auto-dim mirror worth the cost? I want the auto-dimming, but I don't care for the rain sensor. How difficult is it to add it aftermarket? Small Carbon Fiber package. Worth it? It's 2k. Am I missing any important options? For those of who have added Kinesis wheels, how much do they run in general? I looked at the wheel enhancement website and like the K28/29s or the BBS LM two piece wheels. I like the 18" size and look of these wheels. TIA, everyone. This board is invaluable.

My 02 C4S is Seal Grey with Black interior and most of the same options you have mentioned. Regarding the deviating red, I went outside and stared at my car trying to imagine the red stiitching. I think it would look sharp, ok with grey exterior and ok with the red calipers. One of my favorite options is the carbon fiber steering wheel. It looks good with the black interior and the Seal Grey exterior, and this may sound odd, but it just has a great feel -- although the carbon fiber portion does tend to heat up when parked last summer. Best of luck with your decision. I don't think you can go wrong. The C4S is a great looking and perfoming car. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Get the dimming mirrors with the rain sensor wipers! The dimming feature works for both the rear view as well as the drivers outside mirror. The rain sensor wipers are GREAT, and the work perfectly and in the background, set and forget, a little mist a swipe and they stop, pass a semi and they rev up full blast then settle back You would not regret getting the pair!

I agree, the rair sensor works great. But I would get an aftermarket stereo system installed by a car audio specialist. All the factory car stereos are really poor; no image, no stage, no bass, no quality, no flexibility for tweeking, etc. Its not going to be a mayor influence on the total price of the car and there is a big difference.

I traded a C4S for my TT. I had arctic silver with black interior. I had red deviating stitching and loved it. In addition, I had guards red seat belts, which I would recommend to you. Carbon fiber is well worth the price. I had the full carbon package. It looks great in a Porsche!! Good luck and congrats...

I have had the large CF package in my last 2 cars, I would suggest the small one. It hits all the key places and looks WOW!

[quote]Originally posted by Carlos from Spain: <strong>I agree, the rair sensor works great. But I would get an aftermarket stereo system installed by a car audio specialist. All the factory car stereos are really poor; no image, no stage, no bass, no quality, no flexibility for tweeking, etc. Its not going to be a mayor influence on the total price of the car and there is a big difference. </strong><hr></blockquote> How good of an image are you going to get with one speaker 1 foot from you and the other on the other side of the car. If I want good imaging and a 3d soundstage, I sit at home and immerse myself in music. When I want a driving experience, I drive my car. I try not to do both at the same time as they are distracting to each other. When I would take my 88 S4 out for a spirited drive, I wouldnt even have the CD on. I prefer to hear the music of the motor and the roaring exhaust and concentrate on how the car is performing, rather than the music. But to each his own I guess.

[quote]Originally posted by Art_Z: <strong>... How good of an image are you going to get with one speaker 1 foot from you and the other on the other side of the car. If I want good imaging and a 3d soundstage, I sit at home and immerse myself in music. ...</strong><hr></blockquote> Sorry Art, but I have to strongly disagree with you. I LOVE the way my car handles, the way the engine sounds, and overall, but the stereo stinks! How tough is it to make an AM radio that works, and a stereo that sounds better than the average stock Toyota Tercel system? Please! Around here you need the AM to find your way out of the traffic and a better sound would be nice to hear while I sit in that traffic till I get the chance to turn off the system and enjoy the ride. Would love to know what solutions anyone has come up with. My car has the Nav which I think makes it harder to fix all of this.

FWIW I regret not getting the rain sensor and auto dimming mirror. About the only thing I didn't get! Personally, I think the Bose Sound System works fine and is light years beyond the high end systems I paid extra for on my BMW 540i and 740i! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Dunno if it means anything, but just to put things in perspective, the current optional "high end" sound system is reportedly the best Porsche has ever had. If you think the current system sucks, listen to the pre-996 sound systems! For me, I couldn't care less if the sound system sucks. There is too much road noise even at a standstill in traffic to enjoy good sounds. It's decent enough as the background music for driving. I also kept the in-dash cassete to play books and lectures, and got the CD changer for CD's. I listen and enjoy music at home. But, as has been said, to each his own. Just read a thread in another board where the owner wanted to know how to put a hole from the front trunk space to the cabin so he could put a giant sub-woofer in the trunk .

[quote] ... How good of an image are you going to get with one speaker 1 foot from you and the other on the other side of the car. If I want good imaging and a 3d soundstage, I sit at home and immerse myself in music. ...<hr></blockquote> Not intended as a rebuke, but since the audio system designer knows exactly where the furniture is, what and where the reflecting/absorbing surfaces are, has a very small airspace to deal with, and roughly where you ears are going to be, OEM audio CAN be high performance. That said, while Bose systems are often perfectly "listenable" and certainly functional, they are not particularly high performance despite the cost. If you doubt this listen carefully to one of the optional Nakamichi or Harmon systems in a Lexus. Of course, Lexus cars have hard, skinny, siped tires and are designed so you can't hear the motor...a sport exhaust with the new factory dash switch might be a better buy.

[quote] ART: "How good of an image are you going to get with one speaker 1 foot from you and the other on the other side of the car". <hr></blockquote> Actually the futher away are the tweeters from you (the other speakers don't matteras much) the better image you are going to get because the less difference in distance between the right tweeter to you and the left tweeter to you. You should listen to some real highend car audio installations and you will be surprised of how good can it sound, much better than most people (with untrained ears) can actually appretiate. [quote] ART: I try not to do both at the same time as they are distracting to each other. <hr></blockquote> Some can do both without getting distracted. Only when really at the limit driving I lower the volume to hear the tires and the engine. [quote] DAVE P: Personally, I think the Bose Sound System works fine and is light years beyond the high end systems I paid extra for on my BMW 540i and 740i! <hr></blockquote> True, but still it doesn't make it a decent sound system. All factory sound systems that I have heard: Porsche's Bose, Jaguar's Harmon, BMW's, Merc's, etc. are really poor. But if you haven't heard REAL highend caraudio systems (such as in a caraudio competition) you have nothing to relate or compare to, so it may seem good. [quote] PALTING: For me, I couldn't care less if the sound system sucks. There is too much road noise even at a standstill in traffic to enjoy good sounds <hr></blockquote> If the stereo is good you can overcome this enviromental noise. I had a system specifically designed for my past E36-M3 Cabrio that could overcome the enviromental noise even with the top down! (600+ RMS Watts and 14 speakers). The problem was that the chasis flexed too much for my taste so I would always drive with the aluminum hard-top on My point is that you would be amazed how easy it is to improve greatly the fatory stereos even if they are presented as a highend extra. In fact, the 996 stock locations of the speakers are already actually OK, and all you need is 1-2 good amplifiers, good quality speakers, and a custom made subwoofer enclosure installed by profesionals. Its a matter of taste, but if you like to listen to music with really good quality, don't go to a caraudio competition or listen to a profesional instalation because you'll then be able to appretiate it and now find that the factory stereo sucks and you'll need to change. Thats what happened to me a long time ago.

[quote] But, as has been said, to each his own. Just read a thread in another board where the owner wanted to know how to put a hole from the front trunk space to the cabin so he could put a giant sub-woofer in the trunk . <hr></blockquote> Hi, Palting man, that guy either needs good advice or needs some therapy