Wood interior replacement

Hi, Any suggestions to how to replace wood-interior without spending a fortune? Any examples? cheers

Hi Gang, I've seen a bunch of pictures of Porsche's (996 mostly) with wood trim interiors and I have yet to see one that I thought looked good. Out of a dozen or so different interiors that I've seen with wood trim; none... not ONE looked good... and in fact; I'd say that wood trim detracts significantly from both the value and the looks of the car. If anyone has a shot of a 996 interior with wood trim that looks good, please feel free to post it; I'd love to see it. Joe West

Years ago when I was considering a Carrera with wood trim the techs told me that when this went bad rather than replacing the bad trim with new trim (and very expensive trim) to replace it with just the normal trim pieces. These can possibly be sourced from a business that deals in salvaged Porsches. The pieces can be bought new too but while they may be less expensive than the actual wood trim pieces they may not be that much less expensive.

I think wood only belongs in a bimmer or a benz...It even bothers me how most SL55s around have wood instead of the optional (and IMO sportier) aluminium trim.

Wood is a lux item (I like it on my SUV's), not on Porsches or any true sports car for that matter Never seen it, but black birdseye maple as in the e55 might not look bad....once again that's a luxury car as much as a performance car. Considering the drop-top is a luxury item and hence a turbo cab more of a "luxury" than performance car, a seal grey, tip, with black interior and black birdseye maple trim, might be pretty cool. HMMMMM.......

I have in 1 car only. It was a black '02 TT with Magnolia interior. It was the most beautiful interior I've ever seen. Magnolia is a special order that delayed the car by almost a full year, but wow! It sold to someone in Kansas City from a dealer down here. I was amazed at how good this car looked and the wood was a big reason why.

The Burled Walnut looks great in my Jaguar Vanden Plus V12, but I prefer carbon fiber in my TT. Mike

I agree with Msindi...I just dont' think wood belongs in a Porsche (except the Cayenne). However Monsour, the sL55 alum. trim is CRAP!! We had it in ours and it really looks like tinfoil!!! Black birdseye maple (black wood) is the best in the benzo IMHO. Evan

Even on the Cayenne TT id go for the alu...just like on an X5 4.6

Although, I would not order it if new, the one I am close to pulling the trigger on has dark wood on metropol blue. After spending some time in it, it started to blend in and was not as noticeable as light wood or dark wood on a lighter interior. I do think however some trim addition does add to the interior which for most part is function over form.

Quote: Me too, but wood is not a bad thing like on a 996 IMO Evan

I have used it in mine. The dark maple, black leather and just a touch of aluminum. I love it. When I sit in ones without it they just look .... plain. I have other cars with aluminum and full carbon and I don't like them nearly as much. Subjective I suppose. The cjv/ s car go is kind of like an iron fist in a velvet glove.

Luxury automobiles + wood = Yes Yes Porsche + wood = No No

I'm not a fan of wood in sports cars. In my E55, I had the black birdseye maple, which was very sleek and elegant looking, but even that would not be appropriate in a Porsche IMHO.

Women driving hot sports cars, young men with 996tt's and wood interiors in Porsche's, forgive me. I almost forgot, they don't mix.

Quote: I agree, but I'm king of disappointed that the aluminum door trim in my TT is all nicked up (both sides). I think it's from the seatbelts hitting it. Also, agree with you about the MB, although the black birdseye maples looks sporty too.

Keep the wood in the forest!

Hey, according to Morgan Automobiles, they still use wood on the underside of their Areo8 Le Mans race car ... When asked about they simply said "Wood is the nature's answer to carbon fiber!" . I'll try to get my brother to post a interior shot of his car. He has the wood interior with black and it really looks nice. HOWEVER, most importantly.....his wife just LOVES IT!!! see how that works... he gets the car and she gets the wood! or something like that (ummmmm, maybe I better not tell him about this thread after all)

i had light wood on my stick 01 TT: meridian and cinnamon interior. it looked OK, but what a waste of money. porsches should be strippers focused on function, ie going fast. as has been said, put wood in astons, s600's and the 04 XJR wood is very clubby and nice...

Evan.... your comment on wood being acceptable on a 996? what does that mean? that a 996 is less sporty than a turbo? Personally i feel that the 996 is more sporty than a turbo purely based on the reason most people buy the turbo---one of the most expensive and easily attainable porsches on the lot. Dont mean to start a war, but what do you mean its ok for a 996 to have wood compared to a turbo? Explain

Here's my Turbo in original all wood (dark maple). My wife loved it, but a little Lexus like for my taste. Here's the TT after a leather steering wheel and driver GT3 seat. I like the rich look and it's unique.

Jay, nice to finally see ur car with... my steering wheel it looks good!

The two wood interiors that 03 C4S posted just re-confirmed my opinion that wood looks terrible and tacky in a sports car interior. Imagine if Ferrari and Lamborghini had wood in their interiors.... blech! I've never been a fan of wood interiors except on the super luxo sedans i.e. Arnage Red Label, S600,.... I have seen the bords eye maple on AMG cars and i think it looks very elegant. But if i could have it my way, full aluminum and/or carbon fibre please!

Other folks may not like it, but my wife is in LOVE with hers!

tons and tons in my A8 L, would never want it in either of the turbos

Absolutely HATE it. As a prospective buyer, I have had to walk away from a few NEARLY perfect examples because of the wood. Don't want to buy a car only to have to put monyey into it to un-ugly it the interior.

I've seen several Porsche's with wood accents and don't like any of it. I even think the idea of it in a high performance car where drastic measures are taken to cut weight and increase power is wrong. With that being said my wife's Boxster has burled maple wood veneer accents on a lot of the interior pieces. It is not stock but put on by the previous owner. I offered to remove it years ago, then just last week again. She's owned the car going on 12 years and likes it the way it is. There ya go, someone likes the look of wood.

Wow, it took 9 years to find the pictures...

I actually like the light wood in my TT than the wood in my Lexus. I must say that 996 is an outdated car and no matter what you add/change (CF, Alum...), the interior still looks old. So, wood or not... it doesn't bother me.

Better question is: has anyone ever seen a 996 interior that actually looks good That's one thing I dislike about the car; the interior looks way older than 2002. My '99 BMW looks much newer.

That is one interesting thread. I believe it really depends on the color/finish of the wood and color of leather that it has to work with. I was always 100% sure I would not touch a 996tt with wood inside it even with a long pole but found one last year that really worked for me and even though it has wood inside it really does not bother me at all. I think it works great with natural brown leather interior and basalt black exterior... please judge it from my pics:

Quotes source post: 36365

Quote: lols, most Porsches ARE luxury cars. some are sports too, but with the exception of the GT cars, they're ALL luxury cars.