Well, I officially can't take it anymore. The plastic cover, the blah looking stamped crest, the peeling leather wrap, the way my hand just doesn't have a good grip spot -- the 4 spoke steering wheel has to go. Having a hard time finding a 3 spoke grey wheel that comes with the airbag, without paying over a $1000. Did find a nice 3 spoke black wheel, with the thicker padding. It's beautiful, but it's black. My car's paint is black, and a lot of interior trim pieces are black by nature (or really dark grey), so I'm debating pulling the trigger and going with the black wheel on the grey interior. My BMWs always had black wheels regardless of color scheme, so I know it can work conceptually, but not sure if it works on the 996. BMWs were obviously designed to visually integrate the black wheel from the design stage, and have much more black dispersed throughout the cabin for balance. I could keep waiting on the grey to show up somewhere. Also, the wheel has the tiptronic buttons. My car is a manual and it doesn't really bother me to have the non-functional buttons on the wheel, but will it fit properly? I assume the wheel will fit fine on the column, but want to be sure before I go and get one. I could always wire the buttons for an ejector seat, blast shield or oil slick. Any thoughts from the esteemed community??
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YOUR RESEARCHThoughts on the Three Spoke
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Frankly I would not go w/ the black wheel based on the tip controls alone. I think having a wheel with tip controls in a manual car would really hurt the value. It's just not right. If you find another black one at a reasonable price let me know! My 4 spoke is black on boxster red interior.
It's your car, if it works for you I would go for it. I don't think value will be an issue, keep the original wheel in case you decide to sell.
do you want to sell the black one? PM me
Wait and find a Gray 3-spoke wheel. In the long run, you wil be glad you did. Just ask Ed how he knows this.
Try calling LA Dismantlers or Oklahoma Foreign and see if they have one.
grey wheels are easy to find, its getting the airbag (for under $800) that is the trick ! I bought a black 3 spoke with airbag for less than $500.... so it can be done. Grey is just tough to find as a pre-owned, not exploded set.... did you say you wanted to sell the black one - I forgot
Quotes source post: 6975357
That's so true. Found plenty of grey with without the bag, none with. Been looking for months. Don't have a black one to sell. I've got the cruddy grey 4-spoke on the car now, but I'd probably keep if I went with a black wheel for resale purposes. Plus not sure how many bites I'd get on this: "FS -- 10 year old ugly 4 spoke grey 99 wheel, leather peeling off grips but plastic center with stamped crest in okay condition."
Quotes source post: 6979222
you mean NON-resale purposes LOL at that AD - Funny as heck !
Quotes source post: 6979222
Just add "Porsche crest on airbag is very shiny." .... and Ed will buy it!
what, it doesnt fit??? shoot..... well, it sure looked nice
Try sunset imports. I bought mine there for around $500 new.
I have a grey 4-spoke tiptronic wheel and airbag in like-new perfect condition. I removed both when the car had around 2000 miles on it. The airbag is the vinyl kind with stamped crest, but I can give you a great deal on the pair. PM me if you're interested.
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