Oh god, what have I done ! !?

Hi everyone. New to the group here. Thought we'd step up to the mic and say ola. Well after about 10 years of trying to find a "new" used Porsche, I finally gave up and drove a new 3.6l C2 about a week ago. It was a big mistake, or actually the best move of my life. I realized I wasn't getting any younger and in spite of the high tech sector's recent ailments, we both agreed (wife actually was consulted) to go and drop the hammer on a new C2. 03' Arctic Silver met - [Sept. delivery] I've loaded er' up pretty good, but still have a few questions. Porsche sport exhaust. Have it equiped, but how loud is it at cruise? I have heard the stock 3.6l motor and it does sound really sweet. Have also listened to a Fabspeed system which is supposedly close to the Porsche sport? Is there any real hp gains using the sport exhaust? Have heard there may be a 5 to 10 Hp increase. Also, is the Porsche Sport exhaust stainless? Finally, what is the best "bang for the buck" in terms of interior? I have requested leather sport seats but am none too impressed with the inside door and dash board material on other 02's I've been in? In any event I went ahead and optioned in the full leather but still am not sure if this is the way I want the car to look. Is there another way to go without making the unit look like the inside of a cow, i.e., an upgrade with the sport seats? Anyway, all too much to digest for one day. Man, I hope we have a nice long indian summer this year... Cheers for now, Kirb

Congratulations, and welcome to the Mid-Life Crisis Club I have an Arctic Silver C4S. My favorite color for the Carrera. The stock C4S has it's own definition of interior leather, which includes a full leather dash, leather inside doors, full leather seats, among other things. Unless things have changed for 2003, the full leather option puts leather on what I believe to be the craziest things, such as air vents (the better to smell the leather, I guess), and misses on a few, such as the sun visor. Unfortunately, the small leather package does not come with a full leather dashboard, a must if you are going leather. So stick with full leather. One of the current board participants has just "pulled the trigger" on a new C4S. There were extensive discussions on multiple topics on the board prior to the event. It is probably helpful for you to review those posts and topics. Again, Congratulations!! Try to get some sleep before the car is delivered.

You've chosen great colors. I've got plenty of pics of AS exterior, Met Blue full leather interior (Cabriolet) on my website <a href="http://www.986host.com/gallery/doncapecod" target="_blank">www.986host.com/gallery/doncapecod</a> I got full leather and broke the look up with carbon fiber wheel, shift ****, door sills, and brake handle. I also had console painted AS. Wanted silver gauges, but that option wasn't available when I ordered. I also put RUF aluminum pedals. I think the combination of Met Blue/carbon fiber and the silver console breaks up the solid blue look w/o being too loud. (I recognize taste is relative). Re: mufflers, I vote for Fabspeed, cheaper and lighter than factory sport and a great sound. I'm a heavy guy and the sport seats are great. Elec seats restricts total movement of seats, so I got manual fore and aft, up and down. Power backs are standard. Only other thing I can think of to break up the interior would be colored seat belts and/or deviated stitching, or the alluminum pkg. Anyway, I hope your summer goes fast..

Kirb: I am new to Porsche, but not to fast sportcars. I do not feel qualified to answer any of your questions, however, I do suggest you carefully compare a loaded C2 to the C4S. You might be surprised.

Kirb, Congrats! I like you am in the tech sector and got into Porsche while the gettin' was good. Once you have one, you're in for life! Anyway, I have an '02 C2 Seal Gray / Metropol Blue. Close to your color, but not exactly the same. One thing I'd suggest for the interior that I LOVE in mine is the center console painted exterior color. I get a ton of compliments and I think it jazzes up the interior a lot! Here's a pic. You should get the idea of how good it will look w/ AS/Met based on mine.

Scott, for some reason your photo link is not being displayed on your post. Might you email me that or try again via the site? I am quite curious to see how the painted console would look in a totally black interior. I've also spec'ed the C2 with the sport suspension, and am wondering if that is a common option among the group members? Cheers for now, and thanks everyone for the greeting! Kirb Calgary, AB 2003 996 C2 -Canadian Arctic Silver Metallic-

FWIW, here's the Arctic Silver Console against Met Blue leather

Does anyone have the painted console in Guards Red? Picture?

Hmm... The photo is working for me. Can anyone else see it? I'll post the link instead of the image here: PS... It's Seal Grey/Met. Blue w/ painted. Not black interior. <a href="http://www.mylinuxisp.com/~vogans/my_car/P2110851.JPG" target="_blank">http://www.mylinuxisp.com/~vogans/my_car/P2110851.JPG</a> <a href="http://www.mylinuxisp.com/~vogans/my_car/P2110851.JPG" target="_blank">Picture of Met Blue w/ Seal Grey painted interior</a>

As has been mentioned elsewhere, Yosief's Boxster Gallery is THE resource for colour / option combining. Now for Guards Red, Black Interior and a painted Console, this should do the trick: <a href="http://www.whiteson.org/boxster/gallery/pics/56959287.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.whiteson.org/boxster/gallery/pics/56959287.shtml</a> and if it does not, just go to the main seach page: <a href="http://www.whiteson.org/boxster/gallery/" target="_blank">http://www.whiteson.org/boxster/gallery/</a> Determing the colour of my new C4S is this year's very curious pleasure :-)

Scott, the link is working 100% now. Thanks. Not sure what was wrong, but Holy shmolly! Simply fastastic, as is your car Don! I almost wish a guy was color-blind, would sure make things a hell of a lot easier... Cheers! Kirb

Sadly - the interior of the 911 is pretty boring for a high performance car (IMO). Full leather interior is a good start. On your color combo, I' would definately think about aluminum dials, center counsol in silver or carbon fiber and carbon fiber trimings (If you can afford them). Yosef's boxter gallery (site link provided by an earlier respondent) is a great site for checking out all types of color and feature combinations, inside and out). Take a look and get some great ideas. Have fun deocorating and driving.