Why do people feel that the 996 interior is sub-par?

I'm just curious. I feel that my C4S (with the full-leather interior and supple leather option) has one of the nicest interiors I've seen. The design is excellent and there are no cheap materials. Everything is either leather or metal! The only minor flaws I've found are the flimsy stalks and tiny radio buttons. Anybody notice anything else?

Go sit in one of Audi's better and higher end cars and you'll see what most people mean. There isn't a hint of cheap-looking black plastic anywhere. That being said, I have no complaints about my 996 interior (especially in black with some choice carbon pieces). I feel that Porsche still believes that no interior should be distracting to the driver and they do theire best in keeping with that belief.

My last car was an Audi TT. Plenty of interior 'jewelry' but I prefer the more serious Porsche interior. One thing I dont like is that the leather can get marked very easily with scratches. But I suppose thats the fault of the person not the car.

[QUOTE] Originally posted by BostonMarkC I feel that my C4S (with the full-leather interior and supple leather option) has one of the nicest interiors I've seen. BMC are you serious, the basic interior is crap, you either need to add carbon or aluminum pieces for an artificially inflated option price to make it look good. Would you agree that the carrera GT interior quality seem much nicer, I know it is a half a million dollar car, but overall fit and finish can improve ( like in an audi or bmw). I sure don't want wood accents etc, like in these, but the overall presentation can be better, and some options should be nocost options.

I agree with Jeeva. The question of Porsche interior quality doesn't even bear asking. Any BMW worth about half the price (or less) has better build quality. I moved up (or should that be sideways) from a 993 to my current 996 and I'm shocked by the drop in quality. That having been said, the 996 is a much better car...

i personally think for a sports car its pretty nice, and i can say the 993 interior that people are apparantly nostalgic about, is not very nice at all

IMHO the interior is gaaaagious. But I have to be honest and say if I compare it with my prev A6 Quattro Sport, the Audi has it by a mile. But who cares. The audi ain't a Porker and if you compare driving experiences....well I rest my case.

There is a big difference between a full leather interior and the basic plastic interior. I have lived with both the basic interior as well as the full leather. To me the plastic looks cheap while the full leather is really a step up in appearance and quality. The aluminum and CF bits only serve to further dress up the interior. Porsche interiors tend to be minimalist in keeping with the sporting character of the car. Let us also remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Theres too much interior, thats the problem. Ever been in a late model 944 or 968 with full leather?

Just picked up a 2000 C2 coupe after trading in my Audi TT and I can tell you that the Porsche interior is definitely not as nice as the Audi's. I think most people would think the Audi interior was the higher priced car. The Audi just looks and feels more plush. The Porsche interior just does not convey the same high dollar impression. I will say though that the 996 interior is a big step over my old 1995 993's. I am just glad that I am a bottom feeder and not having to pay that original full purchase price the first guy did.

The little things like the cheap feeling power window switches and stalks make it feel cheap. The shiny switches make everything look cheap. The switches, stalks, and ***** don't provide a solid, well built feel that you get with every Honda. Little things like this really give the feeling of cheap. The 993 has its share of cheap feeling plastic also but it doesn't seem to dominate the cabin feel as much as the 996. The huge, very rugged analog gauges that dominate the dash seem to say quality. Also the dash and center consol are both smaller in stature and much less dominating of the cabin compared to those in the 996, so you don't notice the plastic on them as much as you do in the 996. I think you can also contribute this �perception� of cheap in the 996 because Porsche radically changed it and tried to up date the �feel� but failed to update the materials. On the other hand the 993 et. el. is really the same design from the early 70�s and the plastic used just seems appropriate for the design, where this type of plastic is not acceptable in today�s more modern interiors. All that said I am still going to replace my 993 with a 996.

Glad to hear all the opinions. I had 3 Audis and I agree that the interiors were great, but I'm all about the full leather. The Audis did have georgeous wood and switchgear though, superior to Porsche. IMO, BMW interiors are very cheap, and now, thanks to Bangle, are very ugly as well. Just look at the grainy dashboard or open plastic cupholders on a 3-series, or the plastic I-drive *****. Garbage... Again, just my opinion. I think there is also great variance among 996 interiors. A 1999 car with no full leather or trim packs, shiny buttons, and a cassette holder is certainly far below a 2002+ car with full leather, etc.

Well for starters, like you said, the stalks on the steering column border on embarrassing. I've had the plastic cap on the electronic seat controls fall off, the plastic border around my AC controls comes loose and needs to be pushed back in at times. I'm also completely unhappy with the wipers, they skip and stutter and seem much too light to be very effective. I think Porsche could make minor changes to the details of the interior and it would make a huge difference. I've owned a 99 Acura TL, 97 bmw 328ic, 2002 Lexus RX300, 2004 Lexus RX330 and all of these cars had better quality interiors. It's all in relation to the cost of the vehicle, if a 911 was 40k I really wouldn't care as much.

I also want to point out, that I love the scanty interior of a 356 cab or a shelby cobra. It's not the glitter that I am looking for, but, if an interior on a $80k vehicle is not bare bones, but has leather and plastic, it has to be of top notch quality (I agree with riad that even my 02 Acura TL has better feeling plastic, but the wipers on my 03 C4S is first class). Does it make my C4S (Full supple leather) less of a car, no damn way, I love it, there is no substitute. (I wish I didn't have to pay so much more for my aluminum look, the white dials etc.)

That's why I got the C4s.... I started to option out a C2 and by the time I added full leather interior to make it bearable and nice to live in (as you Mark, as you know, I had 2 S4s), the price shot up to within a grand or two to the C4s (which I got a discount on). I've seen and sat in a bare bones C2 (PDE car) and the interior material TEXTURE, not quality, is about the same as my 1995 Jetta or a Honda Civic. Yes, it's true. I'm sure it's screwed together well, so it's not about quality. It's about what the textures and materials feel like that give the illusion of 'quality'. Just look at modern day Accords. The interior feel is extremely high. Also, remember, that it's about the design of the interior, i.e., shapes. Porsche's upper center console shape is hideous (upside down teardrop like shape). I just don't think Porsche does as much work to the interior design as they do to the car, because they know that their market is less about what the interior looks like than what the exterior and the performance is like. And that's why they paid more attention to the Cayenne, because the market wasn't going to be as narrow as it is with the 911s and to a lesser degree, the Boxster.

Welcome, jyo, former AWOT brother NickS is on here too.

The column stalks are from a VW Polo about 3 or 4 generations ago. The light switch is also from a VW Polo or Golf about 2 generations ago. the heater controls come from an Audi 80 (yes 80). It's the simple tactile things that make a big difference. Go fondle a column stalk in an Audi, BMW or Lexus and you will get the idea. Ask yourself what you expect in terms of interior quality in an $80k car. Go compare $80K cars for quality, then ask if the 996 matches that quality. It's not about how many toys the car has but the fundamental quality of the materials used. Good quality components are not going to make the 996 or 997 a luxury car: just a car that demonstrates its fitness for purpose in its price bracket. I love my car for what it can do, but it doesn't hold up compared to the Audi which is half the price on the quality of the interior components. If you want an example of a how a small manufacturer does it look at TVR's interiors.

I don't think it is the actual design of the interior that makes the interior look bad. It is that feeling in the back of my head that durable materials were not used. The armrests on my doors already have some dents and scratches on it and the seats are starting to show a lot of creases. I only have 23K on it so I expect some creases but not as many as I have. If they offered full leather as standard that would be great, and they should for the price we paid or are paying. bobby

This is definitely a tough topic to define. I think it's often hard to say specifically why a particular interior feels or seems better than another. You might like one better than the other but can't say exactly why. That's the art part of design. When it comes to feels of controls, plastics etc. I think it's more black and white. The materials used and how they're screwed together should be top notch. Something I've noticed in my C4-S is the inconsistency of the switch gear. My wiper switch that controls the intermittent settings moves way to easy and is hard operate on bumpy roads. Then there are other ***** that have a much smoother and damped feel. Japanese vehicles at least are all consistent throughout the switchgear. One could say it adds character but I'd rather have the character in the design, engine, etc. Someone mentioned earlier that Porsche's main customer for the 911 doesn't want all the bells and whistles. Sadly I don't think this is the case. I think nowadays you need "showroom appeal". The masses are expecting to see lots of things in the cabin such as a navigation screen, lots of switches etc. How many guys you think walk into a Porsche showroom and think..."That's it"? Probably more than we'd like to think. Personally I love a simple, bullet proof interior, more along the lines of the 993, but unfortunately most people don't. I have the full leather interior which is standard on the C4-S. It's nice but overpriced. On the other hand the stock interior is sub standard. I originally wanted a C2 but just couldn't get over the standard interior. I even looked at other cars for just the issue. Offering the full leather is a nice option but the base interior should be improved immensely IMHO.

I like my 996s. Had Audi S4, TT 225 and an M3 coupe. I don't feel that the 996 is that inferior to any of these three cars interior wise. The BMW dash seemed awkward to me, but I understand alot of people like it. I will say that I have owned a 993, 964, 3.2, a 944 and a 928 over the years. Each one of those vehicles had less then optimal interior components. The bright light stalk switch. The head light switch. The power window switches. Had guages go dead on the 944 and 928. Didn't like the 3.2 heater controls. The 964 and 993 AC/Heater controls still baffle me and will never completely go off. I drove an 02 996 for 2 years with no problems. My 03 TT has alot of carbon and painted parts and it looks very cool. My 04 996 is very basic, but all black and looks nice to me. No issues so far. I think the cluster actually looks more refined than the 5 guage set up. That's all subjective though. Porsche has never really been known for quality plastic interior pieces throughout the years. I think the new interiors are as good if not better quality wise than the previous models. Sure, they could be better, but I would rather them cut corners there as opposed to engine, transmission, suspension fit and finish and etc.

I have a 2003 C4S full leather with supple option. I think it is perfect. These are true sports cars.They shouldn't have a lot of glitter. I don't see anything "cheap" about the Germanic interior in the C4S

It's a matter of perception. The look and feel of the controls are what gives the image of quality, which often has nothing to do with the true "quality" of the product. VW/Audi has this down pat. There switches are inexpensive and feel very expensive. Porsche has taken steps in the right direction, but they still have a long way to go before their switch gear feels as nice as the rest of the vehicle.

Granted I have the standard interior but I don't really want anything beyond what it already has (well maybe a glovebox would be nice). Keep it simple, keep it functional, keep it sporty. The rest is just bling-bling (imvho)

Le Chef said it. TVR interiors are amazing, and on cars costing far less too. TVR know they can't match BMW at what BMW do, so did something unique and different. Why Porsche had to raid the VAG parts bin rather than coming up with some inexpensive bespoke bits is anyones guess. I know for a fact the TVR aluminium stalks aren't crazy expensive 'cause I had a 98 Chimaera and retrofitting both stalks cost me a whole $90 - I doubt I could get 1 996 stalk for that. This is from a company that makes <2000 cars per year.

I have the std leather interior (basically the front seats only), as much as I wish I had ordered full leather I must admit it has proven quite durable. I take my kids around all the time, plus runs to the track and golf course carrying loads of equipment and it holds up extremely well. Cleans up easy too. Having said that I'll still get full leather on my next one.

I have full leather on my 01 C4, and I really don't have a problem with the leather, and I really like the suede top. It's more the plastic controls - they just really irk me because there's no excuse for it, it's simply an after thought for Porsche, and that should change. I had originally ordered leather covered stalks on my 04 C4s (I was upsold by Alfie into getting a C4s Cab I did this because I thought it was better than those standard black plastic ones, does anyone else have this option? Rob

I have a full Grey leather interior and would compare it to any. It's laid out practical and does all that I need as a driver. Yes, my C2 interior doesn't have all the chrome glize, whisles, lights and buzzers like a the BMW's, Lexus, Infinity or others. I wanted a proven performance sports car, not a big luxury sled filled with push button massage seats, multiple cup holders, big dash boards, rear cameras, and built in tv/dvd's. To compare an Audi or BMW's interior is like comparing apples and oranges.

I'm seem to be one of the rare ones here that doesn't mind the non-leather '02+ interior (which is an improvement on the pre'02 interior, IMO. As some of you have mentioned, my biggest beef is w/the turn signal stalk I'm another S4 defector (my wifes still has one). Yes, the interior of the S4 (or any audi, for that matter) is nicer, but I'm too busy driving to notice.

My buddy just got a new m3 and there is no comparison his is luxury and stile to the hilt and my car at nearly 30k more is kind of plain-jane. But, before i got my 996 the latest model 911 i had set foot in was an early 90's model. For me I always thought of them of 911's as sort of raw and irreverent with almost complete disregard for style and comfort. meant only to be driven hard while contending with a predictably unpredictable back end swinging out from time to time. I think the 996 was the first attempt on the part of porsche to make their cars (somewhat) user friendly. They didn't go total "mack daddy" but they added a few creature comforts for the masses. I still kind of miss the car that people got in and said "why did you spend so much on this uncomfortable, stile less, loud hunk of tin!" ...the inside of my buddies m3

Sorry, but aside from the seats, I feel the M3 is run-of-the-mill 3-series quality (not very good). But I also don't like nav screens, and the M3 has a nice one that many people find attractive. Then again, it seems like I'm the only one who really likes the 996 interior, so maybe I'm just crazy

Some folks, like me a re just into the "old school", more functional design elements of the 993's interior, which is void of items that put style in front of function. Also-from a looks standpoint, I think the 996 interior looks like it's trying too hard to appeal to the sports car enthusiast and the Lexus crowd, a very dfficult task. From the 996 bling bling trim to the "oops we ran out of space" guage cluster, I just prefer the more spartan elements in the 993.

I feel as though people are confusing "gadgets" with build quality. I don't need anything more in my 911 interior - including aluminum, wood, nav systems, lcd screens in the rear headrest with an Xbox hooked up, etc. However, in a car of this price range what is there should be quality, no excuses, period.

Tit for tat. The m3 may have a nicer interior but the 996 has a much nicer exterior. When you drive an m3 you feel like your driving.....well I guess a run o the mill 3 series beemer with some poke. When you drive a 996 you feel sheer enjoyment, you know your driving a dream car. I agree the Audi interior is way better and it wouldn't do any harm for PAG to do something about it in future. But most top end super cars are lacking in this department. The 996 is no exception. I had an Audi and I loved its build quality and luxury. I now have a 996, I hate its build quality but I love the driving experience. The luxury ain't fantastic but its certainly acceptable.

What's amazingly crazy is I'd bet the vast majority of BMW & Audi owners wish that had a PCar for one reason or another and any PCar owner can afford a BMW or Audi... If those of you feel the 996 interior isn't up to your price standards then why do you have one??? ... humm. I've owned large BMW's, MBZ, STS and aside from space, family and old man/woman features, my PCar has everything each of those had. 996's are true sports cars with a history of racing. Hence, the car is trimmed down to keep the weight to a minimum and still reflect the esthetics of a thoroughbred fun car they are. I was telling my wife this past weekend after a Sunday drive of 200mi. Every minute I am driving my 996, I am smiling from ear to ear with excitement. Not one of my earlier luxury sedans with all the lights and buzzers made me feel that way. I always feel a grin as I pass someone. All I want to do is offer them a

I agree that the plastics quality (and consistency) isn't where it should be but I have two points: 1. the ergonomics are superb. all the major controls are exactly where they should be, pedal and shift action is terrific and (for 01 and earlier owners) there is only one dashboard dial to look at for most driving. All of that adds up to a lot of driving pleasure for me. 2. fancy high quality plastics add weight. There's a reason why the M3 is 3400lbs and a C2 coupe is sub 3k. If I wanted quality materials I'd buy a Lexus. If I want a company that puts their energy into engineering quality and ergonomics and a rewarding driving experience, I'll buy a Porsche. If you want to know where the money goes on a Porsche compare the brakes to the brakes on ANY BMW or Audi and you'll see. I know someone will say "why can't they have all that?". Well I don't know, but I do know that choices in life are often about compromises and I'll take amazing brakes over fancy plastics any day. C.

Well, Porsche is selling their cars as luxury vehicles. That's part of the reason why so many of the people in this forum have replaced their stock suspensions. The one on mine was marshmallow soft and horribly under-damped. Go compare the stock interiors and stereos on a Z4 and a Boxster, and you'll see part of the reason why Porsche is the most profitable car company in the world.

i have full-leather and imo, i would consider it the minimum trim level for a $75k + car. the 'elephant skin' or whatever you guys call the base trim is a joke. my main gripe with the 996 interior or 'feel' is the door slam test. the 993 still bests it.

Titan and Chris, I am certain that everyone who is c/o the porsches interior agrees with you guys that 1) we don't want the glitz of audi and bmw in a pure sports car, just better overall quality without compromising the weight (Don't tell me it is impossible) 2) If porsche has to compromise between powertrain and interior, only a moron would choose a better interior at the expense of brakes, engine etc. (go buy a freakin audi)and 3) I am certain that none of these minor quirks makes porsche any less fun to drive (the best driving machine in the planet, period). Will I not own a porsche if they don't improve the interior, heck no. This freaking machine brings me so much joy just looking at it, let alone drive, if porsche wants to use spare lawnmower parts I'd stiil buy it for the pure joy of driving it. But, being the most "profittable" car company, porsche can spend money on improving the looks and quality of the interior, without compromising what makes porsche a porsche (Don't think it is a compromise between drivetrain and interior, or somehow the inferior plastic make it less fun to drive, they are totally irrelevent).

The odds are that if you frequent this forum, you are a true Porsche enthusiast who wants the car for the performance. And while a bit more luxury would be nice, it is not necessary as long as Porsche remains true to the performance end of things. I do think though, that there are many others who get the cars for the status mostly and those guys never really drive the car. In a way Porsche being a bit short on the luxury end, actually helps us enthusiasts to find nice low mileage under-used cars that we can then go out and drive as they should be driven. If they made the car with a nicer interior, more of the prestige owners might be inclined to hang on longer.

This thread has nothing to do with the performance of the car, I can't speak for anyone else but if the interior of the car didn't change I would still buy one. Having said that I believe you can increase the build quality of the interior without sacrificing a tenth of second off the line. If you drive your car every other weekend on sunny days then it's not much of an issue. However, I drive my car hundreds of miles a day and small (SMALL) creature comforts are appreciated as a consumer. A "real" sports car shouldn't have AC, Radio, heated seats, cd changer, phone, etc. It should have a roll cage, 5 point harness, fire extinguisher but the reality is that I (and most) use my car for every day purposes. So at what point does it loose it's "true" sports car status? I remember Porsche used to have an option for a stripped down version that would save a couple of hundred pounds off the car for those that wanted the sports car - maybe they should offer that again? If you had a choice would you order a stripped down version with no AC/Radio/Electronic Seats/Leather (leather is heavy remember), back seats, door handles (bring back the leather strap)? At what point does this become hypocritical? If you had a choice would you take higher quality materials with NO sacrifice to weight? Who wouldn't, and that's the point of this thread.

Riad you are right on.

The 996 (3.4L) also weighs 110lbs less then a 993. Yes, full leather should be standard.

As a previous owner of an 02 BMW M Coupe, I REALLY like the fact that the doors are much lighter in the Porsche. It was a pain in the *** to push the M Coupe's doors open up hill, while my 4 year old son can open the Porsche doors. I do wish the plastics in the car were better, but only if there was no weight penalty. I respect the fact that the ONLY volume/semivolume manufacturer who has even tried to resist increases in size and weight is Porsche. Just compare E30 M3 to E36 M3 to E46 M3 or look at the pigs Audis have become. If they could improve the plastics without adding weight then they should. To be honest I think the interior of the newest cars 02-04 do have nicer plastics than the 99-01s. The matt buttons are an improvement too. C.

the 993's doors are basically the same as 911s of yore when they weighed 2,300 lbs or so... the one negative carried over from the past are the seats--basically the same ones they've used for the last 25-yrs. they have poor support (especially thighs) and require bracing oneself by pushing against the dead pedal to stay put. it's annoying during spirited driving and a challenge when 'tracking' the car.

The full leather interior on my first 911, a new triple black '87 Targa was way better built than the full leather interior on my '02 Turbo in terms of solid switch controls, instrument quality, and leather thickness and feel. It's interior was really special compared to MBZs, BMWs and Audis of the era . Can't say it's the case today vs those brands . That car had an overwhelming intense leather aroma that absolutely knocked the socks off of people given rides. The leather on current Turbos is thin and has a syntheic feel to it and the interior smells like plastic even when new .

RE: the doors, the big difference IMO is the fact that Porsche moved from framed to frameless doors. Frameless always feel flimsier -- is doesn't necessarily mean the car is less solid.

What amazes me so often is how many folks seek idealism or perfection. Porsche is profitable and builds fantastic performance machines. What expectations are you seeking and how much extra are you willing to pay for them? Also, what sports cars do you know of have what you expect Porsche to have? I have the full leather (supple seat) pkg, fantastic sounds, basic computer dash info, ac/htr, one tap electric windows & sun roof. What more is sought? A sports car to me has the basics; nice radio, ht/ac, basic instrument panel and basic comfort. I got all that and more in my 03. Just got back from a 1400mi trip with wife and son and we had a great time. If the comforts were NOT there, I do believe I'd be saying something different.

Another perspective here - the VW group has taken the decision to put their "dollars" into the interior - and not into good motors & transmissions. For example, the VW group still uses the 2 litre motor - poor performance and mediocre fuel economy for nearly two decades, but low cost - that's where the $$$ goes. Same for Audi using the 1.8 Turbo motor - it's way overdue for updating, but the dollars go towards the interiors. As to the comments about interior parts & weight - it's not so much the weight of the part itself (even though there is a weight gain), it's the mounting hardware & support materials that add a great deal of weight. That being said, could PAG do better? Of course. And they will - due to demands of customers. Thus the massive improvements from 99 to 04! J PS - compare the quality of the aluminum castings on the suspension arms w/similarly priced cars - the "under the skin" parts are simply incredible!

I'm not going to beat this horse to death, I'll just try one more time to elaborate on what I mean: Simply put, I believe the interior quality of the parts could be improved to reflect Porsche's status as arguably one of the greatest car manufactures ever. Once again, I'm not asking for MORE gadgets. I'm fine with the KISS method Keep it Simple Stupid... but what is in the car, should be sturdier, hardier, more substantial (note my 01 has the shinny black plastic that Porsche changed to the matt finish in the 02 models which helps) I'm not sure what the adjective is but I hope my point gets across. My idealism of perfections is relational to the price of that perfection. If I go into a local diner and my hamburger isn't cook exactly as I ordered, well I'm not going to make a big deal about it, I may not go back, but I'm not going to start fussing. However, if I go to a very expensive restaurant and my steak isn't cook exactly how I ordered, I'm going to send it back

Ok, riad... I agree with the food analogy, especially since I am a gourmet cook. But, since your analogy imply's you'd send your steak back if it's not presented in the manner your like, why do you own Porsches if you don't feel their interiors are up to your expectations. You and others appear to complain but don't say what you want specifically... Can you be specific? Shinny black plastic what... humm My 03's construction inside is great. I was raised in a GM family in Mi (5 Sr VP's including a Director of Design. One uncle was Sr VP@AC spark plug which makes dash boards and components for many GM autos. The only way Cadillac can price their STS products as they do (48K-58K) and meet the profit demands is to use inexpensive materials and plastic is used extensively inside Porsche is profitable and so many other automobile makers are NOT. What's that say... Considering that's the case, I am very pleased my PCar presents itself the way it does. I could wish for my PCar door closed like my STS or my MBZ, solid, tight sound. But, those doors weight considerably more then my PCar doors. My PCar's dash material is similar if not the same as MBZ, STS and BMW's.

Titan, careful there. Don't you know, according to many here, that Porsche is supposed to be a non profit??? J (tongue in cheek, ok???)

Porsche has exclusive program for a reason. If you dont feel the car is up to your standards, have them build you one that is. If you want a stripped lighter version, its not too hard to gut yourself. Who cares what the buttons are made out of??? Shiny black versus matte? Who cares??? Do they effect how the car drives? As long as the seats, shifter, and wheel are good, then its plenty. I notice the headlight switch on the new Porsches is the same as my GTI...whoa! So are switches on the old cars! People compalin the cars are spartan enough. People complain they arent luxurious enough. I think people just want to complain about the cars. Porsches are still the most enjoyable cars to drive. If anything, they are even more enjoyable now! Ok, rant off!

Blue, good point. Just to illustrate: a few years ago, I was on a "two stage" business trip - here in the states, the rental was a (then) brand new Mercury Cougar (nice little car, BTW). Returned that, hopped a plane across the pond. The next day, I'm in a (then) new Aston, and I nearly fainted. The climate control buttons, trunk release switch, and several other "fiddly bits" were the same. I pointed this out to my companion, who very rightly responded "Yes, but will the average AM owner ever know that? Or will the average Cougar owner?" Yes, I know there are "fiddly bits" in my car(s) that can be found in others. Big deal. Again, if customers demand change, it'll happen, or the company will go out of business. A host of posts on a web site does not constitute "demand". It's defined as "are people buying it". If so, great. If not, better change, and fast. Here's to the 997 & all future Porsches! J

Seriously though, the people calling them cheap...what do you want? Im so curious. My mother and neighbor own a brand new lexus and the interior is no way any better than the new 911. Even if you ordered full plastic interior with cloth, the 911 is still better looking and feels better. A friend just bought a new Accord...i cant believe someone called that junk nicer inside than any Porsche. Are you looking for gold buttons??? Should the turn stalks be made out of solid metal? When you buy a Turbo X50, did you pay because Porsche is know for Luxurious interior, with plush seats and a warm feeling of being richer than your neighbor? You paid for what that car can do on the street and track. The older 911s didnt have crap worth of interior. People complained they were dated. People get more interior, they complain its cheap. Ok, im gonna start a thread looking into this...

Well I drove my 2004 C4s Cab home from Boston yesterday (300 mile ride) and the updated materials are an improvement from my 01 C4. The black interior works well with the matt black finish on the buttons and steering wheel controls. The shinny black switches on my 01 are really contrasted against the graphite grey interior and it makes them more noticeable. The directional on the 04 was tighter and less flimsy than the 01. The instrument cluster lighting was uniform and pleasing (took me a while to get used to the digital speed under the analog speedo) and matched the lighting color of the AC and Radio closer than my 01. I really miss the suede roof top that's obviously not present in a cab with the hard top on, perhaps this is why my 01 had more of a leather aroma that the 04 doesn't have. The full leather in my 01 is on par with the 04, both are very nice. All-in-all the newer 911 is an improvement over my 01 and it's obvious that Porsche is making a concerted effort to continually improve not only the performance of their vehicles but the build quality as well - and this is as it should be. Cheers, Rob