Cool things about your car...

Since I picked up my C4S I keep coming across little touches that are not immediately obvious. Like good technology most of this stuff just works without you even thinking about it. Now many of these you will already know but I thought it would be cool to start a thread pointing these out since I know some people are probably missing the... So...here's a few and I will add to it as I remember them. Hopefully a few other people will also add and I can find something new out too Obvious things (I think) 1. When you open your car door the window drops just a little to clear the door area - when you close it, it pops back up again. 2. There is a light in the engine bay so you can see what you are doing at night! 3. the Bi-xenon headlights adjust to account for hard braking and acceleration 4. There are little led lights strategically positioned to help you see things in the car when driving at night without being distracting. Less obvious 1. If you take the car temperature control down to about 65f the car switches to 'Lo' and just starts blasting cold are into the car. Pressing Auto when the car has cooled will switch it back to about 72f auto mode. 2. I haven't tried this but I am told that the rear seat bottoms pull out so that you can store things back there without damaging them. 3. I am told that the A/C unit is disengaged if the throttle is pushed all the way down so that it is not using up valuable power. Things to be aware of 1. Don't shut and lock the trunk if you have disconnected the battery! 2. If you push the passenher heated seat button three times quickly it operates the passenger ejector seat...(ok, I made that one up!) That's all for now - anyone else want to add some? Barry

don't lock your car at a gast station with the hood bonnet open. The demobilizer will operate when you close it, also don't lock your car at a gas station before you open the filler door.

I think this is the coolest, although most people just say "huh" when I talk about it: On e-gas models (all but first 99's), the throttle is programmed to always give the same torque response for a given amount of pedal depression. It factors in engine load (accessories, etc.), engine temp, and so on, and adjust the actual amount of throttle so that your torque response is always the same.

Coolest thing about my C4S? Its MINE! Oh and it bugs my nieghbors

Did you know those little red leds have two brightness levels, adjustable. Button on the US driver side of the inside rear view mirror.

So you are saying that the e-gas travel follows the torque curve? So max torque (4250 RPM) is about 2/3 of full travel?

3. the Bi-xenon headlights adjust to account for hard braking and acceleration Really, is that specific to the C4S because my bi-xenons are not so great! Car is getting a new windshield today and I am getting them to take look its so bad. I have never noticed them go up or down dependent on my speed. How often, if ever, have you adjusted or reaimed your lights? Apart from that, I have a super obvious one to add. ( was not obvious to me for the first couple weeks). There is a button in the foot well that makes the rear fin come up or down, regardless of whether you are at speed.

The drivers side mirror tilts down when the car is in reverse so you can see the curb. I disable it, it distracted me, but it's cool There is a glow in the dark trunk release handle in the truck in case you have a midget locked in there. The top goes up and down while driving up to 30mph, oh yeah! With the installed autobahn switch it's also one touch, sooooo much better. You can put the rear windows up when the top is down if you pull the hand brake up and put your finger in the little hole where the top latches in the middle and push the rear window buttons.

The GLASS PANEL ROOF - During Night Time Driving, when there is lighting, I looks like a light show inside the Targa - As My Son Says " TOO DAM COOL DAD "! During Heavy Traffic, I can stare at the skies and day dream instead of watch other drives, watching me. Oh Yea, Did I mention how cool the Targa Top Is :-)

On many cars, the HID leveling is disabled above about 15MPH.

The fact that my car has a 6 speed and my wife can't drive a stick. Also, back seats, my kids love 'em.

That's mine too... a sports car AND room for the kids

There's actually a coin holder in the center console, but you have to look close to find it.

There is some sort of electromagnetic interference with mine...I swear...as each time I see it my heart skips a beat, and my facial muscles contract all on it's own to give this big wide grin.

Rough idle from open exhaust barking back from Sebring pit walls in an early, misty morning when the sun is just starting to get up. Not to mention driving flat out and listening flat-6's noise at full song bouncing back from start/finish concrete side walls. Or going 110+ mph and oversteering at Bishop Bend. Oh, and all the mechanical clutter I can hear from the engine compartment/transmission now that I don't have any sound deadening, that's pretty damn cool also.

Driving to the track, running ***** to the wall at the glen. Then clean it up, turn on the ac and stereo and drive home.

I've found that the 996 is easier to work on than my previous car, 94 RX7!

Totally enjoy working on the car. Was a novice when I bought the car and now skies the limit. Oil, routine maintenace, pads, calipers, mods, etc. I save the big stuff (thank God not yet) for the dealer.

Driving hard in the drizzling rain tonight in my C4S, dig baby, dig!

Hey! I didn't know that - tried it tonight. Thanks. Not that I want to change the setting - it's just nice to know that I could

I have the key seat memory set with no mirror movement and position number 1 set to dip the mirror. Now if I am reversing and I am near the curb I just press number 1 and - voila! - the mirror dips down for me

Yes, I was doing that tonight too - the C4S is an incredible car in the rain.

Er, I'm not quite the expert so someone else correct me if I've got this wrong... It's not that it follows the torque curve (it may do that too, but I don't know), it's that you get constant response regardless of engine condition (up to the engine's limit, I assume). So, let's say under normal loads you get a certain amount of torque at, let's say, 50% travel. Well, in a standard system, when the engine is cold or you have lots of accessories running, you'd have to depress the pedal further than 50% to get the same torque. With e-gas, it'll compensate so that you don't have to depress the pedal further. Paul Frere has a much better explanation of this in his book. Also has a really good explanation of how PSM works, for what it's worth.

Not to mention that the spoiler goes up and down automatically. I remember seeing that when it first came out and thinking it was just the coolest. The disappointment is it's hard to see from inside the car.

houldsworth......that is a feature that the dealer can have turned on or off (obviously your is off since you have to press a button to get the mirror to tilt down). I had mine turned on so that whenever I shift into reverse I can see the curb on the PAX side. I love that feature.

LVDell, You do not need to go to a dealer to get that taken care of. Here is what you do� To set it up so that the mirror points down when in reverse start the car, put the car in reverse and then press the seat memory button. Next time you are using that memory it will dip down. To cancel � press the memory button when the car is not in reverse. I set the key memory with it off and the number 1 memory with it on. Barry

Interesting. I tried that when I got the car it that did not work. I was told that the dealer has to turn on the reverse tilt, auto lock when moving, etc.. Since my car was at the dealer they just turned it on for me. Is that in the manual?

Yes. My wife's Lexus has the same feature, I just can't get used to it. Perhaps it's because I've spent my whole life in the city and parallel parking comes naturally to me.

I use the last position, select button, of the seat memory to tilt both outside rear view mirrors down slightly at night.

Did you guy know if you look under the floormats there is a thin compartment for maps and paperwork. very cool! The Engine Compartment light can be removed and used as a rechargable flashlight. just kidding...just seeing how many of you I could get to look.

Kirb, you are outta control.

hey LVDell...I'll be in Vegas for CES in January...you in Vegas?

Sure will. I am going to CES as well. I have two buddies that are attending also (one is a graphics designer for IGT, and one is a regional manager for Subaru NA). Can't wait! We should meet up.

Yup, we should have a big board meet!

Time to get a new thread started.

Kirby, I looked! You got me!