Any suggests as to the best way to improve the look and condition of the soft touch console on a 2012
997.2
Cab? Thanks in advance for any input! Lovejoy
Assuming it's the same console as was used on the 987
Boxster
- stripping it and having it painted body color adds a very classy look to the interior - and it was available as an extra-cost option from the factory..
Mine came that way from the factory
Does that mean it was painted with body paint and clear coat, same as exterior body work? I worry about durability since it has much more contact to careless human passengers and the stuff they carry. Mine also has slight contact to the seatbelt fastener and nearly rubs against the seat base (cushion). I'm thinking of buying a console off ebay and having it refinished (or doing it myself). I'm not inclined to go wig body color (Guards Red) but something that contrasts with my Sand Beige interior. Maybe a flat black to match my center instrument stack and radio (Gen2).
This is a great solution! Did you take it to a local body shop to have it painted? I might just have it painted piano black to match the seats.
You can do it yourself if you're at all comfortable painting, no special equipment needed, other than a respirator. I did mine a year or so ago, and it's holding up great. To get the soft touch off, I used a stripper called CitriStrip. I was concerned using a paint stripper on plastic parts, but I found other users online that had posted about it, and it worked great. You should be able to find it at
Home Depot
or similar. For the paint, I ordered it from automotivetouchup.com. They will send you factory colors in an aersol can so it's super easy to apply. One can should be enough. And for the clear, use SprayMax, also available from the same website, or
amazon
, or any local auto paint shop will likely have it. This stuff is fantastic, it's a 2 part epoxy clear and is super glossy and very durable. Don't bother with any clears you find at the paint rack in autozone or whatever, they are garbage. All in, it'll be around $100 and a weekend.
In my case - sorta. I had asked about doing this on a forum somewhere (we won't say where) and I was pointed to a guy semi-local (about an hour away) who has a general
Porsche
shop, including doing this sort of painting. I contacted him, he had a console "core" he could paint for me, and I went to his shop when it was done and he swapped them. Cost was in the $500 area IIRC. I also had him do a set of the horizontal dash trim strips (cupholder, etc..) in body color - that was around $150. I swapped those myself. They turned out very nice also. I believe the company "BumperPlugs" does this sort of painting, if you want to have it done it might be worth contacting them.
Might look at my old thread......holding up great with the clear coat.
Outstanding Tech Contribution! - Soft Touch Removal and...
After a lot of on-line research, trial and error using an ABS test piece, I have documented the following to remove the Soft-touch coating and repaint the Porsche ABS plastic. It worked well for me, but the process does take time. The Soft touch is easily removed using DOT 3 brake fluid...
www.planet-9.com
