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| 996 FAQ |
Check out the following vendors of after-market kits (not a comprehensive list). Porsche also has an aerokit, which may have been tested for aerodynamic effects/improvements. So far there is little or no evidence that the aerokit has significant track advantages however.
"Automotion" http://www.automotion.com
"Classix" http://www.avantgarde-prestige.de/c1/e22.htm
"FVD Performance Products" http://www.fvd.de/fvd_en.htm
"Gemballa" http://www.gemballa.com
"Shiller USA" http://www.shillerusa.com
"Strosek" http://www.strosek.de/lists/frset.html
"Techart" http://www.techart.de
Crucial bits of the 996 are exposed on the underside of the car and several suppliers provide easy bolt-on protection plates. Porsche provides one for around $50-80 delivered. It uses the existing bolts for the engine lines and installation is very easy (probably don't even need to raise the car). The Porsche part is a thin alloy plate and has had no reported side-effects, such as unwanted heat build-up. It's a good idea to get one, especially if you've lowered your car. Gemballa, Tech-efx, and others all provide variations on this part, as well as boomerangs for the very front underside.
This is an area where people have particular favourite products and an FAQ can't hope to cover them all. Whatever products you end up using, there are some important techniques and supplies you should consider for the care of your car. Rather than repeat what someone else has already written, here's a link to an outfit called Zaino Brothers, a provider of my personal fave products. Ignore the product information if you wish - Mr. Zaino has some good general advice here, particularly at the bottom of the page: Zainobros. You can also call this guy up and ask him general questions about car care. He certainly knows cars - he knew, for example, what kind of leather I had in my 996.
There is some consensus on wheel cleaner. PS21 is a good, wheel-safe, product. Spray a mist on, squirt off with water, et woila, shiny clean rims. What's cool is that the stuff also seems to make it extra easy to just wipe grunge off between full cleanings. This company also makes an additive for your windshield washer fluid which seems to prevent streaking.
Almost no-one on the list has admitted to putting their car through a car wash. If you do however, note that Porsche does not recommend the types that move the car along a rail if you have 18" wheels. You don't want damaged wheels, in addition to your finely scratched up paint... (Guilt trip you enough?!)
Here's a very limited list of cleaning links:
Stoner: www.stonersolutions.com/auto.htm (at least one happy tire cleaning customer on the Board)
Nawab: www.nawabenterprises.com/ (125% price guarantee)
Dealers Choice: http://www2.epix.net/~tdc/pages/cartips.html (general tips and tricks and some links to manufacturers)
Griot's Garage: http://www.griotsgarage.com/ (cleaning products and supplies, tools, all kinds of cool garage stuff)
Carcare: http://www.carcareonline.com/howto_articles.html (very good general resource)
Zymol: http://www.zymol.com/
Want significantly better lighting at night, lower power consumption, and a "look at me in a fancy car" cache? Then litronics are for you, my friend. For a mere $1200-1500, a kit will wing its way to your establishment of choice, complete with headlight washers. Here's John Felker's guide to installing these babies:
"Litronic Installation
I installed the Litronic Retro fit to my 1998, March Production, Boxster. The installation is very simple. The light units are Plug and play. The Kit came with a wiring harnass, "black box" and other small items needed such as replacement "pins" and cable tie. The odd thing is a trim peice that is included. It is the Oval cut out to the left of the ignition. It was in 996 Trim plastic not Boxster.
I have posted the installation instructions from Porsche: http://pages.prodigy.net/jfelker/litronics/lintonicinst.htm
Here are the KEY points"
1. Get the Pin removal tool.
2. The pins are held in place by a Locking mechanism in addition to the metal on the pins. You have to "unlock" this.
3. This installation take an hour at most, IF YOU can get the PINS out quickly.
4. NOTE: The tilting is of both the HIGH and LOW beam. The entire "vertical" part of the back of the unit tilts!
5. Bacic Instruction: Remove the top of the carpet to allow you to run the wires behind. (CD-changer and AMP also), run wires, install pins, Plug in! Install headlight units.
COMMENTS: They are definitely better than standard equipment but NOT as good as the Xenons on the BMW. "
[ED: FYI, the new Turbo is likely to have a newer, better version of litronics with a different cluster design.]