Dr. G

Well, it's been a difficult journey deciding what I was going to order. I was all set on Midnight/natural brown with all the leather goodies - very nice, but not the iris blue I really wanted. I finally came to the realization that although it would be great to have the headliner, dome cover, and visors in matching natural brown leather (instead of the standard black) it wasn't worth the $2K plus cost. I've been trying to see if I would notice it in my current car and it seems I'm not really looking up there all that much. So, if porsche feels black works for the headliner, dome cover and visors with the natural brown it's good enough for me.

I also had to reconsider the PCM in leather - it looks incredible. But could I live without it? Yes, I'm sure I can. So, the interior would look something like this (with the steering column in leather also)





Illuminated door sills - nice, but not a necessity - saved a few hundred on that. Deleted the instrument surround in leather and the Leather package A pillar and I was sitting right on what I had budgeted for the car. The 2008 base price increase did some damage to my configuration, but all in all I think I'm going to be happier with the final result.

The last piece of the puzzle is the tiptronic. I still haven't had the chance to drive one. Being that my dealer only has customer ordered cars I think I'll be relying on blind faith with this one. I do have reservations being that the PDK is coming soon in terms of trade in value on the tip. I enjoy the driver interaction with the 6 speed, but still have to consider the primary use of the car as a long distance tourer in making my decision. This is not going to be a car I'll trade back in two or three years (at least that's what I say now). My wife and I are planning to have a baby sometime next year (planning now, only - nothing happening yet) and I know shes not going to put an infant in the car anytime soon. So I have time to think about the tip vs. the manual for a while.

The dealer had two allocation slots for '08 coupes - one in Nov '07 and one in April '08. I have the nov slot but pushed it to April, as we're working on opeing another office and the extra funds would help out until then. So this is where we're at:

61 - Iris Blue Metallic
06 Natural Leather Brown
998 Leather Interior Natural Lthr
249 - Tiptronic S
342 Heated Front Seats
640 Sport Chrono Package Turbo
810 Floor Mats - Interior Color
XSC Porsche Crest in Headrest
XPA Thicker Leather Steering Wheel
XMZ Rear Center Console - Leather
XNS Steering Column in Leather
XTV Door Finishers in Leather
CFA leather tiptronic shift gate
CUV Storage Cmpt Lid W/Model Logo
CNE - Front Spoiler Painted
CNG - Rear Lower Valence Painted
XAJ - Side skirts painted

For those who've never seen iris blue, or perhaps forgot what it looks like, here are a few photos. It's an incredibly complex blue - somewhere between midnight and cobalt and it has both a pearl and metallic component. It also changes drastically with the direction of light - my all time favorite blue that Porsche has used.

eclou

Excellent spec. I would personally never do a Tip though. I also love my free rear wiper! Very useful

whyb2nd

I agree that the blk head liner/visors are not a big deal, it should be a nice contrast when you look up which should only be in your garage.
You can go wild with options when ordering but most will not change the car from the beast it is or the look on the road to others. I think you optioned wisely and tastefully, and the Iris is drop dead awesome.......PS: you'll love the thicker steering wheel, a must have.

TT Surgeon

I'd bag the tip as well.

Dr. G

The other option I'm up in the air about is the park assist. Thoughts?

TT Surgeon

Waste of time and money,( park assist). If money is any issue at all, bag some of the extra leather/cf bits, add up $$ fast and add zero to the value of the car. The tip is another thing that's gonna be the red headed stepchild once the paddle shift system comes out.
Rethink painting the the lower plastic panels, they're black plastic for a reason, they take alot of abuse and are easily replaced.
See, I just saved you ten grand!
C

Dr. G

I may drop the front spoiler and possibly the rear spoiler, but the side skirts would look good as iris can sit on the lighter side of medium blue - I'll get some type of protective film for them. Chris, you're definitely helping me out - thanks.

Dr. G

Sport shifter or standard?

TT Surgeon

Please, sport shifter. It's only 700$ factory installed. You know you'll eventually try and retrofit it later. That would be ok, but the 997tt console is a bit more involved than the 996 version and the shifter is different as well. The BM unit is really a 996 kit that can be made to work, plus you run the risk of creating squeaks/rattles. Eclou can chime in here....back to seeing patients.

TT Gasman

Sport shifter if you like to drive it hard and plan on track use, otherwise the standard shifter feels pretty good. Not a mandatory option, as it can always be added later, but it's a lot easier now.
If you come to your senses and get a 6 speed, def get the LSD. It's relatively cheap and cannot be added later. But again, if no track, don't worry.
You can have the side skirts painted later for a lot less than the factory option, I agree the front spoiler takes a lot of abuse and would look like crap in no time.
Just do the door finishers, console lid , crests in seats.
Just my .02
Should be a beautiful car.

Dr. G

I'm seeing patients too today, just catching up on my p-car fix. Here's an unrelated question because we're talking about it at work. On right hand drive cars, where the shifter is to the left, which side is the ignition on?

BTW, how's this?

Iris Blue
Natural Brown
Locking Rear Differential
Sport Shifter
640 - Sport Chrono Package Turbo
342 - Heated Front Seats
XAJ - Standard Rocker Panels Painted
810 - Floor Mats - Interior Color
XTV - Door Finishers in Leather
XSC - Porsche Crest in Headrest
XPA - Thicker Leather steering wheel
XMZ - Rear Center Console - Leather
CDZ - Leather Shifter Trim Strip
CUV - Model Logo In Storage Bin Lid

TT Surgeon

Sweet! I wish I would have added the door finishers and console lid.

E55AMG

George, I bet you change that spec at least 5 more times before you get the car LOL!

The spec is great but you may actually be more insane about this than I was!

Dr. G

Actually, I think this may be a keeper. It has everything I would really want. I'm driving a manual and tip (Carrera S) this weekend to see if I could be happy with the tip.

Edgy01

Good luck with your choices. I wound up changing about 4 times for my cab.

Options:

97 S Cabriolet 6-speed
98 Non-Metallic Paint to Sample (3AS Blue Turquoise)(Türkis-Blau)
06 Natural Leather Brown
V9 Black Top
CDZ Gear Lever Trim Leather
CUC Painted Model Desig Rear Lid
CUV Storage Cmpt Lid W/Model Logo
CZD Interior Light Cover Leather
M6H Brown Floor Mats
P01L Adaptive Sports Sts Lthr Int
XCZ Sport Shifter
XLF Sport Exhaust System
XMP Lthr Sun Visors Lighted Mirror
XMZ Rear Center Console - Leather
XRR 19" Carrera Sport wheel
XSB Sport Seat Backs in Leather
XTV Door Finishers Lthr
267 Self Dimming Mirrors
342 Heated Front Seats
446 Wheel Caps w/Colored Crest
450 Ceramic Composite Brakes-PCCB
451 Makassar Str Whl Multifctn
482 TPMS
498 Delete Model Designation
509 Fire Extinguisher
550 Hard Top
640 Sport Chrono Package Plus
672 Extended Nav Module
680 Bose High End Sound Package
692 Remote CD Changer
801 Makassar Package
TD5 Tourist Delivery