Just a FYI - the glass sunroof (that many get) is about 20 lbs more than the metal sunroof (a typical glass sunroof in a sedan, weighs between 50-80lbs)...and 2 gallons of gas is about equivalent to the added weight of the FAL. Life is about compromises. If added weight is a concern, next time you’re on the track, put in just enough gas to complete your session. Easy thing to do to save on weight.

But the bottom line is - If you need FAL, or more likely, think you might need, then get it. Weight, complexity and cost are in the noise, IMO.

 

Well, that wasn't the question was it?

If you don't need FAL, then there's absolutely no reason to get it -- regardless of weight or complexity, or lack thereof.

The point of the discussion, unless I am mistaken, is if you think you might need it, would or should the weight and/or complexity of the FAL system be a consideration?

The point of my post was that it should not be, given how insignificant the weight is (~7kg or less than 15 lb especially in the front of the car), and how Porsche has now had 2 prior generations (997 and 991) to refine the perfect the system.

So if a person thinks that they might need FAL, then their decision to get it or not should turn on the weight or complexity of the system.

 

Now let's be honest - it is a scare tactic. "it is only 2% of the MSRP and if you have any doubt, you should get it". That's silly. The piece that might hit a curb is cheap to replace (as pointed out, you can replace it multiple times and not be at the cost of the FAL). Seriously, if that many front ends hit stuff, Porsche should/would make it standard. But the fact is, many (maybe most?) people with a 992 don't need it. Have the sport front end? Yea, that might be something to think about. Have the sport front end and SPASM? Good idea possibly? But have the standard suspension and regular front end? You are wasting your money and adding complexity and weight the the car (and if you don't care about $2K plus... well then).

I was fortunate to friend a person on this board - I said "I'm flipping out, lots of people are saying to get FAL and I'm worried" - his exact comment "Regarding FAL - there have been many times where I thougt I might scrape the front end on steep parking lot entrances, etc - but never have. I’ve never regretted not having it."

 

I just replaced the front ‘chin’ on my SPASM non-sports front car, because of a freeway tire-tread incident, and there were almost no scratches on it despite it touching down quite a few times over the last year. So yeah, even if it does scrape a bit it really doesn’t seem to matter. The ‘chin’ is even soft on the centre as if designed to handle it.

 

While this was not directed at me, I’ll counter by saying, I don’t think it’s silly at all.

I debated long and hard, myself, before deciding whether to get the FAL (I also have the sport front and rear facia). For me, though, I didn’t need anyone’s opinion helping me decide. My situation is my situation. But apparently, there are a LOT of unsure people on here that need affirmation, or confirmation one way or the other. The fact that this person is even worried about this issue means that they have situations in their life where they feel they might need it. Only they can say for sure whether they will need it, or not. And I would strongly suspect that for the vast majority of Porsche buyers, today, the cost of a $2+K option is not a serious factor in their decision process. But having some piece of mind that they can get over most things, without experiencing any damage to their new toy, is, as they say in the commercial, “priceless”.

As to your last comment - Yes, to fix or replace the front lip is cheaper than the FAL, although if the front lip is (also) painted and wrapped, to get that fixed will begin to add up, and probably cost more than the part, itself. Nevertheless, for some of us, the non-DIY crowd, the inconvenience of having to take it to the dealership, or repair shop to get it fixed/painted (depending on how bad it is), is more the issue. One reason I came to this site, because I was worried about reliability...currently, while under warrrenty, cost is a non-issue, but having to go back and forth to the dealership is something I don’t want to do. Coincidentally, I’m already having to do that, right now, with a rattle I have on my door. Been back 3 times, already, and still not fixed to my satisfaction. Major annoyance. Won’t speak for others, but for me, it’s my time and aggravation that matter the most. By way of an antidotal story - just the other day I saw someone trying to use my driveway to turn around (I heard a loud scrape so looked out my window)...unfortunately for this person, he took the curve too fast and not at an angle and ripped off something on the front/undercarriage of his car...I could hear it scrapping on the street as he drove away. I could only laugh, as it’s happened to me several times. Been there, done that. Had this poor soul had a FAL on his car, never would have happened.

 

I get your point about the paint but if you can replace a light globe you can replace the front lip. It's really that easy, 6 screws and it's done. Absolutely designed to be a consumable item.

 

Thx, yes, I know. I watched a friend do it. I was in a lawn chair with a margarita in hand (complements of my host), while he was sweating. 😎 FYI - the first two front lips he re-placed had been painted to match his car. After the 3rd replacement, he gave up on that idea.

 

The margarita is a nice touch How the hell he worked up a sweat doing this is beyond me though - was he worried about missing out on his drink?! And yeah, the idea of painting these doesn't make sense. It's not as if they look odd in black.

 

And somewhere in this thread, I pointed out that having pictures of the type of "curb" or "incline" that requires FAL would go a lot further than a discussion. Because you have one side saying "You must get FAL" another side saying "You don't need it" and the middle saying "gosh, if you think you might need it, get it"

So as I noted, it comes off as a scare tactic - not on purpose of course, but people are like you said "oh, to save my baby, I'll spend $2K" - but in effect they might have just wasted $2k. Because, I would argue, if you get it and never need it, the one time you do need it, you will forget you have it

So like I said, if we could have a thread saying "I have this version of the car" and I do/don't need it on "This curb/incline/etc" that would go a lot further than our silly arguments.

 

That is a reasonable point. Here is a picture of my driveway and why I need FAL. It may not seem super steep, but the gully/drain channel in front of the driveway causes the front of my (non SPASM) C4S to dip down and scrape the front bumper each time without FAL. I can angle my way in sidewards very slowly but if there is a slight bounce - it scrapes. Remember it's not just going into the driveway, it's exiting straight as well, and if there is any speed the bounce of the car's wheels dipping into the gully causes the front bumper to scrape. FAL solves this situation perfectly.

 

I assume everybody here is an adult, with opinions on both sides of the issue. In the end, only the person that is considering getting the FAL, can make the call as to whether they need it - for their own situation. You may interpret an opinion as a “scare tactic”, but I don’t. That’s ‘silly”.

 

as I pointed out... the comment was something to the effect of "if you think you will need it, get it" - and let's be serious, that is silly. Because I thought I needed it, then talked to some people who pointed out "you don't need it" - but that was for my situation of course.

@aquatone , your picture is perfect and that's one hell of a scary driveway and thank you!