I am trying to decide between a couple of 2003 996 Cabrios that are in stock at local dealers. One has black metallic paint. Does Metallic paint have any maintenance benefit or any other benefits or is it just a preference of the look?

 

Dust show less on a metallic car.
However a well maintained (just waxed, wet look) non-metallic black looks like nothing else... It's harder to clean than metallic, but the paint will have "depth" like you wont believe.

 

Thanks for the input. By the way, I see that you have a child seat. My wife is VERY concerned about the baby seat (we have a two month old). How do you like it?

 

I have never put my young kids in the front seat with the air bag deactivator in my Porsche or MBZ which has similar feature - always in the back.
Yeah, you don't want bag going off into the front placed carseat at 25 mph parking lot accident , but what if the front passenger side is hit at 75 mph and the bag has been deactivated ?

 

MKW,

I'd like to ask you a huge favor. Could you possibly snap a digital photo or two of your child seat installed in the back. I agree and don't like the idea of deactivating the airbag. I'm close to making a deal on a 996 and would love to confirm with my own eyes that a baby seat will fit back there.

My son is 16 weeks old. I can tell already that he wants to cruise in a 911.

Peter

 

My understanding from speaking witht he dealer is that the side airbag is not deactivated. Can anyone lend any wisdom on this issue?