Just picked up my triple black turbo cab. Alittle non-standard. Full gt2 body kit, alpine head highly amped, and the engine, turbos, waste gates and just about everything else has been upgraded in the drive train and custom exhaust s and coil overs. It's a monster, beyond scary (for me)

Have two questions:

1. It only came with one key. I called auto gallery and they say a key is 450 bucks. Something about a key Any alternatives? I live in NorCal. Seems high for one key.

2. Did topanga canyon. I didn't think I was pushing the car hard at all but the Psm kept coming on in the turns. Expected more grip with the four wheel drive. I guess it's not adustable? It's either on or off, right?
Of course there was no wheel screech noise or slide, but it did have some strong counter input and cut off the engine a bunch. I really wasn't going that fast, basically with traffic, but the I as 't using the brakes as much as the car in front of me (an SUV). So am I missing something? I think I expected more or higher limits in the twisties with a four wheel drive car. Is there something to check to make sure the Psm isn't engaging too soon. My main reference points are my 928s4 and a Ferrari 308gt4 which from my imperfect recollection seen,ed to handle corners better
I guess I'll have to do a couple corners at low spec with the Psm off a
To test it out.

 

I get in my car start it, shut of PSM, enjoy it.

 

I looked at the manual and the made it sound like the car would be uncontrollable without it except for chains or in sand

 

Don't believe everything you read.

 

^^^ +1 that.

 

nothing at all about topanga should trigger psm cels ( or even require braking actually at regular traffic speeds ). the "snake" @ mulholland is quite another story.

any recent replacement of tires? if you have abs/psm cels in topanga, then something is going on that you are right to question.

the 450 for the key is standard dealership fare. auto gallery is the worst offender, but there are few choices for us when it comes to key cutting. the key must be cut, then programmed. if i were you, i'd get two done at the same time and they'll usually consolidate the "programming" labor.

 

You can get a key from Sunset (in NorCal) and then you will need the IPAS code and a Porsche Tool (PST2/PIWIS) to program it. You will have to program BOTH keys when you do this.

As far as PSM, there are several possibilities:
1. Bad tires
2. Steering sensor
3. Mismatched diameters on the tires/rims

 

My dealer sold me the electronic sender part for $170.63 less 15% for membership in the PCA. To program it was another $130 less 15%. Then they added shop materials of $15.25 (shop materials ????) With tax the bill came to $293. Sat in their lounge, drank Starbuck coffee, ate one of their "free" danish.............then I figured out that the "shop materials" were. By the way, I started with a key but it wouldn't program. You will need the blank/key for this price to work so I guess $450 may be close to the real deal.

 

Sorry, but the shop materials were to clean up after you took it up the tail pipe...LOL

 

well I picked it up friday mid day in Las Vegas. drove it to santa monica. saturday I did the twisties in topanga. I'll have to investigate why the psm comes on. the car had been serviced at AE in socal and that's a high end shop, so it's hard to believe they missed something like that.
today I drove from santa monica to san jose then back home. unbelievable power. and ride quality. I test drove the 997 turbo last week and I thought it was sort of soft and boring. I had an m6 convertible for awhile but I thought it was too big and heavy and soft.
this is by far the best car I've ever driven. quiet and understated (if a triple black porshce turbo with a full gt2 body kit can be understated) and when you need it, it goes like hell and it's hard to hang on.
what a car!

 

here are pictures of it just in my garage.

 

interesting. the guy put new tires on it recently. all of them look very good.

sunset what? locksmith or car dealership
so you buy the blank from sunset, and then you get the IPAS code from what porsche main US somewhere? who programs it? if not an authorized porsche dealership??

 

you *might* want to check the tire sizes to see they match up properly. reason i asked upthread if tires had been changed recently.. old against new frt/rear will cause the psm to act up. again, topanga canyon should not.

 

actually I found out he just replaced the two rear tires. he said he put on the same size as was on them previously. Are you saying that having a new set of rears while keeping good front tires could cause the psm to come on sooner?
in other words, do you have to change all four tires anytime you need to change 2?
heard about something like that in subaru 4 wheel cars, that you have to shave the new tires to meet the tread specs of the old. I've never had a four wheel drive car before.
hadn't considered that aspect of 4 wheel drive ownership.
I guess I'll check the size of the rears and see if I can measure the groove depth of the front and rears and will report back.

 

when the rear tires are replaced is it necessary to:
1. have a full allignment of the car
2. readjust some sensor, psm sensor if there is such a thing? (steering sensor was mentioned previously).
I doubt the dealer did the allignment after spending 1100 buck on tires. I hear an allignment is 500 bucks.