Lemur

I am in the process of configuring my October build GT 3 and had hoped to have it painted Gulf Blue. When my dealer requested the paint to sample code from our friends at PCNA, he was flatly and unapologetically refused..so much for their glowing descriptions of their "Customer Personalization Service". Does anyone here have any suggestions or know of anyone at headquarters with whom I might plead my case? I have tried to contact them via email and thus far have received no reply. I simply can not believe that what I am asking for should be an unsurmountable problem, especially considering the obvious concordance between the history of this color and the heritage of this car.
Many thanks.

996toomey

You might PM Edgy from the 997 board. He has experience with the paint to sample process.

MJones

SORRY...but there is NO paint to sample available for the GT3 in the US with one exception...
GT3 RS Green and GT3 RS Orange.

Your salesperson should know this information

Lemur

He did, but he was trying to interceed in my behalf. This make no sense to me especially in light of their beating their collective chests about their exceptional and extraordinary willingness to apease their customers.

Also,For your information, there was an order code for paint to sample on the 2007 order guide that offered two separate categories:

Non-Metallic Paint to Sample 792 24931,
Metallic Paint to Sample 792 24931.

SORRY Indeed!!!

ltc

PAG (and by default PCNA) has cut way back on the Exclusive Options Programme. IIRC, the 997TT and 997GT2 are the cars which have the greatest number of options under the Exclusive Programme.

It's a whole new Porsche company now under Dr W.

PAG reserves the right to say 'No' at any time.

Perhaps you can buy the car wtih the 'body in white' options (similar to Cup cars) and have it painted yourself?

GelbGT3

Don't know if this might lead to anything helpful, but one of the San Diego dealers (Pioneer Centres) displayed a Cayman S in Gulf Blue at the Porsche Parade last month. The window sticker listed the paint to sample option. They also added the orange stripe. I have a picture of it I could send by pm.

SrfCity

Maybe try to go to P AG Germany and see if they say no.

eclou

Contact Porsche in Germany. They were very clear that anything is possible if requested. PCNA does not have any real authority in the matter.

Lemur

Thanks to all who have offered their helpful thoughts and advice. As it turns out, Porsche AG has in fact withdrawn the paint to sample option for 2008 on the GT 3 as well as all aero kit cars and, most likely, the GT 2.
The problem stems from having to find a means of having all the varying surfaces ( Aluminum, steel, plastic, carbon , etc.) appear to be the same color at the end of the process. Porsche has had great difficulty with this, especially when paler non metallic paints are applied. This has required the development of color and surface specific primers. Apparently, the effort involved is not justifiable for individual preferences such as my hope for a Gulf Blue GT 3...dissapointing but understandable.
Now will it be white or cobalt???

eclou

I don't doubt your info, but it is a load of crap. That is the very reason that cars get painted with etching primers and such prior to the color coats.

SrfCity

Yea, sounds like a story. I'd want to hear it directly from P AG.

PogueMoHone

I would trust this information.

In fact, the first thing I noticed on my white GT3 (last November), and a red one parked beside it, was that the doors and body work were of a different tone. Easy to spot under light at night. It is not a big difference but it is there. Since I knew it was a new car I wasn't worried.

OldGuy

Personalization is for the customer. PAG is about profits now. It costs too much to keep all the personalization stuff around so they are cutting back. It hurts the bottom line. Who cares about silly customers?

I understand your pain.

JS

No go on Gulf, spoke to them when I was at the factory.

MJSpeed

Light, pale and/or both non-metallic they won't do.

Does anyone know what this is?