I currently own an '87 951 and will be purchasing a '01 Boxster S in the very near future (God willing). I have a couple quick questions about the spoiler:

1: At what speeds does it extend and retract at??

2: Is there a way to make it extend/retract at will?? If so, how??

3: Is there a way to see it extended while driving??

I think it is one of the sexiest features on the more modern Porsches and would like to learn a bit more about it. Thanks.

 

it goes up at 75mph and back down under 50mph, although the speedos are usually off 3-5mph so it's as low as 70 actual and 45 actual mph

there's a button to extend it manually in the fuse box by your left foot, it's not a one-touch up though, you have to hold it to put it up or down, if you do that it won't retract automatically, you have to use the switch, you can relocate the switch to one of the dead spots in the console and replace it with the turbo's spoiler switch if you'd like, it's pretty easy

only way to see it is to push yourself up and look back... not great while driving but you can see it

once you get use to the car, you can feel it at speed, well at least I think I can feel it... maybe I'm just imagining things

 

I've found that even if I manually push the button to raise it, it will eventually lower itself. Not sure if it's a time-based lowering or a speed thing though...

 

I'd like to know also.

 

dead giveaway to the police that you're speeding.

 

Only in places with wimpy speedlimits

 

I believe that you are correct. Even when raised manually w/the switch it will retract automatically.

If you want it to stay in the raised position just remove the fuse after raising it with the switch.

 

Can you point to a DIY on how to do this, including where to get the necessary parts?

 

I do miss living in D.C. where speed limits were merely suggestions on the beltway (and in the city).

Yesterday my friend actually got clocked at 120 mph inside the 9th street tunnel (trying to clear the snow off his EVO). The cops let him walk.

 

It is fuse D8 if anyone cares.

 

I track my car all the time. All the Boxster guys raise it manualy prior to going on track (so its not going up/down around the track. I'm pretty sure it doesn't lower until you recycle the ignition key, IE, it stays up.

 

For (3) after I first got my 02 Boxster I used a hand mirror to 'confirm' the spoiler went up and down when it was supposed to.

At various times since I have 'observed' the spoiler's position by viewing the car's shadow courtesy of a low sun and clear skies.

I have only tested the manual raise and lower feature a few times. I just rely upon the thing going up at the proper speed and coming down at the proper speed. (Now if I tracked my car I would almost certainly manually raise the spoiler to avoid subjecting the hardware to any more wear and tear than necessary.)

Sincerely,

Macster.