Little known Porsche model features and facts

Little known Porsche model features and facts

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mollytherocker

Original Poster:

14,365 posts

208 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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I love Porsche trivia. There are so many hidden features and facts about our beloved cars that I think its worth sharing them in a thread. Examples;

The 993 was meant to have a totally new dash but this was shelved very late in the design stages due to the cost. It is believed by some that it is this design that eventually saw the light of day in the first Boxster concept cars.

The 968 Sport was not an official Stuttgart model. Porsche UK ordered 306 Club Sports with some options and stuck the Sport badge on the back from a 928!

The 996 and 997 4WD models only measure fuel levels from half to full. Below this is done by an estimation via mileage and driving style.

So what do you know about your car that others may not?

cslwannabe

1,395 posts

168 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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Interesting stuff - thanks for sharing!

tb1880

93 posts

237 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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I always like the hidden hack trivia. Like the thing that's on here somewhere that allows you to get mpg and all sorts of other info through the climate control module in 996, 986 and maybe some others.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 27th June 2014
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(Correct me if I'm wrong)

The first gear of the 959 was actually the 'G' off-road gear. Why? Well apparently the noise tests of the time meant that the car tripped the meters doing its test starting in 1st so they made the car start in '2nd' so's to avoid it.

When 0-60 times were measured they used 'G' as first & then '1st' as '2nd' etc to get the performance.

The whole 'G' gear wasn't a nod to its gruppe B origins or it's Dakar success, just an early euro rule fudge smile



Another has to be the sculpted rear wing of the mk1 GT3-some would say the best looking rear wing of any GT3 or even 911. Did it arrive at its fluent design after hours if wind tunnel testing? No, the designer copied the inner door handle of the boxster to get its profile. Worked though eh?

996TT02

3,308 posts

139 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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mollytherocker said:
The 996 and 997 4WD models only measure fuel levels from half to full. Below this is done by an estimation via mileage and driving style.
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
996TT02 said:
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
That happened to me.

mikial

1,913 posts

261 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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My 2.2 911 E had the oil filler accessible within the engine bay , in the later 2.4 models this filler was moved to the exterior but :

To facilitate filling of the oil tank, Porsche installed an oil filler door (much like the fuel filler door on the left front fender) on the right rear quarter panel. Unfortunately, this unique design was scrapped after only one year, some say because inattentive gas station attendants were putting gas in the oil tank. The oil tank was subsequently moved back to its original position for model year 1973, and remained there until it was moved back within the wheelbase for the 964 models.


elliot_holder

200 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
sidicks said:
996TT02 said:
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
That happened to me.
Likewise, was hugely confused at the time but this would make sense.

barchetta_boy

2,187 posts

231 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
The 928S2 was also not an official Stuttgart model. Porsche UK spec'd all cars with ABS, and maybe some other bits that I can't remember, but in the Fatherland and the ROW they were simply called 928S.

mollytherocker

Original Poster:

14,365 posts

208 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
sidicks said:
996TT02 said:
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
That happened to me.
It is a pretty poor design. But Porsche believed that this was a good solution! Things like this become character over time though!

996TT02

3,308 posts

139 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
sidicks said:
996TT02 said:
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
That happened to me.
It is a pretty poor design. But Porsche believed that this was a good solution! Things like this become character over time though!
Righty-ho, never noticed this as due to the small tank anyway always dispensed a full tank! Good to know if it happens, may save some altercations with a pump attendant!

Dave Thornton

218 posts

148 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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The Austin Allegro was more aerodynamic going backwards. Not sure how they found this out? I wonder if any Porsche models are - the shape suggests it's a possibility?

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
sidicks said:
996TT02 said:
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
That happened to me.
This is because the gauge is st. Mine gets stuck regularly. Usually fixes itself overnight.

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
964 door mirrors have asymmetric mounting points on the doors - I found out because my race car had what I think was a RHD driver's mirror mounted onto a LHD passenger door. You'll see what I mean better from this photo:

marky911

4,417 posts

218 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
996TT02 said:
mollytherocker said:
The 996 and 997 4WD models only measure fuel levels from half to full. Below this is done by an estimation via mileage and driving style.
Surely this can't be right.

Otherwise the gauge would only work on the way down.

If you were near empty and you filled up to less than half a tank, the gauge would not register as it would have no means of knowing that you had filled up, and by how much.
As above, it can't be right. I ran mine right down last weekend then only put £20 in as it's now in storage for 4-6 weeks. The gauge worked fine. Petrol light went out and I had about a quarter of a tank.


Good thread though. I like the quirks.

ETA - what am I on about. Mine isn't 4WD! I'm an idiot.
Still find it hard to believe that a fuel gauge doesn't work from the bottom of the gauge.

Edited by marky911 on Saturday 28th June 12:58

Callughan

6,312 posts

191 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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993 has self adjusting tappets

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
marky911 said:
As above, it can't be right. I ran mine right down last weekend then only put £20 in as it's now in storage for 4-6 weeks. The gauge worked fine. Petrol light went out and I had about a quarter of a tank.


Good thread though. I like the quirks.

ETA - what am I on about. Mine isn't 4WD! I'm an idiot.
Still find it hard to believe that a fuel gauge doesn't work from the bottom of the gauge.
Something to do with the shape of the tank in the 4WD models (saddle shaped) and hence small amounts of fuel added may not reach the sensor...

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
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A porsche quirk. My 993 was one of the very first 993 registered in the UK on the 7th December 1993 and has a full detailed service history all from the supplying dealer and has been serviced there all its life so the opc know it very well.
When I bought her I noticed the service book was for a 964 so I was well confused. According to the dealer it's the correct one supplied with the car. When I queried it they just said that back in the early nineties and porsche was in bad shape they were amazed at what service book came with the cars.

Adrian Crawford once showed me a 3.2 Carrera cab that had it's chassis number factory crossed out and a new one stamped underneath. Obviously someone somewhere had cocked up smile

Tripe Bypass

581 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
I love Porsche trivia. There are so many hidden features and facts about our beloved cars that I think its worth sharing them in a thread. Examples;

The 993 was meant to have a totally new dash but this was shelved very late in the design stages due to the cost. It is believed by some that it is this design that eventually saw the light of day in the first Boxster concept cars.
The original plan was also to watercool the 993.

The 928 was meant to be released in 1972 or '73.

The steering rack of a 996 Carrera Cup is identical to one of a regular 996 with the exception of a couple of travel restrictors (big plastic washers).

Callughan

6,312 posts

191 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
Wiedeking had a carrera gt made for him with auto transmission.

997 Turbo tiptronic was first production Porsche that was quicker than manual equivalent.