gap between side skirt and wheel arch
Discussion
I've seen this on every 718 I seem to look for it so.....
- Is it a manufacture defect ie the sill has been designed slightly too short therefore nothing can be done
or
- is it a fitment issue which can be adjusted ?
If I was spending c£70k on a car I would expect the panels to line up !
- Is it a manufacture defect ie the sill has been designed slightly too short therefore nothing can be done
or
- is it a fitment issue which can be adjusted ?
If I was spending c£70k on a car I would expect the panels to line up !
I have the same panel gap on my 718 Cayman.
Initially it bothered me, but the more 718's I looked at the more I noticed the majority of them have it too.
I noticed it when it was initially delivered to the Porsche Centre, I contacted them saying I was concerned about it but they emailed me pictures of all the 718's delivered on the same day as mine and they all had the same gap.
Apparently there is a fix for it now, mine went in and had it applied, but to be honest it doesn't look much different.
Would be interested to know if others have had theirs fixed.
Initially it bothered me, but the more 718's I looked at the more I noticed the majority of them have it too.
I noticed it when it was initially delivered to the Porsche Centre, I contacted them saying I was concerned about it but they emailed me pictures of all the 718's delivered on the same day as mine and they all had the same gap.
Apparently there is a fix for it now, mine went in and had it applied, but to be honest it doesn't look much different.
Would be interested to know if others have had theirs fixed.
OO02ERO said:
My 718CS was built in April 17.
Overall I do not believe that the panel fit and finish quite matches that of the 5 VWs my children have owned, which is a pity. In spite of this and other faults, I believe that the Cayman is a very special car.
Your crease line looks to be a little less out of line than the end of the side skirt is with the wheel arch?Overall I do not believe that the panel fit and finish quite matches that of the 5 VWs my children have owned, which is a pity. In spite of this and other faults, I believe that the Cayman is a very special car.
If that is the case, the side skirt will never line up with both however it may be manoeuvred. And what's happening at the other end of the side skirt - does it line up with the wheel arch there?
Just because "they all do that sir" doesn't make it right. They all need to be recalled for new side skirts which fit. That'll probably mean the paint won't match so the side skirt and the lower body panels both sides will need to be painted to blend in.
Captain James T said:
Doesn't the plastic side skirt contract in the colder weather and expand in the heat more than steel so come the summer time the side skirt will be longer and overhanging the wheel arch?
I do think you have hit the nail on the head? This panel is pretty long and plastic. I think thats why some are good and some bad , the panel size will be same on all cars.Yes the panel on the 981 is the same size , but the 718 will have more recycled materials that the 981 so at a guess it a different plastic compound?
Edited by tedblog on Wednesday 4th April 22:42
tedblog said:
I do think you have hit the nail on the head? This panel is pretty long and plastic. I think thats why some are good and some bad , the panel size will be same on all cars.
Yes the panel on the 981 is the same size , but the 718 will have more recycled materials that the 981 so at a guess it a different plastic compound?
Could I just say... absolute rubbish! That sounds like OPC talk to me.Yes the panel on the 981 is the same size , but the 718 will have more recycled materials that the 981 so at a guess it a different plastic compound?
Edited by tedblog on Wednesday 4th April 22:42
Maybe if the car was heading toward the sun you might see some differences in expansion rates, but not due to 20-30C variance in temperature in the UK.
DJMC said:
Could I just say... absolute rubbish! That sounds like OPC talk to me.
Maybe if the car was heading toward the sun you might see some differences in expansion rates, but not due to 20-30C variance in temperature in the UK.
Have you got answer? All panels are the same some cars are good some arent ? Bit colder than 20 C at the moment?Maybe if the car was heading toward the sun you might see some differences in expansion rates, but not due to 20-30C variance in temperature in the UK.
Edited by tedblog on Wednesday 4th April 23:37
DJMC said:
Your crease line looks to be a little less out of line than the end of the side skirt is with the wheel arch?
If that is the case, the side skirt will never line up with both however it may be manoeuvred. And what's happening at the other end of the side skirt - does it line up with the wheel arch there?
Just because "they all do that sir" doesn't make it right. They all need to be recalled for new side skirts which fit. That'll probably mean the paint won't match so the side skirt and the lower body panels both sides will need to be painted to blend in.
DJMC, I think that you have hit the nail on the head. The alignment at the rear of my skirt incidentally is pretty much ideal.If that is the case, the side skirt will never line up with both however it may be manoeuvred. And what's happening at the other end of the side skirt - does it line up with the wheel arch there?
Just because "they all do that sir" doesn't make it right. They all need to be recalled for new side skirts which fit. That'll probably mean the paint won't match so the side skirt and the lower body panels both sides will need to be painted to blend in.
I spent several hours at my OPC today and examined numerous 718s. There was huge variability in fit of the skirt, mostly at the front and some at the back with differences comparing right and left on the same car. One Cayman was spot on front and back.
One thing that I have noticed regarding my rear luggage compartment door, is a considerable discrepancy in right to left buffer heights to obtain ideal shut lines around the door. I believe that this indicates poor tolerances in construction.
This would tie in with the theory that front to back tolerances are also poor. For some the skirt is an ideal length. The skirt is mostly aligned to the door and rear wheel arch, so that discrepancies in car length are then seen at the front wheel arch.
I suspect that there is little or no ability to correct this problem. The skirts are probably all identical in length. The cars probably all vary. There will be no one fix for all.
My conclusion is that Porsche really to need to look at their quality control.
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