993 steering wheel
Discussion
The 993 standard steering wheel is fairly, well, buslike.
So should I change it?
A recent thread (www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=244658&f=48&h=0) drew my attention to this:
which looks fairly sexy, and at £266 a reasonable price.
Thoughts?
So should I change it?
A recent thread (www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=244658&f=48&h=0) drew my attention to this:
which looks fairly sexy, and at £266 a reasonable price.
Thoughts?
I think it looks a bit 'cheap', too aftermarket; the leather looks puckered at the bottom column.
On another note, does anyone know why the 993 for example has a steering wheel that seems rather larger than 'average' in diameter?; I wonder what Senna would have said; I know he preferred/specified a 'larger' wheel for his race cars, I guess it was for more sensitive/on the limit steering inputs, but for a road car it seems as if Porsche tried to discourage their owners from tight/sharp manoeuvres, perhaps also why they fitted 4 spokes as standard; being part of the same ethos?, or was it a Teutonic pragmatic solution to road car = 4 spokes high speed Track car = large wheel.
On another note, does anyone know why the 993 for example has a steering wheel that seems rather larger than 'average' in diameter?; I wonder what Senna would have said; I know he preferred/specified a 'larger' wheel for his race cars, I guess it was for more sensitive/on the limit steering inputs, but for a road car it seems as if Porsche tried to discourage their owners from tight/sharp manoeuvres, perhaps also why they fitted 4 spokes as standard; being part of the same ethos?, or was it a Teutonic pragmatic solution to road car = 4 spokes high speed Track car = large wheel.
Techart also do one for the 993:
www.techart.de/Techart_Katalog%20993_Englisch/Airbagsport_steering365mm.htm
www.techart.de/Techart_Katalog%20993_Englisch/Airbagsport_steering365mm.htm
The wheel pictured above does look better in the flesh (leather?!) than the photo. The angle makes the sculpting at 09:00 and 15:00 look sharper than it in fact is. And the factory wheel is hardly an aesthetic hallmark.
Most of the aftermarket wheels (TechArt, Ruf, FVD) are all made by the same company: Raid in Germany. Some have leather airbags which drives their prices up. The Ruf wheel is €1135. Your pays your money and you takes your choice...
Beware that FVD special wheel; it's described in German as uncovered so you would need to get a trimmer to finish it.
Most of the aftermarket wheels (TechArt, Ruf, FVD) are all made by the same company: Raid in Germany. Some have leather airbags which drives their prices up. The Ruf wheel is €1135. Your pays your money and you takes your choice...
Beware that FVD special wheel; it's described in German as uncovered so you would need to get a trimmer to finish it.
There was a national lottery winner a while ago. I can't remember his name, but anyhow there was a telly program about him, and his exploits after winning.
Obviously one of the many things that he did was to have a palacial house custom made to his specification. They showed the inside, and there were massive rooms and a hot tub. You get the idea.
Anyway, they interviewed the guy in his garden on the patio. The program was really boring TBH, and my mind was wandering. You know how it is, when someone is talking, your mind drifts, and you witness some inexplicable circumstance or antics in the background.
I'm quite interested in architecture, although I'm no expert, but the soil pipe at the rear of this property caught my eye. For those of the uninitiated the soil pipe is the one that carries your bathwater, and others away.
The point is, that as I looked at this thing in the context of the building, I couldn't immediately work out what was wrong. As I looked some more I realised that the architect had chosen to run the soil pipe up the rear of this quite exclusive property, and its proportion, in relation to the back door reminded me of a 1960 terraced council house.
Not that there is anything wrong with that you understand, but it's the sort of thing that only an architect and someone as bored as I would notice, yet it has a peripheral, subliminal effect.
Overall, I get that same feeling about the steering wheel that is posted at the top of this thread. It made me think of badly manufactured, poorly applied GRP body components, coated in an eggshell paint finish.
Obviously one of the many things that he did was to have a palacial house custom made to his specification. They showed the inside, and there were massive rooms and a hot tub. You get the idea.
Anyway, they interviewed the guy in his garden on the patio. The program was really boring TBH, and my mind was wandering. You know how it is, when someone is talking, your mind drifts, and you witness some inexplicable circumstance or antics in the background.
I'm quite interested in architecture, although I'm no expert, but the soil pipe at the rear of this property caught my eye. For those of the uninitiated the soil pipe is the one that carries your bathwater, and others away.
The point is, that as I looked at this thing in the context of the building, I couldn't immediately work out what was wrong. As I looked some more I realised that the architect had chosen to run the soil pipe up the rear of this quite exclusive property, and its proportion, in relation to the back door reminded me of a 1960 terraced council house.
Not that there is anything wrong with that you understand, but it's the sort of thing that only an architect and someone as bored as I would notice, yet it has a peripheral, subliminal effect.
Overall, I get that same feeling about the steering wheel that is posted at the top of this thread. It made me think of badly manufactured, poorly applied GRP body components, coated in an eggshell paint finish.
dilbert said:
Overall, I get that same feeling about the steering wheel that is posted at the top of this thread. It made me think of badly manufactured, poorly applied GRP body components, coated in an eggshell paint finish.
You should take a look at the TechArt one that was linked ...
FYI, that one I pictured is made by RAID, so I assume the quality would be OK.
Eeek! My tastes have been questioned. Again. When will it end?! 
There are a limited number of options for the owners of mid 90's Porsches who wish to change the original airbag steering wheel to something that's smaller in diameter and that doesn't feel like bakelite wrapped in leather. As best I can tell it's either the factory wheel from the late 90's boxster/996 or something from the house of Raid. No-one else I'm aware of has gone to the investment of getting an airbag wheel certified by TUV. There's always the option of going non-airbag but that's a different question altogether.
I didn't care for the factory 986/996 3 spoke wheels; somehow they look out of place to me in the 993. That left Raid. They all use the same basic airbag module (probably for cost/certification purposes) so you take your pick of what's on the shelf or you stay with what's in the car to start with.
I think Gembella took factory steering wheels and re-rimmed or re-trimmed them to be thicker but still use the factory airbag. Don't think they're available any more.
Putting my head above the parapet a bit further still... if someone can host a photo I'll email a picture of the wheel in situ and don my asbestos suit for the inevitable further questioning of my sense of taste.
There are a limited number of options for the owners of mid 90's Porsches who wish to change the original airbag steering wheel to something that's smaller in diameter and that doesn't feel like bakelite wrapped in leather. As best I can tell it's either the factory wheel from the late 90's boxster/996 or something from the house of Raid. No-one else I'm aware of has gone to the investment of getting an airbag wheel certified by TUV. There's always the option of going non-airbag but that's a different question altogether.
I didn't care for the factory 986/996 3 spoke wheels; somehow they look out of place to me in the 993. That left Raid. They all use the same basic airbag module (probably for cost/certification purposes) so you take your pick of what's on the shelf or you stay with what's in the car to start with.
I think Gembella took factory steering wheels and re-rimmed or re-trimmed them to be thicker but still use the factory airbag. Don't think they're available any more.
Putting my head above the parapet a bit further still... if someone can host a photo I'll email a picture of the wheel in situ and don my asbestos suit for the inevitable further questioning of my sense of taste.
Just buy the 993 RS steering wheel and have done with it. Looks factory as well.
Go to:
www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_interior_p93.htm
and select Rensport steering wheel. It's 250 Euros.
The Cup steering wheel below the RS one on the list would be good on an RS.
>> Edited by johnny senna on Sunday 26th February 11:42
Go to:
www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_interior_p93.htm
and select Rensport steering wheel. It's 250 Euros.
The Cup steering wheel below the RS one on the list would be good on an RS.
>> Edited by johnny senna on Sunday 26th February 11:42
Consider the effect on steering effort that comes with using a smaller wheel.
The diameter of the standard 993 wheel (or at least of the one in my bedroom that came out of a TT) is 380mm. The two examples that have been suggested are 365 and 360. You definitely will notice the difference.
The diameter of the standard 993 wheel (or at least of the one in my bedroom that came out of a TT) is 380mm. The two examples that have been suggested are 365 and 360. You definitely will notice the difference.
Johnny, I'm very hesitatnt to go with a non-airbag wheel. And the 3-spoke Porsche airbag wheel really does not do it for me.
Phelix, if you mail me the pic through my profile, I'll host it for you.
Flemke, my intention was to go no smaller than 365mm, do you think this will seriously compromise the feel/weight of the steering?
Finally I have to say although I started this thread, as I was driving my car yesterday I was thinking, actually the standard wheel isn't so bad after all ...
Phelix, if you mail me the pic through my profile, I'll host it for you.
Flemke, my intention was to go no smaller than 365mm, do you think this will seriously compromise the feel/weight of the steering?
Finally I have to say although I started this thread, as I was driving my car yesterday I was thinking, actually the standard wheel isn't so bad after all ...
tertius said:I went from standard to the RS, which is 360. The reason was that Porsche tend to put the wheel too close to the pedals, which forces you either to have arms that are too straight or legs that are too bent. You cannot (without major surgery) bring the standard airbag wheel closer to the driver by using a boss extension; you can do this with the non-airbag RS wheel.
Flemke, my intention was to go no smaller than 365mm, do you think this will seriously compromise the feel/weight of the steering?
I wouldn't say that it "seriously" compromises the heaviness of the steering. I wish that it was as light as it used to be; it isn't, but I can live with it.
It partly depends on the sort of driving you're going to be doing. If it's sporty stuff then you are less likely to be bothered by heavy steering; likewise if it's mostly motorways. If it's mostly in town, with loads of slow turns, parking, etc, then it would be more of an issue.
It of course also depends on how strong your arms are. In the context of my age and fitness, I would guess that my arm strength is average for a male. If yours is above average, or if you've long arms that offer more leverage, then it will be easier for you.
los angeles said:We're talking about taking off the original wheel, not binning it.
Would not touch it. I don't know what irks you about it. The 993 wheel is reasonably elegant. Buy the car a nice dust cover to protect your investment not devalue it by removing original elements.
The cost of putting it back on would be probably a hour's worth of a competent mechanic's time.
flemke said:
Would not touch it. I don't know what irks you about it. The 993 wheel is reasonably elegant. Buy the car a nice dust cover to protect your investment not devalue it by removing original elements.
The cost of putting it back on would be probably a hour's worth of a competent mechanic's time.
Indeed - I would obviously keep the original, and be able to return to it at any time.
I don't actually object (much) to the look of the wheel, though "elegant" wouldn't be my adjective of choice, its more that the darn thing is so flipping big.
a993lad said:
Surely this is the one you want..............
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORSCHE-993-OR-
Shhhh. I've already lost a gear shaft to phil at tech9 this week on ebay. I'm the crappiest buyer despite f/b of 12,000!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff