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    Jul 10, 2005 2:06:25 PM

    Tired
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    instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I see the S comes standard with the aluminum look gauges. I got one of the nice color books from the local dealer and I don't know if I like the way the aluminum looks in photos. The white gages look great, but not sure I want to pay over $800 for them. Anyone that kept the aluminum look like them or have any better photos? Anyone switch for the black face option, which I believe is no cost?

    Jul 10, 2005 2:29:27 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: Tired

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Here's an indication of the "drama" of aluminum. BTW, Based on looks alone the Aluminum vs. white choice would require a really nutty or "alert" person to discern which looks better. For most people the $800 decides it.

    Jul 10, 2005 3:10:11 PM

    Topless9114S
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Not sure if this helps you or not... I have the white as shown here:

    Jul 10, 2005 3:14:19 PM

    Le Chef
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    Reply to: Topless9114S

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I went with the black dial option on my S.

    Jul 10, 2005 3:19:09 PM

    TMBR
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    Reply to: Tired

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Perhaps these could help as well:

    Jul 10, 2005 3:20:04 PM

    TMBR
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    Reply to: TMBR

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Zoom...

    Jul 10, 2005 4:25:00 PM

    SoCal Alan
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    Reply to: Tired

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    flap said:
    I see the S comes standard with the aluminum look gauges. I got one of the nice color books from the local dealer and I don't know if I like the way the aluminum looks in photos. The white gages look great, but not sure I want to pay over $800 for them. Anyone that kept the aluminum look like them or have any better photos? Anyone switch for the black face option, which I believe is no cost?



    At first, I definitely wanted tha black gauges for my 997S. I wasn't too crazy about the aluminum gauges at the beginning. But now I'm really happy that I stuck with the aluminum. I think it looks great without being noticeable (ie. out of place).

    Jul 10, 2005 4:28:53 PM

    Steven9x7
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    Reply to: SoCal Alan

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I have see in this forum an'instrument color in the night,AWEZOME.....anyone have the picture?i dont' found it

    Jul 10, 2005 5:04:03 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: Steven9x7

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    Steve987 said:
    I have see in this forum an'instrument color in the night,AWEZOME.....anyone have the picture?i dont' found it



    Is this the one? Enjoy!!!

    Jul 10, 2005 5:07:29 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    here's another.

    Jul 10, 2005 5:17:47 PM

    Steven9x7
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    It's the first MMD,thank you so much!

    Jul 10, 2005 6:04:27 PM

    Rossi
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    Reply to: Steven9x7

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    It's really a matter of personal taste. To me neither aluminium nor black looks better respectively.

    Jul 10, 2005 6:22:38 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: Steven9x7

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    Steve987 said:
    It's the first MMD,thank you so much!



    Glad to help. Too bad we lost track of the actual photographer: thank him!

    Jul 10, 2005 6:40:47 PM

    Texas911
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I like the aluminum gauges, goes well with the bluish lights.

    Jul 10, 2005 6:53:51 PM

    gian61 Offline
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Look my 996 instrument(I know,I'm "crazy")
    This option is however available for new 997 too.

    Jul 10, 2005 8:22:09 PM

    ewi
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    Reply to: Tired

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    flap said:
    Anyone switch for the black face option, which I believe is no cost?


    I chose the black dials on my S. And yes, it's a no cost option. My test drive car had the aluminium dials. I can't say that I disliked them, but I just got more used to black dials. So, I know that the blacks won't bother me in some months that the aluminium dials might do.

    Jul 10, 2005 8:26:06 PM

    gian61 Offline
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    Reply to: ewi

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I confirme for Europe no extra charge for dials in black,
    option code 022.

    Jul 11, 2005 7:21:43 AM

    gradyex
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Hey my sport chrono doesn't lite up like yours? Are US cars equipped with Sport Chrono (dashboard timer) suppose to illuminate at night? If so, I need to take the car in for a check-up.

    Jul 11, 2005 12:28:25 PM

    helo1
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    Reply to: gradyex

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I too decided to get black gauges for my midnight blue/stone grey S Cab. First the "wart" looks better in black. Second, IMHO silver looks too much like the "riced out" wanna be"s I see cruising around DC. Besides, no extra charge and adds to the uniqueness of my custom car!

    Jul 11, 2005 12:59:58 PM

    Malmsteen
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    Reply to: gradyex

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    gradyex said:
    Hey my sport chrono doesn't lite up like yours? Are US cars equipped with Sport Chrono (dashboard timer) suppose to illuminate at night? If so, I need to take the car in for a check-up.



    please confirm for me as well!!!

    Jul 11, 2005 2:23:06 PM

    PS CA Offline
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    Reply to: gradyex

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    gradyex said:
    Hey my sport chrono doesn't lite up like yours? Are US cars equipped with Sport Chrono (dashboard timer) suppose to illuminate at night? If so, I need to take the car in for a check-up.



    I think the chrono only lights up when it is on.

    Phil

    Jul 11, 2005 3:34:00 PM

    69bossnine
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    Reply to: PS CA

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I love my aluminum-face S gauges, and I wouldn't do it any different. It allows the guages to look "at home" with the rest of the aluminum-look-trimmed interior. It's a very cohesive look. If my interior were accented with wood, or carbon fiber, then I would opt for black gauges. And the gauges are highly readable (day or night), easy and soft on the eyes, elegant, and absolutely non-offending after 4 months of driving on my part. It's nothing to get used to, unless you're the type of person who gets totally unwound by the slightest persnickety deviation from your day-to-day lifelong habits and daily grind, IMHO. So, in conclusion, I find the silver gauges to be extremely readable and benign, so it comes down to a styling choice. The silver gauges make the interior more cohesive, in my opinion.

    Jul 11, 2005 3:57:17 PM

    Rossi
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    Reply to: PS CA

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    PS CA said:
    Quote:
    gradyex said:
    Hey my sport chrono doesn't lite up like yours? Are US cars equipped with Sport Chrono (dashboard timer) suppose to illuminate at night? If so, I need to take the car in for a check-up.



    I think the chrono only lights up when it is on.

    Phil



    Yup, that's correct.

    Jul 12, 2005 5:14:19 AM

    tooner
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    Reply to: Rossi

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    I really should try to find uses for that clock!

    Jul 12, 2005 4:25:37 PM

    MMD
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    Reply to: tooner

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    tooner said:
    I really should try to find uses for that clock!



    One guy used it to time how long he had to wait for his wife while she shopped.

    Another used it to shave seconds off his urban commute to work.

    I suppose it would be nice to time how long you wait for a bridge to open and close.

    any other ideas?

    Jul 12, 2005 7:54:06 PM

    Rossi
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    MMD said:
    Quote:
    tooner said:
    I really should try to find uses for that clock!



    One guy used it to time how long he had to wait for his wife while she shopped.

    Another used it to shave seconds off his urban commute to work.

    I suppose it would be nice to time how long you wait for a bridge to open and close.

    any other ideas?


    If you are stuck in a traffic jam you can use it: at least one thing that is moving.

    Jul 12, 2005 8:46:28 PM

    STRADALE
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    Reply to: MMD

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    MMD said:
    Quote:
    tooner said:
    I really should try to find uses for that clock!



    One guy used it to time how long he had to wait for his wife while she shopped.

    Another used it to shave seconds off his urban commute to work.

    I suppose it would be nice to time how long you wait for a bridge to open and close.

    any other ideas?



    I used it to time a trip that was a few hundred miles. Usually when I try to do it by deducting the time of the trip on my wristwatch I forget the time I left etc. Having it on the clock showing 1hr, 2hr, 3hr etc. made it convienient. But it's mostly meant for track work, you can even time sections of the track individually.

    Jul 12, 2005 8:52:47 PM

    STRADALE
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    Reply to: helo1

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Quote:
    helo1 said:
    I too decided to get black gauges for my midnight blue/stone grey S Cab. First the "wart" looks better in black. Second, IMHO silver looks too much like the "riced out" wanna be"s I see cruising around DC. Besides, no extra charge and adds to the uniqueness of my custom car!



    I was thinking about black gauges but when I saw 997 S's where the people changed to colored gauges but the Sports Chrono was still silver I didn't want to risk it.

    When you change from the standard silver color for the gauges to black did you also have to specify the sports chrono clock also be black ? Or did it just come black to match ?

    Jul 12, 2005 9:09:22 PM

    STRADALE
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    Reply to: STRADALE

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Sorry OT but I didn't want to start another thread just for a question.

    Does anybody know what you get in English from the below Aluminium Look package ? The side and central air vents already look aluminum to me. Also does it mean the air vent slats come in leather ? What else is aluminum ? Is there an option to get the center consule piece around the navigation in aluminum look ?

    "Aluminium Look paint finish: side air vents, central air vent incl. switch trim, instrument surround. Leather finish in interior color: side air vent slats, central air vent slats, loudspeaker finisher on switch panel, defroster trim."

    Jul 12, 2005 9:23:26 PM

    69bossnine
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    Reply to: STRADALE

    Re: instrument color on S - aluminum look or black

    Stradale, I have that package. And the Porsche description is EXTREMELY misleading and confusing. What you are referring to is the E36 package, MSRP $1550.00. The only "aluminum-look" piece you get that is different than what comes standard is the instrument-surround. Everything else they list, you are correct, already comes in aluminum-look. So it's very redundant.

    As for the extra leather, YES, the air-vent slats on ALL air vents are done in leather, to match the rest of your leather. In other words, my air-vent slats are covered in Terracotta leather. It really looks great. Furthermore, instead of bare plastic, the E36 package also gives you stitched leather on your defroster trim under the windshield, and a nifty stitched leather trim around your center dash speaker. All in all I think it's a great package. Whether or not it's worth $1550 is debatable, but I'd do it again.

    But it IS weird that they call it an "aluminum look" package, when it really has more to do with additional leather trimming. I have a theory on this. My theory is that the 997 was originally not intended to have all of that aluminum look trim around the air vents as standard equipment. When Porsche executives saw the proposed E36 package in a pre-production car, they thought the aluminum trim looked dynamite, and made a last-minute decision to make it standard on all 997's, rather than optional, because the aluminum plastic probably doesn't cost them a dime more than any other color plastic. But they still retained the "E36" package as an option, so that they could still offer the leather-covered vents and the leather covered upper-dash trim as an upgrade package, as well as adding the aluminum-look gauge surround, which I'm guessing they thought might be a bit over-the-top to have as standard. That's PURELY a theory, but I can think of no other explanation for the confusion and the redundancy of the E36 package, as it is described in the ordering literature.
     
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