Recently pickup up a 991S white with blue yachting interior. At the base of both doors there is a solid steel tab which sticks out and fits into a slot carved into the door sills on both doors. Anybody have an idea what the purpose of these "tabs" are as they were not present on any of my prior 911s or Caymans.

 

Not sure what you are talking about but it might help to see pictures? Lot's of them! Specially of the interior!!

 

Are you talking about the umbrella slot? You can purchase an official Porsche umbrella and stick it in the slot so you're ready for those rainy days. Believe it or not, I'm not kidding.

 

Car is still in garage and pictures don't come out too well. Waiting for some of the rock/cinders to clear the roads before I take her out. These metal tabs are the the base of the door below the door panel and stick out about an inch. There is a lost specifically molded in the door sill to accomodate thes when the doors shut. I was aware of the unbrella slot but that it on top of the sills. Thanks . . .

 

I noticed it on mine after a car wash when I was cleaning the bottom of the doors. It just looks like a way of stiffening the car by solidly anchoring the door to the frame. What else could it be?

 

I have pictures but am not sure where to host them as this site only allows links and not direct uploads. I thought the same thing that they may be for rigidity but the gaps they fit into leave a lost of rooom. My suspicion is they have someithing to do with side impact collisions where the steel tabs (perhaps attached to a steel beam within the doors) makes contact with steel within the car frame only allowing the door to crush in so far.

 

Could they be sensors to detect whether or not the door is closed?

 

These are definitley not sensors. They must serve some structural purpose and I was just wondering if anyone knew.

 

Email them to me and I will post them for you. I am curious to see as I have not seen a 991 in person.

 

I'm curious as well. Will ask the service tech next time I see him.

 

Really...that's really cool! I thought that's being done only in rolls Royce

 

The umbrella from my 997 does not fit in my 991 slot. Hmmmm.

 

These are from the new Cayman, same slot for door, must be a guide for the door?

 

If that thing is fixed in that position then I would say its there for structural integrity of the door in case of a collision.

 

I would agree. Probably keeps the door from coming in on a side impact. And keeps it from moving around on a heavy front impact.