I debated which forum would be the less-brutal with idiot questions for my 996, and 6-speed won the toss. I have looked in the owner's manual and in the 996-The Essential companion, and I've still not been able to identify the folding bracket etc., is that's housed in the center console compartment. I thought it might be some over-engineered cup holder. There is a place at the back of the tray that shows some damage - like something is gone...but who knows.

Any insights are appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

Cup holder.

 

+1
look like the previous owner McGyver it. pull the pin to adjust to the size of the cup. genius

 

Thanks....but that small pedestal thing...that does not quite insert into the opening on the console. I may have to McGyver this some myself. Leave it to Porsche to engineer a cup holder that looks more like a restraining device. I don't think I could trust this apparatus as a cup holder.

 

That's not likely a Porsche product but some homemade deal. The hole in the console is where the lock assembly should be. The damaged area in the rear is from the original hinge which was a bad design. Porsche made a beefed-up replacement hinge but yours doesn't look like that. It's possible that the previous owner was creative at coming up with his own solutions.

Now that I look more closely, that whole console is custom fabricated. It's raised a couple of inches. Here's what mine looks like -

 

Interesting. This console of mine has a key lock on the driver side for the center lid - visible in the second photo above. This might be a re-do as you said. Maybe with a console from another car. No record of it, so it'll always be a mystery.

 

Are you sure the pedestal thing won't fit in the lock opening? If it does that would make a bottom for your gallon size coffee container.

 

It did not seem to want to fit very snug. I may try it again. This car is so awesome to drive compared to my Benz SL that I may never have a need for a cup holder.

 

Rennlist member Mike Mullins from Ohio found it.
http://www.birdautomotive.com/boxster2.htm

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...r-console.html

 

Another mystery solved. Thanks, everybody, for the feedback. I'll see if I can configure the thing to the point that I would actually be confident enough to put a cup in said cup holder.