I have a 997.2 C4S

Normally I drive it with the spare wheel in the trunk. I do not know exactly how much it weights, but I guess around 50 Lbs. with the complete tool kit

When I take it out to save weight, I feel the front a bit more bouncy/loose, more like a C2S

When I put it back in the trunk, I feel it makes the car a bit more neutral

What are your thoughts, experiences ?

 

They have spares?

 

Is this new for 2009?

 

Verde,
you r pissing me off! I was just about to type that and got bumped

 

I really think that if the Porsche engineers thought that 50lbs in the front would make the car handle better, they would have added the weight there.

I don't have a spare in mine, and really don't think I need one.

 

No, some people have bought 996 kits, and found ways to mount them in there car.

 

Probably in a country that requires spares - "GT" - Guatemala? I bet his sunroof closes on a single push as well.

Carfan - got any photos of that setup? I'd like to see it.

 

Yes, indeed! I am one of those owners that was a bit paranoid about being stranded with a flat tire and bought the whole system with the 996 C4S collapsible spare and have it on my front trunk secured to the firewall, close to what the factory did on the 996s. Ask me if I've needed it at all... Nope! In 3+ years of ownership and 27k miles, I've never had the need for it.

 

It's physics - the "Umbrella Effect" - only needed when you don't bring it. And now you have jinxed yourself too.

 

Any pics of your setup? Where do you buy this 996 kit? How much is it? I just searched Suncoast and came up w/ nada.

 

I hope he didn't jinx us!

 

It is not so much a kit as it is a list of part numbers. There's even a "version" that has some sort of rear seat mount rather than the trunk. I had the part #s at one point, but lost track. I got the jack and some other parts off of ebay working my way up, but never completed it - I reckon all the bits would run close to $1K depending on how many good ebay deals you get. There are at least two types of spares as best I could tell - a donut and another that is "flat" but possibly wider. I don't know which is for what. Some of it can be sorted out from Pelican Parts with the diagrams they have, but they didn't always seem consistent.

There's also *maybe* a cover for the spare - seems like it shows up on Pelican, and also a "bag" to store the take off in so as not to trash up your front seat - the only location large enough to carry it away, unless you have a roof rack.

For a secure trunk mount, you have to probably mod the car to provide a tie down point. And the rear seat option - ugh, but might be more secure with no mods.

A clever dealer, and probably Suncoast, should be able to put together a solution. And I do believe that some countries require it - I saw some posts on the M5/M6 boards a while back of some cars with "factory" spares tied down in the trunks - a setup the US doesn't get either. Of course you do that with an M6 and you go from small trunk to no trunk.

For the moment, I have a tire repair/plug kit - which I think will be about as useless as the PAG fix-a-flat.

 

I once looked under the front bonnet and there was no engine, car seems to go all by itself and for the trunk not sure where you could put a spare tire, there is just a spare engine back there. I have this thing in my wallet called Roadside Assistance

 

I just spit my coffee all over the keyboard and monitor....maybe even a NARF happend...LMFAO.

 

+1, I was eating an apple and almost choked on it!