Slipstream - March 2014

Destination Restoration: What, Where, and How to Search
By Ash Seidl-Staley
Recently I was emailed by a
fellow Maverick member who
asked about my online search
techniques in relation to Porsches. We
live in an age dominated by the Internet;
anything and nearly everything
can be found with the power of a
modem and the click of a few buttons.
But what about using the Internet to find Porsche
parts? Is there an easy way to search online,
or at least to find a site that connects you with
people that are experiencing the same issues you
are facing with your own car? The unfaltering
answer is yes. There are tons of sites related to
our cars, each with their own perks and uses.
When I search on the Internet for anything, be
it a part or an issue, the first thing I do is “Google
it.” I know that this saying is a cliché for my generation,
but I can’t deny that the Google search engine
directs me to the top three sites I view most often.
The first site is www.porsche.com, the Porsche AG
website, and after surfing a bit there (i.e., building my
Photos by the Author
dream GT3), I can be directed to the PCA website,
www.pca.org. From there I can access all of the technical
issues submitted and posted in the PCA archives.
This site is perfect to check on specific model recalls,
issues with the newer cars, and all the Panorama
Tech Q&A submissions. One of the most important
resources on the PCA website, often ignored, is the
telephone number list of the tech experts. Most
members don’t realize that when they are faced with
vehicle emergencies or other obscure issues, they
can pick up their phone and talk with a specialist
right away. Nine times out of ten, the information
can be found through extensive Internet searches,
but having a friendly Porsche Gearhead on the line
provides instant feedback and soothes the nerves.
Googling a problem also brings up hits to links that
other people have posted, oftentimes being the exact
question I had to begin with. Thanks to the recent
resurgence of restoration projects across the United
States, there is an intense desire to preserve Porsche
history. As a result, various websites have popped up
to provide a foundation for parts catalogs and forum
discussions. My favorite (and probably most used)
www.fifthgear.biz
Performance
• Track Set-up
• Exhaust Upgrades
• Performance Alignments
• Suspension Modifications
• Performance Maintenance
Maintenance & Repair
• 100+ Years of Technician Experience
• 11,000 sq Feet of the Top Technology
• Comfortable Waiting Area with WIFI
• Fully Air Conditioned Shop
• Green Building, Eco Friendly
Sales
• Trade your old Porsche
in for a newer model!
• Consignment Sales
• Accessories
Specializing in: Porsche • We service all models
Set up an
appointment today! 1975 Archer Way • Lewisville TX, 75077 • 972-317-4005 1 mile West of I-35 behind Sonic!
10 March