Option Code: CXX
Ordering a Porsche Through Sonderwunsch: A Love Letter to the Perfect Cockpit
The Art of the Special Place
Some cars are fast. Some cars are rare. And some cars feel like they were made just for you. Not because they have your name on the dashboard or some arbitrary ‘1 of 250’ plaque screwed into the center console—but because every touch, every detail, every surface feels like home.
I learned this the hard way. Or, perhaps, the right way.
For most of 2022, 2023, and into 2024, I was without a Porsche sports car. Not by accident, but by circumstance. The garage turned over, priorities shifted, and somehow, despite years of being a die-hard Porsche enthusiast, I found myself without a driver’s seat that truly felt like mine. And then, there was Iceland.
If you ever want to understand the value of a cockpit—not a cabin, not an interior, but a cockpit—spend a week in a car across the vast, empty landscapes of Iceland. The road stretching infinitely ahead, the wind howling across the fjords, the silence of an empty highway broken only by the hum of tires on tarmac. It was there, somewhere between Grundarfjörður and Vik, that I realized just how much I missed a space designed around the act of driving itself.
I needed a sports car again. Not just any sports car, but my sports car. And not just any Porsche, but one built specifically for me, by me, down to the very last stitch.
And that meant Sonderwunsch.
Why Go Sonderwunsch?
If you go to enough Cars & Coffee events, you start noticing a pattern—most cars look the same. Whether it’s a GT3, a Turbo, or a high-spec GTS, they often come in safe, predictable configurations. You remember the ones that stand out, the ones that feel like they were made for someone, not just bought by someone.
That’s what I wanted. Something uniquely mine.
I had already spec’d a 2021 718 Spyder with Lizard Green deviated stitching and seat belts, but those were off-the-rack Exclusive Manufaktur options. This time, I wanted to go beyond that—to build something so personal that I could never bring myself to sell it.
This wasn’t going to be a flip, an impulse buy, or a placeholder for a GT car. It was going to be the perfect Cayman—a car that took the best elements of my 718 Cayman S and my 718 Spyder and combined them into a single, dialed-in build.
The Build Process: Pitching My Porsche
Ordering a Sonderwunsch Porsche isn’t like walking into a dealership and ticking a few extra boxes. It’s a process—one that requires planning, research, and patience.
I worked with a longtime, trusted salesman—who’s really more of a friend at this point—and together, we wanted to create what he calls a “movie star car.” Something that turns heads and tells a story.
But I didn’t just send over a list of options. Coming from the venture capital and startup world, I did what felt most natural: I built a pitch deck.
I put together a PowerPoint brief detailing exactly what I wanted—inspiration, historical references, interior themes, and must-have features. The core idea? Capture the spirit of a classic Guards Red 930, but in a modern Cayman.
This wasn’t just about picking colors; it was about creating a cohesive vision.
The Guards Red exterior would be the perfect canvas.
The interior had to feel rich, warm, and timeless—like the 930s with tan leather.
The materials had to be special, not just visually striking but incredibly tactile.
Every choice had to feel intentional.
I submitted my brief to Porsche Cars North America’s (PCNA) Customization Manager in Atlanta—someone I won’t name for privacy, but they were incredible to work with. Along with my salesman, we walked through the feasibility of each Sonderwunsch request, ensuring that my ideas could actually be built.
Sonderwunsch Options: What I Chose
Going through the Sonderwunsch process means deciding where to go big and where to hold back. I knew I wasn’t going to go Paint-to-Sample (PTS) on this car—I loved Underberg Green, but it didn’t make sense to spend 911-level money on a non-GT product.
So instead, the magic was all inside.
1️⃣ Custom Natural Leather Lightweight Bucket Seats – Sonderwunsch made it happen, wrapping the bolsters and centers in Cognac natural leather that Porsche doesn’t even offer anymore.
2️⃣ Cognac Center Console with Sonderwunsch Embossing – A small but deeply personal touch that elevates the whole interior.
3️⃣ Illuminated Sonderwunsch Door Sills – Because every time I get in, I want to be reminded that this car is truly mine.
4️⃣ Triple Zero-Inspired Black Steering Wheel Inserts – To eliminate unnecessary chrome and bring a cleaner, more purposeful look.
The Delivery & Final Thoughts
Sonderwunsch builds aren’t quick, nor should they be. This was not a "rush job." It was an exercise in patience and trust.
When the car finally arrived in August 2024, it exceeded every expectation. The Cognac leather was richer than I could have imagined. The steering wheel, the door sills, the textures—it all came together like a bespoke suit, tailored to perfection.
And that’s exactly what this process is. It’s bespoke tailoring.
If you’ve ever had a Savile Row suit made, you know the feeling. The tailor guides you, but you need to trust them. This isn’t about picking a fabric and walking out the door; this is about trust in the hands of artisans who want to create something extraordinary.
And for that, I owe a debt of gratitude to two people:
James G. at Champion Porsche, the friend and advisor who steered this entire process with grace and expertise. And the superman at PCNA, whose deep knowledge and execution turned an idea into a reality.
These cars don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen because of professionals who respect the craft and understand that a Porsche, when done right, is more than just a car.
It’s a statement.
It’s a sanctuary.
It’s the perfect cockpit, for the perfect road, for the perfect drive.
And for that, I will always be grateful.
- Dr. Chicane