I'm actively looking to buy a sports steering wheel for my car, but wanted to be sure that I don't get the wrong one by purchasing online. Theres a large price variance and if pictures are the only thing to go by, it seems pretty easy to get confused.

Below is a fairly comprehensive parts list for the steering wheels available for the 987/997 cars, I've tried to group them according to part number and the approximate (aftermarket) price:

Part#---------------Option (ours)/(???)---------Description

$700-$750
997.347.804.40 FOA --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed black

997.347.804.40 FOB --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed stone grey

997.347.804.40 FOC --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed sand beige

997.347.804.40 FOD --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed palmgreen

997.347.804.40 FOE --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed sea blue

997.347.804.40 FOF --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed terracotta

997.347.804.40 FOG --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed cocoa

997.347.804.40 FOH --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed dark grey/natural

997.347.804.40 FOJ --I435/I480--Sports steering wheel leather embossed brown/natural

$920-$950
997.347.804.41 FOK --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather black/grey

997.347.804.41 FOL --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather stone grey/stone grey

997.347.804.41 FOM --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather sand beige/sand beige

997.347.804.41 FON --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather palm-green/palm-green

997.347.804.41 FOO --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather seeblue/grey

997.347.804.41 FOP --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather terrakotta/terrakotta

997.347.804.41 FOQ --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather cocoa/cocoa

997.347.804.41 FOR --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather darkgrey natural/grey

997.347.804.41 FOS --I460/I480--Sports steering wheel plain leather brown nat

$1000-1100
997.347.804.50 FOA --I435/I249--Sports steering wheel leather embossed black

997.347.804.50 FOB --I435/I249--Sports steering wheel leather embossed stone grey

$1200+
997.347.804.51 FOK --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather black/grey

997.347.804.51 FOL --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather stone grey/stone grey

997.347.804.51 FOM --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather sand beige/sand beige

997.347.804.51 FON --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather palm-green/palm-green

997.347.804.51 FOO --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather seeblue/grey

997.347.804.51 FOP --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather terrakotta/terrakotta

997.347.804.51 FOQ --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather cocoa/cocoa

997.347.804.51 FOR --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather darkgrey natural/grey

997.347.804.51 FOS --I460/I249--Sports steering wheel plain leather brown nat

-------------------------------end of wheel list----------------------------

One thing I noticed is that the first 3 sections of the part number are identical accross all variations. What really makes the difference is the final 2 digits and the 3 letter designation. Also of note, I do not know if the "full leather" XPA wheel is on this list, I've emailed suncoast hoping they could provide me with that info, but haven't heard back yet.

After putting this together I've come up with some other questions, and if anyone has the answers I'm all ears.

Questions:

1. Looking above, when the final 2 digits of the part number are .40 or .50 it shows as option 435 when the final 2 are .41 or .51 the option shown is 460. Seeing this, when we add these options in at time of purchase (435 or 460), which of the above come installed?
   
   
2. What is the difference between .40 and .50? (435) both are leather embossed, but what justifies the .50 increase in price?
   
3. What is the difference between .41 and .51? (460) both are plain leather, but again, what makes .51 cost more?

I'm wondering if the price variation has something to do with the "thicker" option that BillK mentioned above?