I don't think I want a 996 anymore.
 

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My buddy Jay bought a 996 gt 3 last season. He drove it to work one nice day in January, and had a fluke low speed accident that sent him backwards over a hillside into some trees, totaling the car.
This is what he replaced it with. Droooool. I love this color on this car. I think we put up with the looks of the 996 car just because it was a gt3, but there is nothing to have to put up with on this car. It is much more civilized to drive than the older, car, but still somehow, feels faster, and the exhaust note, is perfect.

Beautiful.

Sweet!

(but there's nothing to "put up with" as far as a 996 GT3 is concerned. Just because it's not as achingly beautiful as a 997 GT3, does not mean it's not a beautiful car.)

Hey 450, I know that the headlights are only a small part of the car, but just can't get past them or the slab sidedness do the design ( sorry owners). Is there an after market fix for the light?
I do understand that the engine in the turbo cars is based on a better block and isn't prone to the seal issues the base modules can have, but those headlights :eek:

Fred, there goes your budget, thought you were looking to spend less than 30K.
Sorry to be such a bring down, but just saying.

Love it...it has that Porsche 911 look.

Excellent cars. My friend has the 4.0 RS and its out of this world.

I agree completely! The headlights just ruin it for me.

Yes, there is an aftermarket fix - it's a skin that goes over the headlights, making them round, and the the turn signals a separate light. IMO it's not much better, but it might be to your taste. I don't know what it's called, I've just seen pics.

http://www.aerowingdynamics.com/aero...20(PAINTED.jpg

The light covers look more ridiculous than the dripping egg lights. A must have on the 996 are the Litronic lights, they get rid of all the orange and make the light look much better. Great cars, but Porsche did screw up the light styling.

That looks better than stock but a bit too boy-ricer for me... I'd probably do it if it were a sub-$300 upgrade though...

fast freddy, does this mean that your Peru Red 76 project gets pushed towards the back? :(
c'mon man - how cool would it be to have 2 at Hershey next year? :cool:
Bill K

I went to the dealership yesterday with a client/friend. He's thinking of leasing a new Boxster or buying a couple year old 911 cabriolet. The new cars are all beautiful, and they had a blue 911 couple with a ducktail (no wing on it) which took my breath away.

Most of the Boxster's had the painted accents inside matching the roll bar/headset covers, and that was very Speedster looking to me.

No Targa's but the new for this year sliding glass roof panel/sunroof (unlike the Mustang this one is operable) is awesome.

I'd love to own a 2009+, might even risk IMS/RMS issues of a 2005+ if the right deal was there.

Some new options for the older Boxster/996's"

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/34492-remove-amber-film-headlights-8.html#post306549
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The 996 has really grown on my in the past few years. It has it's own "pure" look to it IMO.

There are (or were) several versions available......http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1371045353.jpg

as long as the lights are white, not amber, i think the 996 looks great

I am one of the fans of the ultra low budget red haired stepchild Porsche's (previous 944 owner) it allows us ordinary people the opportunity for Porsche ownership.

I can see a 996 in my future, when I see one one the street... without dragging a bunch of preconceived notions and judgments to the table I really do like the way they look.

YMMV

Sorry for the hijack, despite my whining that is one gorgeous car!

I have to admit that I sorta like those. If I had a non-Litronic car it's something that I would look at.

The only real "fix"
Porsche 996 to 997 Front Face Lift Conversion in Steel Metal Factory Fitment | eBay

That conversion kit is pretty sweet looking, the price is not so sweet though.

yeah then you have to pay for the entire front end to be painted

so your basically half what the car is worth for a face lift:rolleyes:

996 is a "modern" midyear imho (price, desireability, style). Some never liked the shape.. some grew to like the shape. We had a midyear (74) growing up... I like the 996 shape for its simplicity and smoothness.. but imho, the SC/Carrera and the 997 are better looking shapes.. midyear 2.7s are not liked.. 996 M96's are not well liked.. Seems the first "transition" models have a lot in common!

I had an 05 996 cup car. Funny I never noticed the lights
Did it have lights?

No, the Peru Red car is alive and well, I drove it home tonight. I plan on driving it to Hershey next year, we'll have to hook up and park next to one another. From what I understand, there were only 3 Peru Red 76 Turbo cars made.

Remember gentlemen, the 996 GT3 didn't have the 'fried egg' hadlights like hte early 996 and Boxster, not did it have the same shaped 'clear' lights that they eventually went to after people *****ed about those big yellow yolks... The GT3 had the better looking turbo lights.... and I think they looks just fine.


But please, keep demeaning the 996 GT3 until prices bottom out and I can pick one up for 35K.

I have had a couple early Boxsters and I just averted my eyes as I approached, then tried to ignore the awful looking dash, etc. The way the cars drove made it easy to overlook the looks. The same thing would apply to a 996. Except the styling "envelope" just looked like a half-used bar of soap to me.

Now, with a 987, I feel I have the best of both worlds -- a great driving car with a decent looking interior and exterior.

Partially correct in that IN THE US, the first GT3 offered was what the Europeans like to call the Mk. 2 version. The Mk. 1 version used the old shape headlights but with clear turn signal section, like my 2000 996.

For the price of a clean SC or an average 3.2 car, the headlights are a thing of beauty. I may buy another for weekends.

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^^^Beautiful car :)

You stole that car Mark, I would have bought that too.

OK Mark you make a very good point there, nice car.

cheers Richard