Trying to understand the 997 frenzy...

I'm sorry I just don't "get" the frenzy regarding the 997 exterior styling (I do get the rejection of the 997 interior). It seems to me that, other than the headlights, the 997 profile is in between the narrow- and wide-body 996s. It just seems the "revolutionary", new 993-like 997 coke bottle shape has been available for the past 3 years-you just had buy a C4S or Turbo to get it. Some people prefer the narrow body design, others like the wide-body design-why did Porshe feel offering both was not a good strategy? Am I missing something or do I need new glasses?

You need new glasses. This is a big event. Porsche has finally given the 911 it's proper look. The awkward 996 headlights and interiors are gone...

The 997 is shorter and wider. The car should have a more aggressive looking stance. The lights are definitely a 993 evolution... otherwise it's totally subjective. Some like it, some don't and yet some don't care. I think the car will be beautiful... it's a 911. I personally think the 996 C4S and Turbo are the finest looking Porsche's... refined but with a beast in there. Like a supermodel that's a 3rd degree black belt. But that's just my opinion

I think the 997 looks great. Both on the inside and the outside. But I also think it's a step back in design. The 964 was a progression over the previous car. Looked more up to date. The 993 was a progression over the 964. Looked more up to date. The 996 was a progression over the 993. Looked more up to date. The 997 is a regression over the 996. Looks old, like it should have been made between the 993 and 996. I hate it when automakers blatantly copy their past designs instead of coming up with something new and interesting.

I see it this way... To keep up with modern emission and performance requirements it was NECESSARY to switch to a water cooled engine. There will always be people who complain about it - look what happened when citroen tried to ditch the 2CV - definitely in the top 10 ugly cars in the world. Now, having listened to the 'the older stuff was better' brigade they bring out a new car that takes some styling cues from the old model. Now the people who say they prefer the old but really do like the performance and every-day drivability of the new can look smug in an "I told ya so" kind of way without (apparently) sacrificing their position. For my money... my C4S is the best looking car produced to date. I actually like the look of the 997 but I can't say that I like it any more than my current car. Am I going to switch? Nah! Still having way too much fun - maybe when they bring out the 998 (styled like a C4S to capture the people they lost in the switch to the new car?)...

Call me crazy but I like them all. Some of my friends really think I'm crazy when I tell them that I am dreaming of getting a 928GTS. Its like the people that want their puppies to stay a puppy forever. Yeah puppies are cute but its great when they stop chewing on stuff are house broken.

OH Yeah. Weissach. I'm surprised that you think the 996 is at all awkward, especially coming from a 928 guy.

Surprised you'd drive a 928....seems like most of **** retentive insist on air cooled.

I think the 997 looks great. The 996 looks great. Both cars are sex on wheels; most people would pinch themselves just to drive either one. As a first time Pcar owner, and only two weeks behind the wheel of my C4S, I would w/o question move one day to a 997 for performance. The styling is not otherworldly enough to justify a switch alone, but performance *might* be. . . but that remains to be seen in real life, I will not take the word of overzealous editors addicted to new cars like a crack ******.

I like my 928GTS because I like classy cars. It's a smooth, refined beast. There is nothing trendy about it, a true classic. I used to own a 964, but sold it to get a 993. Only had it for one year before I sold it to a friend. I'm now looking for a daily driver(928GTS is for weekends), and believe that the 997 will be it. I'm so excited!!

Wow! that's a great angle. I like that. The 928 as a garage queen....too good use as a daily. The 997 as a daily. Hmmm....

That picture of the black 997 above REALLY makes me like the car. I like it almost as much as the 993 (my favorite 911 looks-wise). Now I really can't wait to see it in person.

Personally I would have liked to have seen the 997 with GCT headlamps... now that would have been progress.

I'm with you there--I think that'd be an awesome look. I prefer the 996 facelift look to the 997, but the 997 is certainly acceptable to me, and I'll probably get one eventually (provided the RMS issue is resolved). I think the general public who aren't into Porsches will be mistaking the 997 as an older model than the 996 for quite some time. Some may like that, some may not.

Yeah I am with you on that Riad. I was so dissapointed to see that they "have" gone to a sort of similar CGT headlamp on the new boxster. At least the headlamps are way better than the 997. The front of the new boxster 987 look absolutely awe inspiring. It looks mean and aggresive and says everything about what Porsche is all about. The 997 just didn't have a wow factor. The C4S is "so" much more beautiful.....and especially from the back. The 993 type lamps did nothing for me when I saw the car in the flesh. I just hope the turbo model looks as mean as the Boxster. As it happens the interior of the 997 looks really nice and meticulous in design. Only thing is it;s too gimicky for a 911. Too much arctic silver in the wrong places for my liking. The steering wheel is awful. The dash dials looks superb though. I must say that that black 997 above does look good in that pic. Maybe its the camera using a wide angle lense. I have to say that despite everything the 997 is definitely a 911 through and through. I would dealy love one. Just a tad dissapointed that they payed more attention to the boxster and missed out some of the CGT design. Tell me this 987 doesn't say "yes please thank you very much!" It has wow factor unlike the 997 IMHO.

Heck with the cosmetic changes, from the raves coming from the mags that have had some serious seat time with the S model, it sounds like a quantum leap in performance.

I am with some of you guys. I think the headlights are a step back. But I also didn't like the look of most older porsche's. They don't make the car look as aggressive as the 996 at all.

i like it (997) and will buy an "S" this yr. the 996 is for sale now in anticipation of it's greatness. the pic of the black 997 in this tread is exactly they way i'm ordering mine, pccb and all...

I'm with you on that. I think the 987 is going to knock our socks off...

Looks are complete relative, I personally love the look of my Targa and the C4S, I also love the way the 928S4 looks - the 997 is great looking also, but one cannot say that the 997 platform is the best looking, it is nothing more than ones opinion.

Well that is my story.........and I'm sticking to it.............BTW, the headlight covers make a nice transition to the 997 look......doncha think?

Re: raves from the magazines. magazines get their primary revenue from ad by car manufacturers. Look back at old mag's...they will generally point out the short comings of a model when they review the new, improved model. Nothing like a see and drive to make an informed decision. perry

I think the 997 is sort of a natural evolution for the liquid-cooled 911. When the original 911 came out it was a simple narrow body that over the years transformed into the wide body 993. The 996 was originally a narrow body (with wide bodies for some later variants) that has now moved to the wide body of the 997. Personally, I like my plain old coupe......

That would be like saying that the 996 was a step forward over that 993. It was more like a side step. The 997 is what the 996 should of been. So it's not a step back, it's getting back on track...

damn, you confused me. Truth be told, I don't own a Porsche. But what dragged me in and has me hooked is the look of the 996. The 993 is still a beauty, don't get me wrong. But what made a huge difference with me is the look of the front and the lights of the 996. Also looked much fuller bodied. So fierce and sporty. I don't know much about the cars yet, but hopefully all models of the 997 won't go back to those old style front head lights. But performance-wise, it seems better then the 996.

Ahhh...how can you trust the taste of a person who's avitar is a 928!

Try to be nice......................

I'll try. I can't say this publicly of course but I actually think the 928 still looks pretty cool. If I could have found a manual version for reasonable money I might have bought one a long time ago. On the plus side holding out meant that I ended up with my C4S which I am very happy with.

I have a feeling that Porsche will be offering us a wider selection of models to choose from in the coming years. Most of them will probably be targeted towards non-racing enthusiasts.

The 996 was objectively an improvement over the 993 in virtually every category - lighter, faster, more economical, less required maintenance. You may not like the way the car looks, but the platform was clearly a step forward.

IMO the 997s interior is a vast improvement over the 996 also from some reviews I've read they all commented on how the quality and materials used in the interior are much better than the 996 (japanese) cheap-feeling switchgear.

Not sure if that is the real thing (new Boxster) or another photoshop... but I still prefer the looks of the 997over the 996 and current (and new) Boxster. I have always liked the looks of the Boxster but I never liked the 996 when it came out... my mind changed with the C4S and the use of the Turbo headlights and the few changes to the interior. The C4S and the TT, GT3, GT2 are the only 996 that I like. The engine in the C4S kept me away from owning one. Still, I can't wait for the 997 based C4S. Should be a sweet car. If they make the street 997 GT3 like the photos in the 997 forum... that is going to be some wild, awesome car!

...and yes. The interior (at least in photos) of the 997 looks much much better than the interior of the 996, imho. Overall I think Porsche did good with the 997... let's see now how that engine stands out to the test. If they solved the problems with the RMS....