I know I'm probably crazy, but about the 997 C4S....

Do you guys think the 997 C4S looks almost too ridiculously 'hippy' from behind? I was tailing one yesterday (in stop and go traffic in Manhattan so I got an extended look) and I couldn't get over how the horizontal roofline looked like a little mini cap on top of a squarish body (extending across the wheelwells). I definitely love the more rounded and sexy look of the 996 C4S, but I was surprised that it looks like they overdid the squarishness of the 997 C4S. Anyone else kinda notice this or do I need to start working on an eyeglass prescription?

It is overwhelming at first to see, almost brings a tear to the eye. Those cars should be used in hip-hop videos, but only filmed form the rear if you know what I mean.

The cab version looks even more like Table Mountain

I love the new design, especially the rear. I love the butt. It kinda reminds me a a C5 Corvette, although the lines are obviously different. They both have large behinds! Adam

Good thing you didn't have this car behind you to witness what is IMHO the worst part about the 997 C4S. Without a doubt the greatest dissappointment of the 997 C4S is the sterile VW Beetle-ish front. Certainly not as inspiring and cool as the 996 C4S'... So Edward, no you don't need a new prescription, just avoid driving behind (or in front) a 997 C4S in the future. Cheers.

I agree. I think Porsche perfected the hips on the 996 C4S, the new 997 C4S takes the "hips" to an almost cartoonish level.

Anyone has a picture to show these overdone hips? Or a comparison pic?

>> Images off google. Copyright of their respective owners. << Personally, I prefer the widebody of the 996, a little more curvy than the squarish 997 widebody. But the 997's widebody isin't that bad as some say. What I don't really like about the 997 is the headlights .... I love the 996 Turbo style headlights. It gives the car more unique character than the old porsche / VW style round lights. But for that (and the blander interiors) the 997 is such an awesome machine ... Anyway, here are the pictures for visual comparison ! I couldn't find exact rear pictures taken from same angles, but this is a rough approximation ... 996 C4S Rear 997 C4S Rear F***ing AWESOME shot of the 996 C4S ... smiling grin style !!! Love this shot and love the car colour...

Sids, even that photo of the 997 that you posted doesn't quite illustrate how hippy the car is. It looks like the small cabin roof was just an afterthought. It's really dramatic. However, as you can see from the 996, the hips are more fully integrated (smoothly and roundly) into the roofline and demonstrates a nice curve and elegant appearance. UPDATE: posted a picture from the rear without the fixed wing.

Here is another look, last picture is a 993 S ***!

Great photos Jumper. I figured out why it irks me somewhat. On the 997, the wheel well top is flat, while on the 996, it is sloping upwards and mimizes the rakish look. I mean, don't get me wrong, both awesome cars, but WE are in the 996 forum, right?!

Personally I don't like the 997 ***. I love the 964, 993 and 996 widebody though. The 997 looks like its ****ing a basket ball! Yah post a link to this on the 997 forum and they would have a lot different opinion. Some widebody 964 shots

Nothing is as cool as a 996 C4S

I've seen it over and over for the last several decades, that the car designers spend the greatest effort on the first carnation of a new model. Subsequent designs using small changes are purely for marketing and usually just for the sake of change. Most often I have seen these changes for the worse but all the sales fluff masquerades this fact. The original Type I XKE Jaguar and the Datson 240Z come to mind. Also think of all the US muscle cars from the 60s and 70s. I also think the original Boxster design is clearly better than the 987. I still like my 996 better than the 997.

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i thought i loved it till i see them side by side- maybe it is a little wide? I never thought they could get ooo wiiiddeee

The wide back doesn't bother me too much. I admit the 996 looks a little better, but that wouldn't deter me from the 997...

You really need to see it in person. It's just bulbous and exaggerated. Appreciate your 996 C4S boys. They are a gem. Of course, my little narrowbody ain't nothing to snicker at.

Oh my God I cant believe I am hearing this, people not liking the rear of the 997 C4S! The wide rear is what seperates our cars from any other on the rode. To this day, I think the front end on any 911 is ugly, but then you see the side and rear and it is just beautiful. I think the 930 had a wider looking rear end than the 997 C4S. Physically it isnt wider but look how quickly the rear flares shoot out from the cab, way quicker than the 997 C4S and I have never heard anyone complain the 930. I love the "vacuum cleaner" look, the wider the better!

"More" is better with a lot of things in this world. Money, Horsepower, and Vacation come to mind. However, as with womens breasts, more (width) in the rear of a 911 is not always better.....

I was just at the stealer picking up a console tray and they had 996 and a 997 C4S sitting side by side in silver. Had I read this thread beforehand I would've taken a pic. I greatly prefer the 996 from behind. To add insult to injury, the 997 had squarish exhaust tips that really accentuated the cartoonish proportions. On another topic I did see some wheel options that'd look pretty sweet on Betty. I'm going to _try_ to use a little impulse control and hold off on them until spring.

You must be kidding, right? That car is a thing of beauty. Soooo glad they came back with that ***/rear/widebodied end. Add the fact it has 305 wide tires and if you have the spacers... ooohhhhh... excuse me for a moment, a need a moment alone...

Ray, Ray, RAY, I really have to disagree with the "beasts" comment. Now if you had said... "However, as with womens butts , more (width) in the rear of a 911 is not always better....." I would TOTALLY agree!

I however, agree with Ray, Too much ***** is not a good thing. I love the perfect champagne *****! Maybe a little bigger, I won't complain either! The nipples are more important! Gotta be solid. But no Pamela Anderson's please!

Tim.......two words, Dolly Parton!!

Ray - the sheer size of Dolly's breasts does not make her a bad person!

the 997's widebody stance looks awesome from the rear and that doesn't necessarily mean the 996 C4Ss stance doesn't look good as well. the fact that the 997S wide or regular is just all out superior to the 996 makes it all the more attractive than the overall change in the looks dept. i do admit the front headlights could've been executed better. it's actually "too" clean and flat looking. but overall, can't complain. the 997 was put together very nicely and kills the 996 in every way.

I too just love the wide *** on the 997 widebodies such as the C4S and turbo. I don't hear anyone complaining about the rear view of the new turbo? But I just can't fall in love with the new face and headlights. They're just too plain for my tastes. But different strokes for different folks..

If you look at any athlete who has power, you can be certain that he will have a big butt. A big butt suggests power not only for athletes but also for cars. On a Porsche used car lot, I happened to see a 996 and wide body 997 parked side by side. The 996 looked down right puny when viewed from the rear, when compared to the 997. To me the epitome of a powerful looking car is one with a wide butt with flared wheel wheels and of course very low profile tires. This look screams performance. So the 997S's butt looks just great to me.

the 993 c4s is the best looking..imho of course.j

Yep, I see and Rosie O'Donnel and I marvel at her athletisism...... I think the pictures on page one show why some of us feel they have gone a little too far. To each his own....

I'm sorry. I have to disagree. I think the rear shot lof the 997S looks similar to the early 70's Carrera RSR, one of the most beautiful 911's ever built, imo. The proportions are similar.

Found some nice comparison pictures.

The 996 C4S is just perfect (yes, I own one)! The front, the wheels, the rear...especially the rear with the reflector band and "cheese graters." It is the most distinctive looking 911 on the road today, IMHO. Recently, I seriously considered "upgrading" to the 997 S or 997 C4S, because they are, without a doubt, better performers. However, no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I finally came to the realization that any 997 would be a step down design-wise and, in absolute terms, the 996C4S performs brilliantly. The 996 interior can look cheap and dated, so my plan is to do some serious upgrading there and keep my 996 C4S. Short of the Carrera GT or 599 GTB, I can't think of any other sports car I'd rather own.

Johnlee, I love the reflector band on the rear of the car. My father has a C4S cab and it's the band of which I'm most envious. As for interiors, I really really like the interior of the 996. It's about as clean and modern as I want a sports car to look. Bear in mind that I've been sitting in 911s since I was a baby and the spartan interior justs seems to suit me best. It's not that the 997 interior isn't sleek, it just looks too busy. Heck, the center console took some getting used to with the 996! Anyway, your picture of the two cars side by side very clearly illustrates how angular and wide the 997 has gotten relative to the 996. The curves are key, man. I really don't want Porsche to get any more of their design influences from Lambo or Viper. And as was stated earlier in the thread, the 997 C4S cab really looks a bit too 'haunchy'. Then again, different strokes....

I think the 996 C2 "Dually Rear Wheel" Limited Edition has them all beat!

Hold on...is that a spy photo of the 998 C4S? Kidding aside, in response to Nycebo's comments: I too prefer the lines of the 996 interior. My C4S has full leather (as I believe all of them do) thus the interior can look luxurious. I spent a weekend with a Ferrari 360 Spyder recently and I came away surprisingly unimpressed. My C4S with PSE sounded better, and it was obvious that my Porsche was screwed together better. The one area where the Ferrari clearly trumped my car was the interior...it had more aluminum/metal trim and overall had a more hand crafted look and feel to it. In comparison, my Porsche's interior seemed bland or, as you say, spartan. I'm not one for flash, but a little more variety of color/textures would look better IMHO. As such, I just placed an order for some (not alot) carbon fiber parts and Techart aluminum pedals.

Jumper, great shots, especiall since the car on the right looks identical to mine. I certainly wouldn't move to a 997 based on looks - I don't like the taillight treatment on the 997, and the C4S looks downright MEAN - people FLY out of your way in the fastlane when you come up behind them. It's just a great package. The 997 Targa is pretty tight, though... hmmm...

That's probably why I already feel the way that you will: my car has the full leather and the carbon fiber package. It is so slick; every time anyone gets in the car, they comment on how fantastic it looks. But a word of caution: implement pieces of aluminum and carbon trim slowly and methodically so that you can ensure that you like the way the look is developing. Plus, the parts aren't often cheap. For some fantastic carbon fiber parts, you might want to check with John at MACarbon. I am overly impressed with his product and think that finish and quality is better than OEM.

nutbeam those arn't black. They are midnight blue. I found the pics a while ago when I searched for midnight blue one of my favorite colors.