Seriously. How could anyone NOT love these headlights?

I was gleaning cutters and putting up Christmas lights the other day and snapped this picture. I think this angle really captures the lines that all flow together and shows how well integrated the headlight design is with the overall design of the car. BUT THEY'RE NOT ROUND!?!? 911 HEADLIGHTS ARE ROUND! First, they are round, but the assembly isn't, because its designed to fit the design of the rest of the car. Aesthetically, 911s are defined by the C pillar, roofline, thick back end, and short bonnet NOT the headlights. In the old days, car makers had two choices for headlights: round or square. As time progressed manufacturing capabilities improved and car makers could make sleeker, better looking headlights. You want to know a car that stuck with the same round headlights because they didn't care about aerodynamics, and have subsequently become 'iconic'? Jeep Wrangler. Not the 911. As the aerodynamics of the 911 progressed, the front end became more and more slanted overall and as a result the headlight profile had to change. Because some misguided purists threw a fit about it, Porsche have come up with a solution of putting oval headlights in the cars (yes, 997+ headlights AREN'T circles like earlier generations were, now they're ovals) because when viewed at the extreme slant they appear to be circles (same effect used on letters printed on the roadway). The problem is this is that they aren't wide enough! The 911 has gotten WIDE over time, and now the entire aesthetic balance of the front end is compromised and lacking because of a few sticks in the mud that for some reason think the shape of the headlight is important. So, now that my rant is over, here is the picture - what I believe is a properly balanced, atheistically pleasing, 911 front end.

996 Headlights are badass. The new 991/992 headlights are straight up oval and look more like Cayman headlights than a 911. I think the evolution from Roundish 993 - Roundish Oval 997 - Oval 991 - Long Oval 992 has made our 996 age better. The argument that 911 headlights have to be round is dead. Also the new sharp non rounded frunk line of the 992 is a throwback to the 996.

My favorite is the original 996 headlight.

how can anybody argue that this isn't art ? one of the best features of the 996, I'm glad these cars are affordable

+996. one more for the haters , on a "slightly" different Porsche

Porsche 959 lights aren't round either. They're slightly oval as well. That's why I like Andrews headlight covers, because they look like the 959's headlight shape to me. The 959 is still the ultimate 911 in my book! I also have a set of headlights without the covers, so I'm able to switch back and forth whenever I want.

Totally agree! I love the 996 headlights. When Porsche first introduced the shape I was driving a Slate Grey 87 944 Turbo around. I loved them then, love 'em now!

And who said the 996 has no hips? Those hips are amazing. Oh and...best headlights. But I'm biased.

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4s or narrowbody? I see sone hips at the back

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I think that I liked your picture in instagram Is not only about the headlights... the 996 is, for me, a piece of art of industrial design. The proof is that some of the trends that it introduced back in 99, are still present in actual 911's. Do you see the front bumper of the turbo and 4S?... now look the actual Boxsters or 991 and tell me if they are not a derivation from there. Have the fog lights been alocated in the bumper anymore? No they are grouped in the main headlight like the 996 initiated. Have the doors come back to the frame for the window? no. Even, the door handles in the new 992 are going to follow the same design shape showed in the 996. Even, the 996.1 shape has a deep inspiration in the 356 shape, maybe more than any other 911 in between. I am learning more and more that the porsche world also means a lot of "snobism" and "differentation". I understand that when Porsche decided to ride of the air cooled engines, the purists got crazy... but that always happen with evolution. The 996 is the 911 that saved the 911 and that is unarguable. I am not saying that it is the best 911, (for me the better is always the latter) but it was what it had to be... and I think that the public is now starting to give it the appreciation that it deserves like a real 911 that make a real innovation change.

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This is exactly why I love 996 lights....they look fabulous when car is lowered since it has that GT1 look.

I've never had a problem with 996 headlamps. That the OP is putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving, is however, very alarming.

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Everyone gives me a hard time about this, but its perfectly logical. I'm trying to convert more people (so I'm not the only one) here's the argument: why wait until its freezing cold, and you have a million other things on your schedule (all holiday related) to waste time trying to decorate? I get it all (tree, lights, etc) knocked out the weekend after Halloween and then relax for 2 months. While everyone else is frantically trying to get their decorations up I'm sitting by the fire sipping wine.

The picture is a C4S in silver. And yes it looks very good, but I am wondering if this image has advantages because the car is silver and the front bumper cover has the "more racy" look with the rather bold 3 open air passages rather than the more subdued from bumper cover of the C2. I'd like to see a side-to-side comparison from the same angle of a 996.2 C2 in a darker color, perhaps the midnight blue or black.

I've always liked the headlights on the 996 series cars. I never saw the point of headlight covers, and I still don't. I remember the first time that I ever saw a 996 up close. It was in my rearview mirror, sitting at a stoplight. I was in the turn lane, and so was the 996 behind me. I remember admiring the look of the new headlight assembly with the integrated turn signal. Little did I know that I wasn't supposed to think that! I believe that people get brainwashed on Internet internet forums. People read about how they aren't supposed to like the 996, so they don't like it. People read about how they are supposed to love the 993, so they all talk about how great it is. I happen to prefer the look of the 964 to the 993, even though I'm not supposed to feel this way. People on the forums like the 993 better! I think the 996 is a great looking 911. I loved my 996 C4S. My last thought is that it's okay to like more than one 911! I loved the look of my 996, but I also loved my 997 and I love my current 991! You don't have to hate the 997 or the 991 if you like the 996, even if the forum members tell you that you do! It's all good.

That GT1 does look bloody amazing.

In period, the shape of the headlights did not bother me, but I did not love the overall shape of the 996 body. I also did not like that it shared the headlights, and really a lot of the front end, with the Boxster -- not an elitist concern, I just thought it was really corner cutting on Porsche's part and I thought it was phenomenally stupid to do that (but they sold a lot of 996's and Boxsters, so I guess I was wrong). Today, I like the 996 headlights a lot. The 996 was a modern car relative to everything that preceded it and the modern light style couldn't be more appropriate to my eyes. If I had the opportunity to change the 996 lights, I would not change them at all. I do prefer the 996.1 lights over the 996.2 -- in my mind, you either go "all in" on modern look or you don't do it at all -- so I prefer .1 "all in" look over the slight compromise in the .2. I still don't love the looks of the body from certain angles. It's still a great looking car, but not quite as great a body shape as the other 911 models in my opinion. I suspect they let the wind tunnel have a bit too much say in 996 styling, but that's just a guess. As far as driving is concerned, if you like lightweight sports cars, I think the 996 in the purest 2wd/6-speed/coupe form is the best driving of all 911's. My all-time favorite has always been the late 60's early 70's 911e coupes, but I feel the 996 is very close to replicating the light feel of those early 911e's (but with a ton more power and a ton more creature comforts).

I�ve always thought the headlights on the 997, and more so the 991, are too darned big. They make the car look bug-eyed, especially when viewed straight on from a low angle.

I was going to comment about the headlights, but the more important question is whether or not you are going to turn on those Holiday lights at night or wait until after Thanksgiving. I�m all for beating the cold and all that. Sure, test them to make sure they work too.

Perhaps its just the "eye of the beholder" syndrome since I have a 1999 C2, but I prefer the looks of the original "fried egg" style look of the 996.1 over the 996.2 headlamps. With that said, there's a good chance I'll end up with a 996 turbo one of these days if the prices stay stagnant. :-)

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Definitely.

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Im not in the US, so dont have thanks giving. But I am starting to think, you know what, **** it - I should put up some christmas lights LOL

1999 Carrera 2. Aero bumper and skirts, GT3RS wing NB has got hips too! ​​​​​​​

I’ve always liked them too. And it’s why the 986.1 is still my favorite Boxster. Best of all? The “Roundies” have devalued them to the point of making them the most economical Porsches to buy.

I do feel this is a great point (GT1). 'Fried egg lights' to me comes across as a term someone who's worried about what others are thinking down at the country club would employ rather than someone understanding the engineering behind their use and the pedigree. Surely the 996.1 lights would be better called '((1-2 finish at Le Mans) 911) GT1 lights'. Porsche Museum captures it well in their recent post: Instagram

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Narrow body 996 V's widebody 996 ? Keira Knightly htt post ie ps://https://imgur.com/0favshYimgur.com/0favshY J-Lo https://media.vogue.co.uk/photos/5fb...imit/533665788 If we're going to resurrect 5 year old threads, best make it worthwhile

The original 996/986 headlights with the orange/yellow yolks are the best. The second version was just a response to the dislike of the first ones. I always liked them but now even more because that's how to tell the early 996/986's.

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Soon as I saw this picture back in the day, I had to have a 996.2. So I got one. Love those unique headlights. Only shared by the 996.2 m96s and 996 mezgers including (Turbo, 2nd gen GT3, GT3RS, CUP, RSR). Can't get any more exclusive than that.

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lol

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I think the headlights are ugly. It looks like Kim Kardashian sat on the front of a 993. But I also don't stare at the front of my 911 with my hog in one hand and a picture of the GT1 car in the other. At the end of the day I'm behind the wheel.

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Looks like we are in agreement about Kim Kardashian not sitting on anything, not what to do with your hog in one hand and a picture of a GT1 in the other, as well as driving your car. Quite frankly, i dont care much for Kim Kardashian nor the looks of the GT1. Driving the car is another matter.

I saw a post recently on FB a group called Porsche Classics, where they were still bashing the 996 "headlights" .. lol...Those people need to get a real life...

To me, the modern headlights totally fit the 996 which was a major leap in moderness versus the air-cooled 911's that preceded it. I think I liked the 996 headlights from day one (it was a long time ago, so I can't be certain -- I certainly have felt that way for many years at least). However, I didn't really like the shape of the 996 body versus other versions of the 911 when I first saw it. I think now that part of that dislike of the body shape was due to the wheels being so far inset inside the body as delivered from the factory. Wheel spacers make a huge difference in overall 996 looks to my eye. I now like the looks of the 996 body. As much as I like the 993, the headlights look old and non-aerodynamic to me now. I do prefer the 997 body style to the 996, but the headlights aren't a factor in that preference.

996.2 headlights looked good then and look good now. Limited production and then retired as the roundies and porsche police complained. Glad they did. Now they are unique and continue to be in demand. Agree, widen the stance and the 996.1 and 996.2 body looks great. Lower it a bit and it looks even better. Add some aero it looks better still. Both versions of the 996 are aging extremely well. It's a smooth aerodynamic body that can be dressed up many different ways. We see it every day on RL.