Ok.. So I've Narrowed It Down To 2 Choices

Times like this make me wish I had 2 cars and no Girlfriend to spend money on. I'm trying to decide between two bodykits for my prefacelift car and changing lights is not an option because its just money down the drain. 1) GT3 RS Race kit. Pros: Probably not a single one on the road in canada right now. Looks ultra agressive and is definitly different. Weight reduction because pannels will be fiberglass or CF. Cons: Lots of Costs because every pannel needs to be replaced. New wider rims will be needed to fill out the wheel wells properly. Will require the car to be repainted because it would look like **** in grey. Widebody = Aero Drag = Lower topspeed and acceleration = bad. 2) RUF RGT (MY2000) Pros: very sleek and stylish, would look great lowered. Only thing that needs to be changed is the front bumper, skirts and a wing. My choices would be bumper, GT3 skirts and an Aerokit II wing probably. Cheaper project overall and looks just as nice in silver. I can always add the fender flares from the new RGT RS if styling dictates but that will probably not be necessary. Cons: Not as uber, but no big CUP wing to create drag. Any other cons i'm not considering? Are there any other kits i should consider for a pre facelift car?

one shot of the rear. i like the idea of functional scoops for air to the engine, but i think the aerokit II has these too.

It's one thing to put a spoiler on your car, quite another to be labled a GT3 wannabe/poser. Sometimes too much is too much. I'd go with the Ruf look, cleaner look on the street for sure.

yeah thats what i was thinking too. do you know anyone who makes a replica of that bumper or can source an original RUF? i've been looking about and i don't think anyone else makes kits for the prefacelift (FVD makes one but its horrible)

I know misha makes alot of replica techart stuff and the like, www.996wings.com

thanks, i've sent her (him?) an email. Choosing a wing is proving to be difficult. Now i know why women have so many shoes.

Why not just stick to 1999/2000 GT3 style pieces. In my opinion, that car is still a very beautiful shape. I miss my 1999 Aero because it was so aggressive but yet so pretty.

not really a fan of the taco, plus the RUF is very nice. on a side note: alon, do u know if out of province speeding tickets can be paid at a bank like normal speeding tickets?

I don't know abot paying an out of province ticket at a bank (knock on wood, haven't had to yet). You don;t like the taco? It's amazingly effective and easily adjustable.

its not that i don't like the taco, (and actually, i didn't know it was adjustable), i just like the newer style stuff better, don't know why, just do.

OK, get that Ruf kit. It's beautiful but not cheap from "the guys in Vancouver". Have you found an alternative source?

i'm looking about. i'm going to get PSS9s first and then the front bumper.

Doesn�t this contradict your thread starter when you said that facelift was a waste of money? If you like it then it�s not a waste of money�. I think too many people worry about what the car will be worth when it comes time to sell. Make yourself happy with what you like and not what makes other people happy. If you�re going to invest then do it with something that will mature over time like real estate not your car�.. Good Luck either way! -Eli

I think that he meant doing the 2002 and up headlights/fenders/etc is a waste of money. So who are you buying the PSS9s from?

Dead-eye - I say do what makes you happy. As far as my opinion, I like the RGT, but the GT3 RS look is still pretty cool. Chad

How would the RUF front end hold up? Wouldn't you be plowing every ripple of the road? It'd be cracked in a jiffy. The rear wing doesn't look good IMO.

DAAAYM, that's pretty much what i'm doing! i got a RUF look front bumper and am going to get gt3 mk2 side skirts and wing. i am kinda on the fence regarding the wing. it's IN YOUR FACE! i'm thinking maybe the turbo tail base with the RUF turbo wing.

Why throw all that money away on these mods/upgrades? Buy a used GT3. It's got the look you want and performance to match. No mods necessary, just turn the key...

show me one for 50K and i'll bite!!! i'm CHEAP!

GT3 just isn't affordable yet, not with the depreciation hit i took on the 996. Besides, i still love the car and don't see the need 2 trade up just yet.

i meant it in the sense that i don't mind having the old style headlights as much and that the 2 grand i'd spend on changing them is better spent on performance mods IMO. Alon: was going to order the PSS9's from www.shox.com ... or anyone who can match or beat that price really. I talked to JRP and they wanted like 4grand, nuts to that. karlooz: where did u get ur RUF look bumper?

I know the Canadian distributor for H&R and Bilstein but with today's exchange, you may be better off buying them out of the U.S. You;re going to have to forget dealing with JRP from now on.

^ yeah i think i'm going to have to burn their business cards and dance around the fire in some kind of primeval pagan ritual. although in their defence, they were very polite and prompt about clearing up any mistakes. how much does ur supplier want for the bilsteins? it might be cheaper to go thru him since i'll be paying 7% in import duties anyhow + conversion.

I'll find out today. So is it the PSS9s or the H&Rs?

PSS9's please. (will they work with my m030 sway bars or will i have to remove the swaybars and go with the GT3 or H&R sways)

i got it off ebay for ~800 from CDOC. not bad for carbon fiber but i have to be careful. CDOC had 4 ruf bumpers up for auction. i think they get it from getty design or mashaw.

you are making a mistake plowing all this money into this car. save the cash and upgrade. i have learned my lesson in the past. a 2004 996 or a 2005 997 will be better all around then your car with all this stuff on it.

^ because of the extra chassis stiffening from the C4 platform?

everything, every year the cars get better as they iron out issues. i have been down the road you are going. my last car before the GT3 was a 2003 996 with x51..the mods began and it was silly. GT3 came and i lost a ton on the other car. GT3 is incredible. i test drove the 997 s and almost sold my GT3 because it was awesome too..997s would have been a nice compromise between a track car and road car. i decide to stay track focused so i kept GT3 but that 997s test drive opened my eyes ( WIDE) modding a 99 will get you very little payback. im looking at all you are doing and want to do and im seeing 10 grand or so?? get a newer car ..trust me. or do some suspension work and leave it alone from there

again, show me a gt3 for 50K and i'll buy it right now! came late into the 996 game (had a boxster before) and benefitted from the massive depreciation. got my '99 for 38K and even if (when) i drop in an SC, aero and suspension bits it will end up costing 50~55K when all is said and done. gt3 performance, more HP than a gt3, just as good suspension, yes the chassis is not quite as rigid but i wouldn't feel it anyway. maybe you are pro racer and can notice these things but i am not. yes these parts aren't genuine porsche but i'm not such a tight butt about modding. i know what i can afford and i can't afford a gt3 now. in 3 years i will probably get one but i want to live in the now not 3 years from now. modding is fun and is a hobby so i enjoy it as much as driving the car. if you think that hobbies are a waste of money then "to each his own". oh ya, try telling the 993 die hards they are wasting money on their older cars. they'll think you are out of your mind.

i didnt say you could get a GT3 for 50,000. it makes no sense to dump money into an older car when you can upgrade and be better out of the box. if you think you are getting GT3 performance out of a 99 with some mods then you are on crackthe car works as a package not as bits bolted on to an older chassis. 993 people modifying their cars are wasting their money if they want the best. if they want a modded 993 then go for it. newer is better period especially when it somes to porsche. thats all im saying. and if you cant feel a stiffer chassis then why mod the suspension or anything else? are you sure you can feel them?

JLJ, thanks for the input and you do make a valid point. For the next few years however i'm going to be keeping my current car, but i've decided not to dump as much $$$ into it and just drive it. Maybe down the road i'll be fortunate enough to snag a GT3 but untill then i'm "stuck" with the trusty silver bullet.

99 996 can go very well on track. when i first went to mosport with my 2003 x51 carrera with mo30 i had a hard time with a guy in a 99 996 with Bilsteins. my car stock was understeering , sqeeling and not as good thru the corners as his. i had 345 hp to his 296 but he was all over me. i went and got some GT3 sway bars, michelin pilot cups and a proper alignment from fiorano. next time at mosport the 99 996 was waaayyyyy behind.if he had done, aero kit and this and that it wouldnt have helped that much. thats all im saying. im in ontario also. hook up with me at a track day and you can drive my GT3 if you like

ya missed my point completely. no use beating a dead horse. BTW, nope not on crack, just informed. peace

dude, do what floats your boat. saving 5Ks in mods is barely gonna get you closer to a gt3. your '99 trade is is gonna get 30~35K US now. how about 3 years from now... maybe 20~25K?. do the math. you'll still be 50K away from a gt3 some say it's a waste of money but what hobby isn't? waste money on making your look, perform, sound better. making the most of what you have now is not a crime. it's just a hobby. the views of "just get a gt3" is the EASY way out for those who are "privileged" enough to have one the best waste of money would be more track time! not telling you what to do, just giving you the OTHER point of view. carlos (used to live in toronto now in cali)

I say, do what you want to the car you have now, just don't go too crazy. Remember, you will NEVER get your money out of mods. Factory 'mods' are a different story, may actually add some value, for ex. x73, x51 etc as opposed to pss9's and a blower,( which will lose value in the car). The market for modified pcars, esp aftermarket mods is very, very small. Mod your car, enjoy it now, don't worry about the next buyer. Just be realistic with yourself about getting your money out of the car later. The easy answer is to get a GT3, but the timing/finances have got to be right.

Were do you get the bodykits for 996? Regards Pete

lol..wow this thread is old you can get bodykits from me! what are you looking for?

I'd go with the RUF kit. So when you're playing Gran Turismo 4 it looks correct.

Not a bad thing to be STUCK with...some would say blessed. You have a nice ride enjoy it and do what ever makes you happy!

Just curious what are the main differences between a GT3 chassis and a 996 chassis.

bowman: i've decided to go with a GT2-esque style kit. The front bumper is an aftermarket gt2 style bumer designed for pre-facelift headlights, and the wing is the GT2M wing from minsha of 996 Wings.com. Side skirts will probably be Aerokit II skirts and the rear bumper will either be a modified Aerokit II bumper or a custom piece i'll get made just for myself. jsaindc: I know its not a bad thing to be stuck with, and as i track the car more and more and have made a lot of suspension changes, i just love the car to bits. Differences between the 996 Pre-Facelift Chassis and GT3 Chassis: 1) GT3's are seamwelded vs. spot welding for added rigidity. 2) GT3's have facelifted fronts which provide better airflow (less lift i believe) 3) GT3 chassis is based off the C4 chassis vs the C2 chassis so there are other areas in which it has been re-enforced.

That RUF kit is a clean subtle look !

it seems to be quite popular. i've sold 2 of those RUF bumpers alredy, after having them on the site for only a week and a half. People seem to trust RUF quality greatly, and are willing to shell out the extra cash for it. the final product is quite stunning to behold in person.

I wish my car to be finished with RUF, I just love the look of simplicity. The only thing I do not care for on the front bumper is the lower lip is to high, from the side it makes the car front look bent up (note example), which means that it would need a lip of some sort. Deadeye do you sell RUF parts.

yes i do, they are authentic parts from the factory. pm me for mor info. i've always thought the ruf front bumper would look pretty nice with a CF front lip

I think it�s your wallet talking.. Of course everyone(most people anyway) would want a new car especially a new 997 GT3 but for us with a smaller wallet, like my self. I�me upgrading my old 951 to beat the GT3 in all diciplines, you think it can�t be done but my opinion is that I can and the future will tell if I�m right! /Pete

ouups yes I know?! and now i qouted another guy before I relized that it was the old thread?! Well I�m thinking of building a supercharged 996 with extra everything and some mustard on it to a reasonable price .. What I�m looking for is something like the Carrera CUP spec. Large wing at the rear, splitter in front, plastic fenders, plastic hood, doors(or carbon), lexan windows and so on. But I haven�t found anything on the net with a good price tag?? I mean the Carrera Cup drivers trashes their cars all the time were do they buy their spareparts? It must be copies out there? Of course I could buy something from Techart or RUf but that�s not in my pricerange!? So do you have any suggestions? Regards Pete

shoot me a PM, we can plan something around your budget. what's your current car (pre-2002 or post-2002) edit: ahaha i just looked back at my first post in the thread. Its funny because now, i do have two cars, and no gf to drain my cash, and its still not enuff. Tuning is like cocaine.