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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHPre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
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only feature i hated about the car
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Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Frequently discussed work
Replace also note
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Also note that the headlights of GT1 were changed 1st in 1997, which "coincidentally" was the launch year of the Boxster and 1 year before launch of 996 in Europe.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
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Leading evidence: 'only feature i hated about the car' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'only feature i hated about the car' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace also note' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Also note that the headlights of GT1 were changed 1st in 1997, which "coincidentally" was the launch year of the Boxster and 1 year before launch of 996 in Europe.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Replace headlights
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
When the GT1 evo was released (1997), they changed the headlights to the 996 style to connect with their current product line (Boxster/996).
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Replace production of the original boxster
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I thought that the interior of the Boxster Concept was substantially changed for production of the original Boxster.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Use 2/3's the same parts
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
But some shrewd person at Porsche must have convinced the higher ups that using 2/3's the same parts for two different models would be a profitable move.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Frequently discussed actions (7)
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Replace also note
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Also note that the headlights of GT1 were changed 1st in 1997, which "coincidentally" was the launch year of the Boxster and 1 year before launch of 996 in Europe.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Use 2/3's the same parts
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
But some shrewd person at Porsche must have convinced the higher ups that using 2/3's the same parts for two different models would be a profitable move.
Pre-facelift 996 headlight design: Learn something new every day.
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
56 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T174436Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Maybe this is old news to you guys, but I was quite interested to learn that the headlight design of the first 996s was actually supposed to be a tribute to this car, the GT1.
Just in a sharing kinda mood.
the disdain for this headlight design is beyond me other than it may point to the fact that a lot of teh 911 owners are insecure dorks anyways.
it's an awesome shape regardless of whether it shares it with the boxster or not.
Actually I believe you have it backwards. When originally released in 1996 the GT1 did not have the 996 headlights but round 993 style ones. When the GT1 evo was released (1997), they changed the headlights to the 996 style to connect with their current product line (Boxster/996). This is based at least in part upon the fact the ACO/FIA stated that the GT1 cars had to be based upon a production model.
Todd
The 1997 GT1 has the headlight design of the 1993 Boxster Concept car. The design was completed six years before it appeared on the first 996. The Boxster Concept car interior was also lifted for use in the 996.
p.s.
the lights on the GT1 came from the parts bin of the European Boxster (released in 1996). If you look closely on the GT1 you can see the clear triangle that was used for the factory headlight jet washer option for the road cars. They obviously use a much brighter bulb than the standard halogen and added the second set of headlights at the very edge of the GT1 fender
Agreed! When I originally purchased my 996 I specifically looked for 2001 because of the headlight design as I felt it was much better than the 2002+ look.
Same with me, although I did end up stretching to the mkII because of the *real* improvements made. The headlights were not necessariy an upgrade though.
Didn't your momma teach you any manners.
First thing I did to my 996 too.
Since then older the older style has grown on me. I like it better then the facelift on a narrow body.
Yeah your attitude is pretty messed up. Your just guaranteed to put in negativity in any thread - regardless of whether you hurt someones feelings or not.
I think I could talk for a large population of this board by saying you could keep your 'crap' remarks to yourself, it's one thing when someone asks for criticism, but it's another when you start barking away for no reason.
Oh and before I got distracted, that GT1 looks very nice, and it's got nothing to do with the the headlights.
bennie, You think that was a personal attack? Ha ha .......
Come back when you can buy a beer, the grown ups are talking.
Rob, when did you get the 996?, I thought you were a 993 guy....... Whose eye covers?
I kinda find that the headlights add to it. Imagine seeing it in your rearview mirror. On this car, the headlights look kind of predatory. They give it attitude.
I thought that the interior of the Boxster Concept was substantially changed for production of the original Boxster. It looks less curvy. You can just make it out on this link at Autospies...
http://www.autospies.com/news/Photos...-concept-3215/
J
I have a hard copy of that brochure I picked up from a bloke in London.
Kind of crazy to think its 15 years old. Concept cars in 1978 looked way retro by 1993. The Boxster concept interior was very close from a design perspective to the 996/986 production interiors. Check out the toy pic below:
Three spoke steering wheel, gauge cluster and pod cover, the interior door panels, door handle latch and door pulls, glove compartment area, a precursor to the Recaro pole position seats used in the GT3 seats...all basically what you find inside any Boxster or 911 up until 2 years ago.
a very modern design. The 997/987 interior with the big VW Bug steering wheel looks wrong in a sports car. Probably because it was designed for an SUV.
from what I read (911 story, Paul Frere), the 996 had the priority of design than of the boxster, meaning that... the 996 dont have the boxster headlights, but rather the other way around. It is the boxster that inherited the 996 lights, even though the boxster came out first (wich was a marketing decision). Just mentioning what I have read...
I LOVE that it's a model car that you're showing! It's easier to see than the pix on Autospies. It looks like you're right, though. There are similarities to the Concept car. Yet, the overall "swoopiness" of the production model seems more evident? I love the little fans in the console--would that have been fun to detail or what??
That was Porsche's official position. We'll never know, and I realize that it doesn't really matter. But looking at how perfectly integrated they are into the GT1, it's hard to believe that they didn't start there, at least on somebody's sketch pad. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at the time was advocating for this shape to be a new Porsche signature (which would explain the otherwise odd decision to put them on the Boxster and echo them on the original Cayenne), and then popular demand shut them down. History has a way of getting rewritten by marketers, but when you look at those four cars, you just have to wonder if they thought this was going to be a permanent addition to the grammar of Porsche design.
Cool, in any case.
I must disagree with your genetic heritage theory, as it pertains to headlights...
Note pic of 1996 GT1, and then in 1998 the Gt1. Hmm what happened between 96-98?
Also note that the headlights of GT1 were changed 1st in 1997, which "coincidentally" was the launch year of the Boxster and 1 year before launch of 996 in Europe. So I believe one can safely infer that the forward styling of the Boxster was used to update the look of the GT1 as well as share components with the later launched 996.
The Boxster was the guinea pig for a new Porsche look. They needed it!
After the Boxster design was well received they began the very long process of considering it for the 996.
Note that it took 6 years for this design to makes its way into the 911 while it only took three years for the first European delivery Boxsters to hit the showrooms. A big feat for that era.
I think if not for the success of the Boxster, Porsche would have continued using the 993/997 "motif" if you will, for the flag ship 911. But some shrewd person at Porsche must have convinced the higher ups that using 2/3's the same parts for two different models would be a profitable move. I don't think its a stretch at all to say that in terms of design, if not for the Boxster concept we would never have had the 996. Its really the only 911 that doesn't quiet blend into the 911 genealogy, one reason why I like it the most. Growing up I was never a fan of the VW-esque 911's, the 928 and even the 944 seemed like a much more modern design to me. It would have been interesting to see what next 996 aka 997 could have looked like had they not gone retro.
back to the topic....too bad the new Boxster/Cayman never got the 996 Turbo or Carrera GT headlights as a progression to the GT1 kidneys beans. Even the new Cayenne lights would have been better than the current roundish cutesy things.
Appreciate the observation, but I don't think either of us knows, and the chronology of the cars doesn't prove much. Certainly, the initial GT1 would have had some marketing duty to resemble the 911 being sold at that moment. But you have to appreciate how many years in advance of production designers are doodling. My speculation - speculation - is that there was an agenda to give the line a fresh design feature with the new headlight shape. My "evidence" is only that the new design is a better aesthetic fit for the overall shape of the GT1, and that three models in the Porsche lineup of street cars shared the shape in some form.
It's just speculation, all in fun, based on some years in automotive marketing and an educated guess about the real chronology of the design process. Truth is, I don't actually know jack about how it happened. I just happen to think that it is an underappreciated piece of design. The marketplace speaks and is all-powerful, and the shape was eliminated (except for the Cayenne, which still has to live with the vestiges of it).
yea... Bruce is from my area and was on the 6 a lot, have not seen much of him lately - He sold that converted monster and was on to something else - old stuff here
It all depends how bad they are, post a pic. Mine were pretty bad, so I wetsanded them with 1500 grit & then polished with M105 on a heavy cutting pad & finished it off with PlastX on a medium cutting/polishing pad. Depending on the condition yours are in, you might only need to do the last 2 steps or maybe even just the last one...
