996 front end vs. 997.....

After weeks of review and seeing them in person, I like the 996 Front end much better than the 997, especially from the side. I have the much maligned "boxter" headlights and I admit the 02 lights and turbo front bumber look awesome! The 997 front is not my cup of tea! The new Boxster front end looks awesome compared to the 997. Have you seen this months GT - Purely Porsche! Boxster looks classy and has more of a presence than the 997.. Just my lousy .02 cents! I think I want a 40th now over a 997... Robert

Robert, I agree with you. I have gotten used to the 996 front end and now seeing the 997 front end, it looks alittle weird to me. The grill opening and the way the parking lights are arranged looks kinda looks like a Mazda RX-8, (IMO). I do like the headlights though,glad to see they went back to a pre-996 headlight look. I saw the GT-Purely Porsche article you mention and I do like the look of the front end of the Boxster. I guess I will have to see both the new cars in person and I am sure the 997 will grow on me as did the 996. Good choice if you get a 40th anniversary car. I would love to get one, but right now it is still alittle pricey. Lou

Always a lively debate ... My opinion is that the real problem people had with the 996 front end was that it was shared with the Boxster AND the fact that the Boxster came out first!

I like the 997 front in that it resembles the 993, but the 993 does it better.

You can always trace your 996 headlights' origin here: the 1998 GT1 that won LeMans. Not a bad lineage.

I almost traded in my 996 but in the end I really like the 996 front-end better than the 997.

I couldn't agree with you more. I like the 997 but feel that it's a bit soft looking compared to my 40th. Ann. I came close to selling my 2002 C2 for a 997S but after looking at it, driving it and then driving the 40th. Ann, I chose the 40th. I'll bet that as the 997 evolves over the next few years, it will get better and more aggressive up front.

I like them both...so if I had the 996 I would NOT trade it toward a 997 (at least not until the 400 hp 4.0 liter in 2007). And I would at least wait a year to get the inevitable teething problems out). That being said I am currently bidding on an Ebay sale of a 2003 Targa. I have a soft spot for the 996 Targa and since they are not in favor at the moment I just may be able to get one heck of a deal.

From a design perspective, I find the first generation 996's front end the purest and most coherent. It reminds me of the 916 Berg spider (?) and of course is a take off from the Lemans GT as pointed out previously. I also find that the 996 is a car that photographs rather poorly. In life, it is a much more impressive machine, and especially the car level to car level views are great. Another super angle I haven't seen captured in magazines or photos is the angle down the fender and hood towards the front as you step out of the car. While I also like the second generation 996 headlights, there is something too squarish in the bumper/spoiler area under the headlights. It seems that they bumped that area out to create more venting to the radiators, which squared up the nose more than I think originally intended. It is, of course, all subjective and very much up to whatever you are used to. Me, I think the 996 with boxter front is gorgeous. Now...if you want to discuss the plastic paint on the center console!!! That nonsense scratches more easily than balsa wood and is just sad. Porsche claims to test their cars for millions of miles, in so many different continents, etc. For sure they noticed this stuff was worthless, yet they kept it and glued little pieces of felt to the back of the seat belt receptacles. Yea, as if that solved the problem.

if you don't like your Pre '02 996, slap the aerokit I on it and you will be VERY glad

Me too, just looks odd. Next move will be a 996 Turbo.

Great feedback, Thanks! I love my car and agree that the 997 400HP will be better in a few years... I would slap on the Aero kit but might get slapped back by my wife. I told her I bought the 996 for the 2 of us for our 10 year anniversary...She said oh yeah, where is my new diamond ring!!!!!!!! Weather in San Diego has been awesome for early morning drives--just to make all of you jealous! Robert

youll never afford a 997... thats why you are dragging it down.. the 997 is the best looker

Wha?

There is always one in every crowd, well on this board maybe 2! R