Best looking nose for the 996

I'm starting to feel that appearance wise my 996 needs something lower in the front, so I've been looking at the 6 main bumper cover options for sprucing up the front: Factory Aero kit, Turbo, GT-2, GT-3, Cup, and a GT-3 look spoiler that just bolts on under the stock bumper cover. Has anyone been through this thought process and have any insight they would offer on the best option or what they would do different with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. P.S. I'd have a hard time ever parting with my rising rear wing so the fixed rear wings are not in the picture right now, but matching side skirts definately are.

I went with the MASHAW Turbo look spoiler... It was a great fit, my body guy said it was the best fiberglass spoiler he has ever seen... <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/New_TT_Bumper.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/TT_Bumper_Finished2_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/TT_Bumper_Finished.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/TT_Bumper_Finished3.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> Here is the before pic <img src="http://a6.cpimg.com/image/A2/F4/11911586-aea9-02000180-.jpg" alt=" - " />

Kevin - your gonna hate me - I like the old nose better on your car

Great pics Kevin! I've always been partial to the turbo front as well. But even your prior aero front is a big improvement over stock, did you get rid of it yet?

Pretty clean nose. I personally like the gt2 nose over the turbo but I also like the ruf kit. Very clean and flows really well with the lines.

for the models up to 7/01, i'd go with a Caractere front nose (your choice of CF or CK inserts), a NR GT2 nose (should be out soon), or a Turbo-type nose with a front spoiler like Kevin's. For models after 7/02, it's all about the TechArt baby!!!! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

I would go with either the factory GT-3 kit, or the ruf r-gt kit. The R-GT is one bad *** car. I regret not doing it on mine...

Yep, Ruf RGT is bad ***!!! I'm thinking about asking them if they can make me a custom RGT aerokit for my GT3! If not, I will put on the GT3 Cup spoiler, which has a more protruding chin than the Aerokit II. And perhaps a banana wing or GT3 Cup wing on the rear.

I think the new GT-3, but that will be A Major Project on 1999-01. I do think Kevin's car looks great. Turbo grills, original aerokit lower stuff, but without the droopy lights.

Darren its ok.... I like the your car better with Bumperettes Jeff25.. This is where the old Aero Bumper went..oh and rims, and lights Girlfriends new toy.. <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/Front_After.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

wow, that Boxster looks great!!!

Fibreglass bumper covers are prone to cracking, unlike the stock ones that just get scratched when you bottom out. Be careful and choose wisely.

That is one of the best looking Boxters I have ever seen. Very nice job!! -Andrew

Kevin, where did u get the mesh for the inserts?

Thanks Awolf. she likes it too!! Here is the before pic.. <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/Front_Before_001.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> and my baby!! <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/My_Happy_Camper.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> 20C4S The mesh grills came with the spoiler..

I loved the look of Kevin M's car so much, I'm going to do the same thing on my 2001 C2 coupe. I decided to go with NR Auto for my parts. Their front TT bumper and side skirts are flexible (polypropylene ??) like the OEM bumper. The Aero Wing of course is fiberglass. I've received the front bumper and the more aggressive GT-3 side skirts. I'm just waiting on the Aero wing. The front bumper and side skirts are finished very nicely. They won't need much prep before painting. I'm going to powder coat the mesh to match my wheels just like Kevin did. I hope my front end looks as nice as Kevin's when done. I'll try to take pictures once the process starts. Ken

Kevin, your girlfriend is hot. Oh yeah, nice car too.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Kevin M.: and my baby!! <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/My_Happy_Camper.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> 20C4S The mesh grills came with the spoiler..[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">which costs more to maintain? hehehe sorry, i had to

Ken.. sweet choice's Im sure it will look nice.. be sure and take lots of before & after pics for us.. I went with the MASHAW for a couple of reasons.. first I was familair with his products, and I liked the mesh inserts, as well as no holes in the bumpers. I see the NR spoiler has the tow hole.. which you can easily have covered, it will cost you some extra bucks to add the grills but not much.. The fiberglass or Poly stuff didn't bother me. Its not low enough to scrape. I'll tell you one thing be sure to get a good body shop that will take there time.. you don't want to rush them or try and and a get a low price, it will reflect on the job.. My guys spent 19 hours total on it... some modifcation had to be done as far as cutting the a metal bracket behind the bumper. I also had them custom make a bracked that holds the K40 Laser defuser behind the center mesh.. Labor was more than the spoiler itself.. ouch! Thanks Zamirz I'll let her know MKH funny... actually shes low maintenance.. Im the one with the spending problem <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

The NR Auto front spoiler is actually pretty nice, it uses the OEM lip for either the turbo or C4S and the grills. Just make sure they don't match the paint for you. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img src="http://nrauto.com/productimages/205.jpg" alt=" - " />

I asked them about the difference in color on their website. They said they purposely painted it a different shade of silver to show exactly what the part was. I agree with you, bad paint matching. Ken

I also am going with the silver mesh inserts. I believe Kevin's car has set a new standard for front ends on a 996. Ken

I agree, the mesh look great especially on darker cars where the contrast is more obvious. Check out Don and Shank's cars for the mesh they used. <a href="http://www.funcarsonline.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=63646&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1" target="_blank">Thread on Mesh Grills</a> Good Luck!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ken7258: <strong>I also am going with the silver mesh inserts. I believe Kevin's car has set a new standard for front ends on a 996. Ken</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">To funny Ken, I think I like that comment!!

Kevin, you 996 and your Girlfriends boxer look great. I've always been partial to the 996 but that is probably teh nicest boxster I've seen!

Thanks Cableguy, kind comments are always appreciated!!

Has anyone considered the LLTEK nose? I think it's great looking. Has a turbo look with a larger center opening than the MASHAW and a nice bottom edge lip/spoiler. Check out there web-site. RP

Jeff, if you decide to go with mesh grills, you can break up the look a bit with something like this: <img src="http://www.fototime.com/C82C05E163E2993/standard.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.fototime.com/7D7A2A4BB12B8B3/standard.jpg" alt=" - " />

Hey Don where did you get that 911 emblem in the front grill?

I got this one on ebay and painted it AS. It's the millenium edition badge sold by catalog or dealers. I'd try <a href="http://www.performanceproducts.com," target="_blank">www.performanceproducts.com,</a> <a href="http://www.tweeks.com" target="_blank">www.tweeks.com</a> or <a href="http://www.pelicanparts.com" target="_blank">www.pelicanparts.com</a> I can't remember, but I've seen it somewhere.

Ok so its the same emblem used to be placed on the rear decklid of the vehicle?

Yup! I just sprayed it AS + clearcoat from paintscratch.

Looks good Don, what else do you have in store for your cab?

Nice pics

03, the turbo rear bumper and AS painted seatbacks took a big bite and as I told someone else, whatever I spend on the Pcar my wife (IndyCindy) gets to spend on herself...so going to cool it for awhile. I do have AS door storage covers to install and I have the silver strips (3 pieces) that go across the dash, but I'm really chicken to yank out the strips that are in there and I'm not about to pull the dash. How about you? What have you got just above the batwing on your console?

I am a fan of the new GT3 nose - Kev the bumperette coment cracked me up <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" />

Kev, have you experimented with making mash black? I am almost agreeing with DJ on this one..

Anyone have the mesh inserts on a non turbo nose? If so, where do you get them, are the difficult to install and do they look good on the non turbo nose??

Darren, I was waiting for you to catch that one!! Gery, no I haven't... I went with the Silver first to see how I like it, and I do.. so no plans to go black, my prior mesh was black on my other spoiler.. to me it needs to contast, I don't like all the same color, its like having a red bumper and red mesh, or yellow and yellow.. its just to much.. but thats my taste and opinion.. eveyone is different Here ya go... <img src="http://a6.cpimg.com/image/36/22/20777526-0542-02000180-.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuo78/New_TT_Bumper.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Can anyone tell me where I can find the RUF RGT front knock off? I thought that I had seen that design on the MA Shaw site, but can't find it now.