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Agree about not caring for AWD. It adds weight, up to 150kg (that's a sumo wrestler as a passenger), adds unsprung weight and torque to front wheels, which affects steering (still very good though), and changes on/over the limit handling.
So if your priority is driving purity RWD has the win, but if you need slippery conditions traction, or are fearful of RWD oversteer, AWD is the best choice.
Sadly, in the 996, if you want those sexy wide hips, your only choice is AWD.
I put driving ahead of aesthetics. C2 manual. Always.
And the rear 3/4 view is the best for pretty much every 911, but especially the 996.
It is possible to disconnect the drive to the front wheels and make it a 2wd
Aerokit, GT2/3, Turbo/Turbo S, are all beautiful to me.
While yes, the 996 gets crap within the 911 lineage.... one must remember that the 911 lineage stands on its own and is the most flawless within the autoverse. There isn’t a car that came out when the 996 did that is even within the same realm of timelessness and design modernity (thanks to the evolutionary 911 styling, all models retain classic + timeless virtues, yet the 996 launching the ‘new age’ water cooled era look, still looks new thanks to even the upcoming 992 retaining extremely close semblance to it). I still stare at nice examples in awe, and the N/A flat sixes scream an epic opera as a 911 should.
.... 996 headlights have grown on me .1 and .2. Looks great.
No question they have more character and are more distinctive than simple round/oval lights.
Style is always a personal thing and I think the vast majority of those who "hate those lights" belong in the camp of the diehards who saw them as a touchstone to vent about the move to water-cooled, and latter day parrots trying to sound knowledgeable.
If you look at the side profile of the 996 it is beautifully balanced and integrated, more so than the later models. Pinky Lai nailed the classic Porsche look for the car, for sure.
12-05-2017, 11:50 PM
