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Seriously. How could anyone NOT love these headlights?
I was gleaning cutters and putting up Christmas lights the other day and snapped this picture. I think this angle really captures the lines that all flow together and shows how well integrated the headlight design is with the overall design of the car.
BUT THEY'RE NOT ROUND!?!? 911 HEADLIGHTS ARE ROUND! First, they are round, but the assembly isn't, because its designed to fit the design of the rest of the car. Aesthetically, 911s are defined by the C pillar, roofline, thick back end, and short bonnet NOT the headlights. In the old days, car makers had two choices for headlights: round or square. As time progressed manufacturing capabilities improved and car makers could make sleeker, better looking headlights. You want to know a car that stuck with the same round headlights because they didn't care about aerodynamics, and have subsequently become 'iconic'? Jeep Wrangler. Not the 911.
As the aerodynamics of the 911 progressed, the front end became more and more slanted overall and as a result the headlight profile had to change. Because some misguided purists threw a fit about it, Porsche have come up with a solution of putting oval headlights in the cars (yes, 997+ headlights AREN'T circles like earlier generations were, now they're ovals) because when viewed at the extreme slant they appear to be circles (same effect used on letters printed on the roadway). The problem is this is that they aren't wide enough! The 911 has gotten WIDE over time, and now the entire aesthetic balance of the front end is compromised and lacking because of a few sticks in the mud that for some reason think the shape of the headlight is important.
So, now that my rant is over, here is the picture - what I believe is a properly balanced, atheistically pleasing, 911 front end.
The new 991/992 headlights are straight up oval and look more like Cayman headlights than a 911. I think the evolution from Roundish 993 - Roundish Oval 997 - Oval 991 - Long Oval 992 has made our 996 age better. The argument that 911 headlights have to be round is dead. Also the new sharp non rounded frunk line of the 992 is a throwback to the 996.
Porsche 959 lights aren't round either.
They're slightly oval as well.
That's why I like Andrews headlight covers, because they look like the 959's headlight shape to me.
The 959 is still the ultimate 911 in my book!
I also have a set of headlights without the covers, so I'm able to switch back and forth whenever I want.
Totally agree! I love the 996 headlights. When Porsche first introduced the shape I was driving a Slate Grey 87 944 Turbo around. I loved them then, love 'em now!
I was gleaning cutters and putting up Christmas lights the other day and snapped this picture. I think this angle really captures the lines that all flow together and shows how well integrated the headlight design is with the overall design of the car.
BUT THEY'RE NOT ROUND!?!? 911 HEADLIGHTS ARE ROUND! First, they are round, but the assembly isn't, because its designed to fit the design of the rest of the car. Aesthetically, 911s are defined by the C pillar, roofline, thick back end, and short bonnet NOT the headlights. In the old days, car makers had two choices for headlights: round or square. As time progressed manufacturing capabilities improved and car makers could make sleeker, better looking headlights. You want to know a car that stuck with the same round headlights because they didn't care about aerodynamics, and have subsequently become 'iconic'? Jeep Wrangler. Not the 911.
As the aerodynamics of the 911 progressed, the front end became more and more slanted overall and as a result the headlight profile had to change. Because some misguided purists threw a fit about it, Porsche have come up with a solution of putting oval headlights in the cars (yes, 997+ headlights AREN'T circles like earlier generations were, now they're ovals) because when viewed at the extreme slant they appear to be circles (same effect used on letters printed on the roadway). The problem is this is that they aren't wide enough! The 911 has gotten WIDE over time, and now the entire aesthetic balance of the front end is compromised and lacking because of a few sticks in the mud that for some reason think the shape of the headlight is important.
So, now that my rant is over, here is the picture - what I believe is a properly balanced, atheistically pleasing, 911 front end.
Is not only about the headlights... the 996 is, for me, a piece of art of industrial design. The proof is that some of the trends that it introduced back in 99, are still present in actual 911's. Do you see the front bumper of the turbo and 4S?... now look the actual Boxsters or 991 and tell me if they are not a derivation from there. Have the fog lights been alocated in the bumper anymore? No they are grouped in the main headlight like the 996 initiated. Have the doors come back to the frame for the window? no. Even, the door handles in the new 992 are going to follow the same design shape showed in the 996. Even, the 996.1 shape has a deep inspiration in the 356 shape, maybe more than any other 911 in between.
I am learning more and more that the porsche world also means a lot of "snobism" and "differentation". I understand that when Porsche decided to ride of the air cooled engines, the purists got crazy... but that always happen with evolution. The 996 is the 911 that saved the 911 and that is unarguable. I am not saying that it is the best 911, (for me the better is always the latter) but it was what it had to be... and I think that the public is now starting to give it the appreciation that it deserves like a real 911 that make a real innovation change.
Originally Posted by charlieaf92
I was gleaning cutters and putting up Christmas lights the other day and snapped this picture. I think this angle really captures the lines that all flow together and shows how well integrated the headlight design is with the overall design of the car.
BUT THEY'RE NOT ROUND!?!? 911 HEADLIGHTS ARE ROUND! First, they are round, but the assembly isn't, because its designed to fit the design of the rest of the car. Aesthetically, 911s are defined by the C pillar, roofline, thick back end, and short bonnet NOT the headlights. In the old days, car makers had two choices for headlights: round or square. As time progressed manufacturing capabilities improved and car makers could make sleeker, better looking headlights. You want to know a car that stuck with the same round headlights because they didn't care about aerodynamics, and have subsequently become 'iconic'? Jeep Wrangler. Not the 911.
As the aerodynamics of the 911 progressed, the front end became more and more slanted overall and as a result the headlight profile had to change. Because some misguided purists threw a fit about it, Porsche have come up with a solution of putting oval headlights in the cars (yes, 997+ headlights AREN'T circles like earlier generations were, now they're ovals) because when viewed at the extreme slant they appear to be circles (same effect used on letters printed on the roadway). The problem is this is that they aren't wide enough! The 911 has gotten WIDE over time, and now the entire aesthetic balance of the front end is compromised and lacking because of a few sticks in the mud that for some reason think the shape of the headlight is important.
So, now that my rant is over, here is the picture - what I believe is a properly balanced, atheistically pleasing, 911 front end.
I've never had a problem with 996 headlamps. That the OP is putting up Christmas lights before Thanksgiving, is however, very alarming.
Everyone gives me a hard time about this, but its perfectly logical. I'm trying to convert more people (so I'm not the only one) here's the argument: why wait until its freezing cold, and you have a million other things on your schedule (all holiday related) to waste time trying to decorate? I get it all (tree, lights, etc) knocked out the weekend after Halloween and then relax for 2 months. While everyone else is frantically trying to get their decorations up I'm sitting by the fire sipping wine.
The picture is a C4S in silver. And yes it looks very good, but I am wondering if this image has advantages because the car is silver and the front bumper cover has the "more racy" look with the rather bold 3 open air passages rather than the more subdued from bumper cover of the C2. I'd like to see a side-to-side comparison from the same angle of a 996.2 C2 in a darker color, perhaps the midnight blue or black.
I've always liked the headlights on the 996 series cars. I never saw the point of headlight covers, and I still don't.
I remember the first time that I ever saw a 996 up close. It was in my rearview mirror, sitting at a stoplight. I was in the turn lane, and so was the 996 behind me. I remember admiring the look of the new headlight assembly with the integrated turn signal. Little did I know that I wasn't supposed to think that!
I believe that people get brainwashed on Internet internet forums. People read about how they aren't supposed to like the 996, so they don't like it. People read about how they are supposed to love the 993, so they all talk about how great it is. I happen to prefer the look of the 964 to the 993, even though I'm not supposed to feel this way. People on the forums like the 993 better!
I think the 996 is a great looking 911. I loved my 996 C4S.
My last thought is that it's okay to like more than one 911! I loved the look of my 996, but I also loved my 997 and I love my current 991! You don't have to hate the 997 or the 991 if you like the 996, even if the forum members tell you that you do! It's all good.
11-06-2018, 11:06 AM
Seriously. How could anyone NOT love these headlights?
, on a "slightly" different Porsche
