Part of the reason I bought mine a 2/98 build date, manual, LSD.

 

Same here. I looked for quite a while before finding a nice 99. Mine is also a 2/98 build date - near as I can determine that was the first month for US production. It seems like in 996 terms, the very early cars have some nice benefits, although you also give up some useful additions on later cars. Overall I could not be happier with mine; a glove box would be nice but I can live without it. All of the other "missing" items can be added if I choose to, like cupholders. Mine needed a clutch when I bought it, so went ahead and had the IMS bearing done using the LM retrofit kit. The bearing that came out looks like brand new, so at least in my case I probably could have skipped that job. Feel better about having done it though.

Also call me strange, but I actually prefer the early headlights, especially the very early headlights with the amber turn signal and running lights. When these were just introduced I remember thinking how cool, better looking and modern these were compared to the 993. I still feel that way - in my opinion a narrow-body 996 is one of the best looking 911 variations.
Daryll

 

We had both. Still have the .2. Just sayin'

 

Curious about the gt3 master cylinder, does it give a big braking improvement?? Also why would that throw a CEL??