Prices Keep Drifting Up
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,968
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From: Cleveland Georgia
MY1999 vs MY2000+ [aside from cable throttle /no eGas]
*No PSM/nannies; legacy ABS only.
*No bothersome computer (“Visit Workshop!” etc., etc.)
*Manual cable operated frunk and engine lid releases (versus electric controls that die along with a with dead battery precluding [most ironically] battery access) [Note: some MY2000 retain manual operation].
*“Buffalo Hyde” dash material that is elegantly pebbled and matte, and far more attractive (and less distracting) than the gauche, “shiny” & highly reflective pleather (plastic) dash materials MY2000+.
*“Granite” interior accent material that is “color thru” and was shared with Rolls Royces of the same period. Again much more matte and eminently more durable than the ubiquitous “soft touch” rubberized plastics that followed MY2000+.
*Amber lensed head and tail lights from 11/97-08/98 build dates; these are a gorgeous aesthetic touch paired with almost any standard color offered at the time; especially the darker shades.
*Less sound deadening and insulation materials that raises the glorious engine note, and lowers the chassis weight, versus MY2000+.
*Connolly Hyde wrapped 993 steering wheel was standard, which was an elegant, vintage touch (and lovingly familiar to the “Luftekhult”).
*Early amber lensed MY1999 examples (11/97-08/98) were manufactured by hand, in sequence with the MY98 993, on the legacy 993 assembly line. Whether perceived or real, many collectors believe this graced the original Early MY1999 with a tangibly increased build quality.
Probably more; others can chime in..
All these subtleties taken together (ESPECIALLY the 993 steering wheel & interior quality) make for a significantly different car IMO, than any other 996. And of all the storied 911’s in my signature, the amber lensed Early MY1999 is by far is my personal favorite. I’m not alone in this highly subjective opinion.
And last but not least.. 🥁🥁🥁
*Robust MY1999 DUAL ROW IMS BEARING, versus multifarious MY2000+ M96/97 dismantler-bound iterations all tragically with less than half the bearing capacity as the original.
So: At least 11 significant differences that I know of.
*No PSM/nannies; legacy ABS only.
*No bothersome computer (“Visit Workshop!” etc., etc.)
*Manual cable operated frunk and engine lid releases (versus electric controls that die along with a with dead battery precluding [most ironically] battery access) [Note: some MY2000 retain manual operation].
*“Buffalo Hyde” dash material that is elegantly pebbled and matte, and far more attractive (and less distracting) than the gauche, “shiny” & highly reflective pleather (plastic) dash materials MY2000+.
*“Granite” interior accent material that is “color thru” and was shared with Rolls Royces of the same period. Again much more matte and eminently more durable than the ubiquitous “soft touch” rubberized plastics that followed MY2000+.
*Amber lensed head and tail lights from 11/97-08/98 build dates; these are a gorgeous aesthetic touch paired with almost any standard color offered at the time; especially the darker shades.
*Less sound deadening and insulation materials that raises the glorious engine note, and lowers the chassis weight, versus MY2000+.
*Connolly Hyde wrapped 993 steering wheel was standard, which was an elegant, vintage touch (and lovingly familiar to the “Luftekhult”).
*Early amber lensed MY1999 examples (11/97-08/98) were manufactured by hand, in sequence with the MY98 993, on the legacy 993 assembly line. Whether perceived or real, many collectors believe this graced the original Early MY1999 with a tangibly increased build quality.
Probably more; others can chime in..
All these subtleties taken together (ESPECIALLY the 993 steering wheel & interior quality) make for a significantly different car IMO, than any other 996. And of all the storied 911’s in my signature, the amber lensed Early MY1999 is by far is my personal favorite. I’m not alone in this highly subjective opinion.
And last but not least.. 🥁🥁🥁
*Robust MY1999 DUAL ROW IMS BEARING, versus multifarious MY2000+ M96/97 dismantler-bound iterations all tragically with less than half the bearing capacity as the original.
So: At least 11 significant differences that I know of.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 634
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Thanks! My 2000 still has manual trunk/engine lid handles* and no computer display. I do agree that the amber turn signals are better looking, and the soft touch plastic interior doesn't age well. The PSM doesn't bother me. It would be interesting to weigh a 1999 and 2000 car to see what the weight difference really is -- AFAIK the officially documented weight is the same.
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,678
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From: Northern Virginia
True a few of these goodies trickled down into MY2000.
As for being locked out of one’s own car, that will prevent access existentially to the entire car. We can’t possibly discount usefulness of manual trunk operation based on the possibility of losing both keys and the valet! Which apparently is common practice among 911 owners worldwide 🥺.
As for being locked out of one’s own car, that will prevent access existentially to the entire car. We can’t possibly discount usefulness of manual trunk operation based on the possibility of losing both keys and the valet! Which apparently is common practice among 911 owners worldwide 🥺.
Thanks! My 2000 still has manual trunk/engine lid handles* and no computer display. I do agree that the amber turn signals are better looking, and the soft touch plastic interior doesn't age well. The PSM doesn't bother me. It would be interesting to weigh a 1999 and 2000 car to see what the weight difference really is -- AFAIK the officially documented weight is the same.
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2,307
From: Washington DC
Loosing a key is a bigger problem overall since even if you open the frunk or get in the car you're not going anywhere anyway hah. But with just a dead battery not really a problem at all if you keep a small jump start battery in one of the doors. Open the door with a key -> connect terminals to silver door lock latch and positive terminal near fuses -> pop open the frunk or trunk to jump start the car 
It's also worth saying that it's a good idea for any model year to make sure you can get your hands on the steel cable that you can pull on to manually open the rear lid or frunk. My frunk latch crapped out recently (spring popped out) and I was able to get it with that cable.
It's also worth saying that it's a good idea for any model year to make sure you can get your hands on the steel cable that you can pull on to manually open the rear lid or frunk. My frunk latch crapped out recently (spring popped out) and I was able to get it with that cable.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2014
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RL Community Team
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From: Minneapolis
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,678
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From: Northern Virginia
Bronto your Mezger has an IMSB (although oil-fed journal type) and these too have failed. Careful with those rocks. 😱
Though FWIW 2X bearing capacity isn’t “slightly better” it’s a full order of magnitude; IE “wholly better”.
And in this case: “sufficiently better” too, as I suspect there may be almost as few documented examples of Early MY1999 dual-row IMSB failures as there are Mezger IMSB failures! 🤑
The “builders” may chime in to concur??
Though FWIW 2X bearing capacity isn’t “slightly better” it’s a full order of magnitude; IE “wholly better”.
And in this case: “sufficiently better” too, as I suspect there may be almost as few documented examples of Early MY1999 dual-row IMSB failures as there are Mezger IMSB failures! 🤑
The “builders” may chime in to concur??
Last edited by bdronsick; Jun 1, 2021 at 01:38 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,678
Likes: 968
From: Northern Virginia
Right and wrong.
While the microscopic “flecks” of darker colors are (very robustly) surface applied, the MY1999 interior accents base material section is indeed “color through”. IE scratches will reveal the same base color & material through the entire depth of the material (albeit without the surface “flecks”).
Thus scratches, which are rare given the material’s intrinsic durability, are virtually invisible on MY1999 interiors.
While the microscopic “flecks” of darker colors are (very robustly) surface applied, the MY1999 interior accents base material section is indeed “color through”. IE scratches will reveal the same base color & material through the entire depth of the material (albeit without the surface “flecks”).
Thus scratches, which are rare given the material’s intrinsic durability, are virtually invisible on MY1999 interiors.
Last edited by bdronsick; Jun 1, 2021 at 01:43 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 560
Likes: 147
From: San Francisco Bay Area
Thanks! My 2000 still has manual trunk/engine lid handles* and no computer display. I do agree that the amber turn signals are better looking, and the soft touch plastic interior doesn't age well. The PSM doesn't bother me. It would be interesting to weigh a 1999 and 2000 car to see what the weight difference really is -- AFAIK the officially documented weight is the same.
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Great info about the manual assembly of early 996s, I didn't know about that!
* Because the trunk handle is locked when the car is locked, you still can't access the trunk when the battery is flat though...
Not sure if I've got soft touch plastic or not; just thought it was all leather. Will have to check. My PSM is alway on, so that's not an issue for me either.
Last edited by sgt1372; Jun 1, 2021 at 01:38 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,678
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From: Northern Virginia
Yup optional full leather, and leather covered additional options, together render all MY1999 vs 2000+ interior materials differences moot. Leather “everywhere” is always preferred IMO 🤑🤑🤑
Last edited by bdronsick; Jun 1, 2021 at 03:12 PM.
