AndyK

Looking at the photos of the silver 993 and 997, I do think Porsche got the headlights right, which probably is good for the die-hard 911 lover.

I thank the 993, and the 997, for making a 996 so affordable now!!

Ray S

I do like the 997 styling (it's kind of a 993 and 996 have babies sort of look). However, I believe that it was a small mis-step for Porsche to go with a back to the future look.

I would have liked to have seen the design that Porsche would have come up with had they continued to evolve the 996 rather than take it backwards with 993 styling cues. I'd bet that when the 998 comes out it will move forward again in the evolution of the look.

AndyK

I bet when the 998 comes out, it will be MORE like the 993! Look at all the retro muscle cars coming out. Retro is in. And Porsche looks at the 996 like New Coke after all the complaints about the headlights. So they will build cars that will please their customers, old and new. IMHO, of course.

Ray S

I'll grant you the bug-eyed headlamps. However, the curvy hips really made their debute on the 993. The early 911's never had them.

rcg412

i think (or hope) the 998 will be much more edgy than the retro 997. the retro thing is a fad.

JimB

That's a excellent point Ray. When I got my first 996 in 99 a neighbor stopped by with his right drive 72 911. He was thrilled that Porsche had gone back to it's roots with the 996s simple lines and lamented the 993s "boy racer bulges". His words, not mine. I got a good laugh out of it.

BTW, I owned a 993 and always loved the look if not the car. I like the 997 as well.
Jim

ArneeA

Aesthetics aside, the 997's are just simply alot larger than the 996, which is already larger than the 993. When are they coming out with a SUV version... oops, nevermind.

mrsullivan

oh come on...where were you in the 1980s? the decade of excess?...including big curves on Porsches!



I do agree with the comment on values. For many of us 993 owners, a 996 is becoming very tempting...as they are priced within a few $thous of what the 993 can be sold for.... and are clearly superior in performance, if not feel/character/soul...

pchak

Having been a former 993 owner, I too think the move back to round headlights on the 997 was a smart move. I'm not crazy about the 997 rear view either. I think my 996 looks great, but it was a big departure. One of the main reasons I like it so much was that I am a former Boxster owner as well. The 996 interior vs. the 997 wins hand's down.

rcg412

I think the look of the Turbo headlamps, may be the best looking headlamps of all 911s.

Nonetheless, I think the best looking 911 overall is still the 993.

The 997 looks very bulbous and the headlamps are straight from the VW Bug parts bin. But it is still a fantastic car.

Ray S

Nice try rewriting history. However, when the 996 came out is was very well received by the automotive press. If you go back and re-read the intro articles from publications such as Sports Car International, Motor Sport, Car & Driver, Road & Track, Evo, and others they are almost universal in their praise for the new 996.

Only two consistent 996 styling critiques have really emerged through the years. Front end styling that was too close to the Boxster and the loss of some of the curve in the hips.

As far as the public is concerned they voted with their $'s and made the 996 the most sucessful 911 ever by a long shot. Don't forget that when Porsche introduced the 993 they actually discounted the price vs. the 964 to pump the sales.

As far as the "raw and visceral" feel that you describe goes, what did you expect. Was Porsche really not expected to improve the car? You can take this complaint back through history with every single introduction Porsche has made since the 356. Did you ever read what the purists said about the original 911 after the 356? If you want "raw and visceral" take a ride in an old car from any manufacturer (Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, GM, Honda, etc) and then jump in the same model a generation down the road. Guess what, they all feel less raw!

I've driven many 911's, 964's, and 993's and I liked tham all. In fact, I'd love to get another old 911 in my garage at some point. That being said, the 996 really took 911 performance and refinement to a new high (at least until the 997 came out).

jumper5836

Personally I love the front end of the 964, the Frog head lights are what makes it. Thats retro!

The widebody 993 is awesome from the back but the headlights are wierd. The 993 looks dated now.
I first loved the 993 and didn't like the new lines of the 996 but then the 996 looks like a modern car
and I started really liking it after a while.

The 996 head lights are great it is much better combining all the lights into one light. Though I do think the 997 did do a good job with the design of the front bumper having to add all the lights back into it.

The 996 widebody is really special. I love the look.

The 997 hips look good from the front but now the back end is to high, it wide which is good but why didn't they keep it shorter hieght wise. I don't like it. I didn't like the new rear spoiler at first but now I love it. Guess it was to modern for me at the start just like the 996 was.
The headlights are nicer then the 993 though if they are going to go round again I would have prefered a 964ish looking shape for the headlights and front.

Quite honestly I still love them all, just being picky.
For a classic or dated 911, I would love to have a 993 widebody with a 964 front.
For a current/modern 911, I would go with a 996 C4S or 997 GT3.
For the new 998, I would want the 996 C4S widebody, with the 997 GT3 front, 997 rear spoiler and I would suck in the sides of the front of the rear wheel wells to show more hips from the front like the 997.

Ray S

Don't forget the pre-impact bumper cars. They really had a great look!!

Gretch

The only thing I did not like about the 996 was the headlights....... cheesy......

I did what I could about them.....

MrBonus

If they're going after a younger crowd who "doesn't remember the magic," why would they choose a design that draws styling cues from the classic air cooled cars?


Isn't the 997 only 26 pounds heavier than the outgoing 996?