i would also add that the 'less than ideal' interior choices they made for the 996 don't help. look at the 997 interior - much more reminiscent of the 993 and earlier cars. i am not a fan of the interior, but the performance of the car (and the associated price) more than make up for it.

 

Its a personal call I prefer the 996tt over the 997tt= especially the interior.

 

I actually think the fried egg headlights have aged incredibly well. The whole car looks very fresh almost 20 years later, the lines have an effortless flow to them, while more recent cars sometimes look overstyled and like they're trying too hard.
I think part of why the design was so pooped on over the first several years is because it was way ahead of its time.

 

and the hips on these cars!!

 

Something we agree on

 

+1. Over styled comes to mind with the 997tt,

 

I just saw a 991tt today and was thinking the same thing. Had those nasty clear taillights too.

 

You have to own one with that comment.

 

I can't speak for the USA, you have loads of them over there but in Europe they are becoming scarce and are seriously climbing in value. As of 3 years ago you could pick one up (at the very bottom) for $45K USA. (I was thinking ok, definitely losing money on mine but I love it so who cares). Now, the first manual car for sale on (www.mobile.de - covering all available EU countries cars) with 100K miles on the clock is selling for $55K USA. Average mileage cars (at about 50K miles) are going for about $70K and ultra low mileage cars are going for $90K + USA. Now you tell me WTF is going on but it seems they are definitely moving into investment category! I can now sell mine for what I paid for it. Result! But I won't sell it. I have this feeling it will become a classics! And I just love it too much :-).

 

I second that.

 

Especially the fog lights. It's like, oh let's go back to the beetle lights now, oh fogs can no longer be integrated into the light cluster, now what? Where shall we put them? Oh, lets's just sneeze them on and see where they land.

 

Beetle owners are not allowed in a 996TT section.

 

On the serious note, yes the initial 996 fried egg rounded headlights are hideous. However, the sharpened turbo headlights I consider are work of art and sharp. The bashing stayed because people aren't aware of the change.

 

+1 on everything you said.

 

The 1st gen 1999 standard C2 wasn't a looker by any means, however the 996TT and 4S are great looking cars (headlights and all). Not a big fan of interior look/quality but it is unique.