ChristianR

dude, i just spit my macallen on the table

DoubleNutz

DoubleNutz

ABSOLUTELY!

goofballdeluxe

Every 996 owner sure hopes so

DoubleNutz

I am sure every 993 owner hopes so too.

goofballdeluxe

Uhh, not so much. But the 997 is a good looking Porsche.

Ten Years

Lol at some of these (heavily biased) comments, especially from the 996 fanboy. From everything I ever read, much of it from that time, the 997 definitely was styled with the 993 in mind. The truth is, the 997 looks like both the 993 and 996.

They took the slab-sided, too-smooth and nondescript overall form and proportions of the 996, and tucked and pulled at it in key areas, so that the result resembled, in terms of surfacing and volume, the older, swoopier 993, while working within the parameters of the 996's more modern size and overall footprint.

I've always liked some of the 996.2 models, especially the GT3 and C4S, but it's silly to deny that Porsche didn't intentionally break away from the 996 design language in the most extensive way possible, without having to change the important and expensive new architecture established underneath. My guess is, if they could've done more, they would have.

Lucky for us, they were able to give us a whole generation with an old-school shapely body, mated to a still-short-ish wheel base, before they went and stretched things out even more, with the 991. There's a reason why many of us 997 fans believe we have the best of both worlds, old and new. To my eyes, the 997's form and proportions are just right -- for a modern age 911. And the 993 will always be the most evolved and "complete" design, from that earlier era.

In fact, I believe the 992 will once again get pared down, tightened up, and made to look visually more tense and efficient. And that new car will inspire comparisons to older generations, this time the 997 along with the 993.




This is not fully related to this discussion, but here's an interesting article comparing two emotive examples from the 993 and 997 generations:

http://www.total911.com/head-to-head...-v-997-c4-gts/

DoubleNutz

Nice try but... this is the weakest argument in the thread since you have demonstrated nothing that factually ties the 993 to the 997, not even through the body design and the 996C4s was the transitional vehicle that the 997 takes its evolutionary form from. Why are 997 drivers in such denial and butt-hurt about the facts around their cars and hope to rewrite Porsche history by denying that their car is basically an evolved 996? A 997 is not a 993... not even close even when you skip over the number 996 to get to 993 .

Such a pity to be in such huge denial. tsk...tsk...tsk (SMH).

goofballdeluxe

No doubt the 997 is an evolution the 996 in many ways. Also no doubt, Porsche wanted to everything they could to change the car into a much better looking design ala the 993. Style-wise, the 996 is considered a dog, and market prices reflect that.

Here's one thing we can ALL agree on:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...sign/?slide=18

rodH

Thank you!!! But what does 911 magazine know about anything anyway?

TommyV44

I wish I could understand your stridency…why is it so important that you are right. To my eyes the 997 looks very much like the 993 and less like the 996.

I couldn't care less what you think since all of these opinions are just opinions not facts. When I walk up to my car it's apparent to me that it's styled after the 993 and if you don't agree who gives a sh*t.

I don't own a 993 and never have and have no desire to do so. It's just my opinion which is no better or worse than yours.

DoubleNutz

The FACT IS that the 997 does not have its styling platform based on the 993 and that is a FACT from the manufacturer Porsche as the 997 is Porsche's evolution of the 996 and not the 993, and not your eyes or opinion. Thus, I am correct because that is purely what Porsche has clearly implemented into the 997's design. Porsche has NEVER connected the 997 style to the 993 with the exception of the headlamps that every 911 has, and to that end-- so does the 356 and VW Beetle. But we sure don't hear any 997 drivers making a design connection to any of those cars.

The fact is the 996C4s and 996TT body designs are practically IDENTICAL to the 997, and inquiring minds here are simply wondering how 997 drivers are making such a distorted connection to 993 body style which looks nothing like a 997, and any person with 20/100 vision can see that.

dgjks6

The fact is that to everyone not involved in this forum, the 911,964,993,996,997,991 all look the same. Had a 996 and now a 997 and had many comments in the car, at work, gas stations, etc. and no one knows the difference.

And it was not that long ago I could not tell the difference between a 997 and 991 and a 986 and 997 without seeing the headlights.

goofballdeluxe

True, the 997 doesn't have it's styling or architecture based on the 993.

However, when it was clear that the 996 styling was a failure, Porsche wisely decided to tweak the design language of the then-new 997 to match what had been a styling hit: the 993.

The body size of the 997 and the 996 are very similar, but the 997 borrows some styling cues from the 993.

Overall, there is much of the 996 in the 997, and also the 993. That's why the 997 is highly regarded.

And the 996 is not.

Feel better now?

DoubleNutz

+1 I'll second that statement...


I just cannot buy into the idea that the 997 looks more like a 993 than a 996... that is simply pure rubbish.