Why the 996 hate?

"Viggen" (viggen37) 11/11/2014 at 17:14 • Filed to: None

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Why are people so salty about the 996? Is it the headlights? The fact it's water cooled? The Jeremy Clarkson braindrain?

MIATAAAA > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:15

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It's the headlights.

Mosqvich > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:16

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I think it's probably equally because it's not as attractive. I looked at a GT3 and a Turbo at one point, but couldn't past the nose. There are kits to fix it though. It's stupid, I get it.

TheHondaBro > MIATAAAA 11/11/2014 at 17:17

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+1.

The headlights kill what could have been a nice, modest 911.

Nibby > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:18

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The facelift helped it a bit, but when the 996 was first released... Boxster headlights? Really?

My citroen won't start > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:19

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I quite like them, especially the headlights

jkm7680 > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:20

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I really don't understand the hate at all, I actually like the headlights.

Turbo666 > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:21

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I know lots of ppl who hate the headlights, I personally don't mind them and would drive the hell out of a 996

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:22

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1. The headlights that made it indiscernible from a Boxster from a head-on view.

2. The interior which looked and felt a lot like the Boxster's, especially given how perfect the 993's was. Materials were not up to par for what a 911 should be.

3. The IMS bearing issues.

I watched as 993 prices got out of reach while I was in college. I then watched as 964 prices got out of reach when I had first graduated and was waiting to build up the funds to buy one. Now I'm watching SC and 3.2 prices go ballistic and wondering if I shouldn't just bite the bullet and pick up a 996.

I'd have done it already if it weren't for the IMS issues; I simply can't afford a $10-15k rebuild because of a chintzy part. Oddly enough, the IMS bearing issue makes the Metzger-engine'd 996 Turbos the smart buy from a reliability standpoint.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > MIATAAAA 11/11/2014 at 17:25

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:( But I like the fried egg headlights...

Almost as much as I like you.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:27

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LS Swap all the things!

SantaRita > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:27

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You know how the 90's 968 was basically the 944 nobody wanted (any no purist wanted a 944 either) but now it's impossible to find a good turbo for under 16K because they are rarer than a 911 turbo. On that note, remember how excellent 944's used to be 2000$ and now an excellent NA 944 is 5-6K... 8K 911's are now 20K cars.

Porsche people are snobs and a little stupid. When water cooling hit it was crazy and those 993 were scrutinized for a long time. now they are the next attainable classic.

the 997 was enough of an improvement in several areas that the sportiness and style of the 996 loses it's shine a bit, but it's still not old enough to be a classic and spring back up in price.

i think the 996 will hit a low of around 15K and bounce back.

SantaRita > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:29

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i would just get some vinyl wrap block offs made to round these off again

SantaRita > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:29

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noticed the name...have one of those in my driveway right now

Saracen > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 11/11/2014 at 17:30

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Or the Metzger-engine'd 996 GT3 and GT2.

TheHondaBro > Turbo666 11/11/2014 at 17:31

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Even though I too hate the headlights, I'd totally DD one.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Saracen 11/11/2014 at 17:32

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Right you are. God, that's all so backwards.

"Want our most reliable models? Get the high-revving track day-oriented or heavily turbo-laden examples!"

Viggen > SantaRita 11/11/2014 at 17:34

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Nice. My username is more due to the jet than the car, though.

Saracen > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 11/11/2014 at 17:35

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Yep. 996T's are actually pretty good value, if you take into consideration the reliability of the drivetrain.

Or spend %50 more and get a 997.1T...same drivetrain in a much prettier package with variable geometry turbos.

Viggen > Turbo666 11/11/2014 at 17:37

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I would too. A 996 is on my list for my first sports car.

FireSpittingV12 > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 17:48

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Because RMS?

Turbo666 > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 18:03

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To be honest I never really liked Porsches. But as I have gotten older and drive more, they have become ever so appealing. They meet all my wanted requirments as a DD and comparatively to a lot of cars, are actually very attainable.

LappingLuke > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 18:12

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The whole face is ugly and the rest of it is just nothing special. I can't really put my finger on it.

marshknute > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 18:18

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It's the styling. It's easy to love a good-looking car. It can be easy to love an ugly or distinctive-looking car. It's very hard to love a bland-looking car.

The 996 has aged very poorly. It looked bland when it debuted, and it now looks like just another shapeless 90's jellybean.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 20:19

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It doesn't look horrible, but very few people would consider it their favourite 911. So when people buy a 911 - to most, a dream car - you'd much rather save up and buy the one you actually want. Also, the possibility of an entire engine replacement or >$10k repair puts the fear of god into pretty much anybody. Someone I know recently bought a 996 C4 - as much as he loves driving it he tries his hardest to drive it as little as possible because he's scared it'll break and leave him broke.

The looks have certainly grown on me over the years, and the price point right now makes it pretty appealing - but, meh.

kiwi_matt > Turbo666 11/11/2014 at 21:23

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What's wrong with the headlights? I don't see it. Looks fine to me.

kiwi_matt > Turbo666 11/11/2014 at 21:24

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Agreed. A Cayman is pretty affordable and is a fine car.

NervesOfThrill > Viggen 11/11/2014 at 22:45

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It's couple of things:

-the looks are considered by most to be the low point of the 911 series

-the interior quality was big letdown, it was outdated the day it came off the line and Porsche just didn't execute their attempts at cost reduction well

-the infamous IMS failures

Turbo666 > kiwi_matt 11/12/2014 at 11:50

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I have had some people tell me "if it doesn't have round headlights, its not a Porsche"

Turbo666 > kiwi_matt 11/12/2014 at 11:50

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I totally agree.

lonestranger > Viggen 11/22/2014 at 14:20

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For me? Looks. The 996.2 isn't as bad, (especially in widebody, pictured above) but no 996 is especially curvy. A widebody 996 has about the same curvy hips as any other generation's narrow body variant. A narrow body 996 is as flat as a pancake, and the Boxster front end of the original model doesn't do it any favours.