Were 986/996 headlights stylish back in the day?

[patssle]

It seems everybody hates on the 996 and 986 headlights whenever these cars get mentioned but the numbers speak for themselves. Porsche was near death with the 993 and the 986/996 drastically turned the company around.

So did people just care less about the headlights back in the day or were they just fashionable at the time and have slowly fallen out of being stylish as time goes on?

[JayG]

much ado about nothing

A percentage didn't like the fact that the 996 and 986 had the same headlights
They felt it cheapened their 911.

Personally I like the look and think both the 986 and the 996 MK2 headlights look very modern

[BIGJake111]

I'd say they look as good today as they did new. Which is a lot more to be said then for most cars.

(Hondas for some reason seems to always have very modern looking headlights)

Whenever someone complains about the headlights I just think of the 911 GT1 street car and ignore them.

The lights are not idea but I don't really care for the front end of either the 991 or 981, the 981 has too square of headlights and the 991s Classic round lights are a bit out of place among modern cars.


(Random aside, what would a 986 slant nose look like?)

[DrCactus]

Wicked looking car... not crazy about the side mirror look but hey can't win them all !! lol

[Porsche Chick]

Are you kidding?

They were much better than the 964 headlights, by far. And slightly better than the 993.

So, yeah, they were quite the thing back in the day.

[RedTele58]

Here's a project I'm going to do sometime in the future when I build my ultimate 986 Boxster:

This is a Boxster named "Foxy" that belonged to a forum member here about 7 years ago. It's a fairly straightforwad conversion.

Official 986 to 996 Front-end Conversion Thread

It was a rather pricey project with all new parts, but with having Oklahoma Foreign just an hour away, salvage parts are affordable enough I can do the conversion.

I'm looking for a 2000-2002 Boxster S for the conversion. I've gathered a Generation II 996 GT3 front bumper cover, headlights and fenders. I need the fender liners and a few other items from a Generation II 996 to make the conversion. I also have a spare hardtop, sideskirts and a Aerokit I rear decklid and spoiler to top off the build. I want a built 3.4L engine. In my mind, it will be the ultimate 986 Boxster. Nothing a little time, money and patience can't build!

[Bald Eagle]

When I first saw the Boxster at the Chicago Automobile Show I thought the headlights were a unique design breakthrough, adding a focal point to the front end and announced "this is different... and great!"

I still feel that way and, when I park my Boxster and glance back at it the headlights are the design element that first captures my eye (in a very good way) and the rest of the car makes statements that back up that point.

That said, design is a very subjective thing and I can understand why some might want to deamber or modify it in some way.

But for me, cool then and cool now.

Larry (the Bald Eagle)

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by RedTele58

Here's a project I'm going to do sometime in the future when I build my ultimate 986 Boxster:

This is a Boxster named "Foxy" that belonged to a forum member here about 7 years ago. It's a fairly straightforwad conversion.

Official 986 to 996 Front-end Conversion Thread

It was a rather pricey project with all new parts, but with having Oklahoma Foreign just an hour away, salvage parts are affordable enough I can do the conversion.

I'm looking for a 2000-2002 Boxster S for the conversion. I've gathered a Generation II 996 GT3 front bumper cover, headlights and fenders. I need the fender liners and a few other items from a Generation II 996 to make the conversion. I also have a spare hardtop, sideskirts and a Aerokit I rear decklid and spoiler to top off the build. I want a built 3.4L engine. In my mind, it will be the ultimate 986 Boxster. Nothing a little time, money and patience can't build!

Why not go all the way?

I plan to do the 997 front end (minus the smiley face bumper vent) before my Signal Green paint job.
Honestly, I'm pretty happy with my front end and the overall look now, but a boy can dream...
$3k for the conversion, $2-4k for a decent paint job

[token 00]

I remember having the 986 as a screensaver back in '00. Loved the headlights back then and still do. Although mod to projectors would be cool.

[kk2002s]

Love the Function, Do NOT like the Form
I like round head lights on basically any car and personally I think the 987 is what the 986 should have started life looking like

The Modular Function is so easy to deal with that the "Go not Show" part of me likes them.

Comes down to - unless I want to fork out $4-$5,000 to do the 987 conversion, then I think I'll just "Love the one I'm with"

[SJEFFB986]

The headlights were way ahead of their time and they are still super cool looking! Timeless headlights and sheet metal....not many rides can claim this distinction.

[JayG]

That must really piss off some 996 owners
Looks GREAT!

[particlewave]

You guys can sugarcoat it all you want, but I've never met a single impartial party that said they were anything less than ugly (except for mine, of course, but I put a lot of work into them to make them unique and not look like giant fried eggs).

A face only a mother (or owner) could love.

[Pdwight]

I think it leaves some to be desired, but I think mainly it is a bit of mass hysteria that got worse through the years...considering the car was designed in the middle 90's it could have looked like this

[RedTele58]

Or this eye-candy:

[Timco]

They mark a period of time. Standard bulbs with some litronics. The separated boxes on the tail lights are classic.

Like 2004 frozen in time, and they still have not become dated like retractable lights always are. Vetts, Camero, everyone was hiding the lights for a while.

I think they look perfect for these cars.

[Retroman1969]

I remember when the models first came out and how knocked out we all were about the Boxster, feeling like it was a modern day 356 or 550. I don't recall much being said about the headlights since the focus was on the overall package from consumers, enthusiasts, and the automotive media.
The major complaints appeared to be the fact that the 911 wasn't distinctive enough from the Boxster, and the switch to water-cooled flat 6s ruffled many feathers.
It was just an updated way to keep the signature flowing round pod headlights in the design and we were fine with that.

[Retroman1969]

In fact, let's take a look at some typical headlights of the period.....





















Makes the 986/996 headlights look positively elegant. Admittedly, a company like Porsche was held to greater scrutiny, but still.....

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by patssle

It seems everybody hates on the 996 and 986 headlights whenever these cars get mentioned but the numbers speak for themselves. Porsche was near death with the 993 and the 986/996 drastically turned the company around.

So did people just care less about the headlights back in the day or were they just fashionable at the time and have slowly fallen out of being stylish as time goes on?

I believe you are right on all points. The 1st "modular" light assemblies I saw were on a 2000 996 & I had never liked Porsches other than 928s.
I loved the "modular" light assemblies because they disrupted the body & paint less being all in one unit. Making for more uninterrupted spans of paint, especially important on a small convertible.

[CHRISP357]

Still are stylish! Especially when modded with projectors...