Bumper opinions

[azlvr]

Thank you for the opinions they are interesting and surprising.

I'm a big fan of keeping my 01S as OEM as possible but I've become bored of the mid 90's designed front bumper. I wanted to bring it more into the current world. Both bumpers are copies of a very high end German manufacturer called Techart their poly bumpers are 5K+ and are updates of current OEM bumpers of the day. All the OEM 986/996 bumpers suggested all have the same problem that look like they were designed in the 90's and are similar to original and boring. I'm looking for something that looks more updated like JBAUER and TTGATOR have done but don't like the quality of those but design is good. I recently purchased Aero II rockers, new steering wheel and am waiting on Fabspeed Maxflo exhaust right now so my stock 01S will no longer be stock.

After spending 25+ years in So.Cal. this look is very normal and stock would not even get a look.

[JBauer]

Originally Posted by azlvr

Thank you for the opinions they are interesting and surprising.

I'm a big fan of keeping my 01S as OEM as possible but I've become bored of the mid 90's designed front bumper. I wanted to bring it more into the current world. Both bumpers are copies of a very high end German manufacturer called Techart their poly bumpers are 5K+ and are updates of current OEM bumpers of the day. All the OEM 986/996 bumpers suggested all have the same problem that look like they were designed in the 90's and are similar to original and boring. I'm looking for something that looks more updated like JBAUER and TTGATOR have done but don't like the quality of those but design is good. I recently purchased Aero II rockers, new steering wheel and am waiting on Fabspeed Maxflo exhaust right now so my stock 01S will no longer be stock.

After spending 25+ years in So.Cal. this look is very normal and stock would not even get a look.

Why would you question the quality if you've not had one? They're quality is fine.

[azlvr]

Originally Posted by JBauer

Why would you question the quality if you've not had one? They're quality is fine.

Watched Gator's video.

[JBauer]

Originally Posted by azlvr

Watched Gator's video.

I have, he got a bad one, they sent him a new one, it fit fine. It's a $600 bumper. Mine fits fine.

[MrBen]

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Those manta ray examples look hideous to me. Wrong bumper for this car. People go to California because they think the weather is always nice. If you want to get into car design Detroit is where it’s at

[RedTele58]

azlvr - if you're wanting to go with the front end that you want, this is the way to do it. I've said here several times before, and a year or so ago I nominated it to the Pelican best build contest - this is the best looking build on the 986 board and it has the exact front cover that you're looking at.

I'm not saying the bumper cover looks bad - it's a very good look - it just has to be in proportion to the rest of the car. JBauer has put countless hours into his car since he first posted about it 4-5 years ago. And he's also posted numerous trial/error pictures of things that he tried that just didn't have the right look. The Z-top adds balance to the rear of the car so the front bumper isn't overpowering the rest of the car and he's changed the look of the headlights so they blend into the flow and the lines of the front cover. Even the larger "987 look" intake vents help add the proper balance to the car drawing your eye towards the rear and a more balanced look.

Watching this car built over the past years has been a lesson in how to do something the right way. Everything he's done here has a very "factory OEM" look to it. All the things that I don't like on a stock 986 - the big front bumper, 19" wheels, the turn signals down low, etc are absolutely perfect looking here. The reason it all looks perfect is because the entire car is in balance, and it took a lot of trial/error for it to look this way.

So again, I'm not dogging you - I promise. I'm just saying this GT2-type cover isn't the right look on a standard looking 986. The car has to look in balance, and JBauer is the only guy I've seen do it right. And he did it most awesomely!