i have come round to the fact that it doesn't look "right" but only because the 996t did not have round lamps. not because somewhere in my mind i don't think all 911's should in fact have round headlamps. round lamps don't even seem to match the 96t bumper, now that i think about it.

as for the vw bug. something about a shared heritage comes to mind. truth is, i still miss my 993 and round lamps make me wistful

 

Agreed, poser for sure. The 996 will never win a beauty contest and adding crap kits or window dressings will not make it look any better, only worse. I like the raw 996 look with meaty tires and a stock body.

 

While I like the 996 Turbo (and 2002+ Carrera) lights just fine myself, you might want to check your dates on the GT1.

The original (1996) GT1 front chassis was 993 based and featured round, laid-back headlights, ala 993. For the 97 race season the front end was revised to reflect the headlights that had already debuted on the Boxster in mid-1996, and would be seen on the 996 in mid-1998.

Bottom line: 986 was on the street many months before the GT1-97 came out with the same headlights.

 

The early GT1 was definitely the beauty queen of the two.

 

incredible

 

Agreed the GT1 in white looks much better but I believe the color and bumper/lights account for most if not all the advantage not the headlights.

 

I knew it came from some race-bred Porsche model (the pic you posted) but I didn't bother looking it up because I didn't think it was worth it. Those MK1 headlights were a disappointment any way you slice it. They are great for a Boxster but not a 911.

I wish I could get a 997TT. My wife and I are expecting and as far as new toys... them days are over.

LoL, funny ... but that car has had a longer heritage for as long or longer than you or your parents have been alive. I still go around and see body shops billboards or auto advertisements showing sedans (a typical 4-door car) but for sports car images, they typically use a silhouette of a 930 Turbo. Unmistakable, especially those headlights.

That painted headlight pic does look a little off. His hood paint looks a little hazy / chalky and his headlights aren't closely matching in paint. They also made the circles a little too small. That 1st pic, with the film applied, has a perfect sized circle but I'd prefer that film be a little darker.

I'm gonna mull over it like the OP. The problem with painting the headlights is it being sort of permanent. A local headlight film place was a little skittish when I showed him a pic of that 1st car. He was afraid that the film wouldn't stretch correctly or the headlight heat would ruin the film.

I agree.

 

i agree, they might have done a better job? but i don't fault the effort. because this is a largely anonymous forum, i can admit that i too was once tempted to try out the cheap ebay covers they make in paint to match?.. that is until a saw another turbo with them on and they did not lay properly flush on the lamp assembly owing to the headlamps natural curvature. but i certainly get what folks are aiming for, but i don't agree that it is antithetical to the 996 iteration to TRY it lol. how is it "poseur"?! it's not like false badging it a gt2! LOL

....but i just tinted mine again blue again and that only looks good to me covering the entire lamp assembly anyway. so 986 style ( ducking ) it shall stay