Porsche 996 interior design, time to see it in a new light?
Discussion
Back in the day, at launch, the Porsche 996 interior always struck me as budget driven inferior downgrade from the 964/993 classic style interior. Being a 993 owner at the time, my mates 996 just didn't seem to have the same quality feel. I now own a 996 C2 gen 2 manual and never really thought any differently about the interior but whilst driving it the other day it suddenly hit me just how revolutionary (in 911 terms) the interior design actually was, especially compared to the 997 interior which to my eyes has an almost too 'corporate' feel, especially with the clock on the dash top which just looks plain odd to me. Its like Porsche got so much flack for the 996 that they went too far the other way on the 997 interior. I have always thought that late TVR interors were really different and daring in their design, almost space age in comparison with almost everything else. In hindsight, the way the dash top cowl, centre arm rest and door handles in the 996 are styled is, to me, subtly reminiscent of those late TVR interiors. My particular car has had the centre console delete which does away with the very 90's CD holder and cubby leaving an almost classic looking lower dashboard area, which somehow combines well with the swoopy design elements that I've already mentioned. So I am definitely seeing the 996 interior in a new light, just wondering if anyone else thinks the same?
My 996 turbo with all black leather interior is a lovely place to be. Most who trott out the same old rubbish about the 996 interior won't have lived with one.
There are always exceptions I've seen colour combinations that look nasty in both the 996 and 997.
If people don't like it they don't have to buy.
There are always exceptions I've seen colour combinations that look nasty in both the 996 and 997.
If people don't like it they don't have to buy.
I like it for a design perspective and while i have no experience of any other Porsche interiors (911 or otherwise) I'd say the quality is generally pretty good. The only area i have any real issue is the stereo / PCM / climate control suround. Mine has the optional extra carbon piece and it's still rubbish. It simply feels flimsy and cheap.
I quite like the 986 and 996 interiors - with a couple of provisos.
1. Must have Sports Seats (and the leather should never be allowed to get too flat and shiny - original matt finish please)
2. Colours are personal (I like Boxster Red or Terracotta - but it never photographs well). But, too often there is too much of one mono-tone colour - always looks nicer broken up - black mats, steering wheel, painted centre console, etc
1. Must have Sports Seats (and the leather should never be allowed to get too flat and shiny - original matt finish please)
2. Colours are personal (I like Boxster Red or Terracotta - but it never photographs well). But, too often there is too much of one mono-tone colour - always looks nicer broken up - black mats, steering wheel, painted centre console, etc
Richie200 said:
I have always found the 996 a pleasure to be around and have never really understood the negativity often fired in its direction. Also a dash delete convert much like your good self 
Wow, hardcore, no stereo! Like your style. 
Edited by Richie200 on Thursday 31st December 09:11
I like the 996 interior a lot. Most of the current detractors seem to expect a modern interior in a 15 year old car. See it for what it is - a well appointed, comfortable, but characteristic place to be, totally in keeping with the car, and frankly I wouldn't change a thing (I'd make sure I had the three spoke wheel and sports seats though!).
My 996 02 was bought by someone who clearly liked everything black. Here is a quick pic:
I think that the original 996 interiors are far from great, but much of this seems to come from the horrid colour combinations that must have made sense at the time?
I have been in enough air cooled 911s to know that there is a certain degree of "rose tinted" perspective occurring when complaining about the 996s though. I thought the 997s are very much the same as the 996s, only the 991 moves the game on but the car seems much larger and GT like overall. I would rank my car from my own ownership experiences as sub 1990s Alfa Romeo and about equal to the BMWs of the early noughties in terms of the feel, plastics, and quality, and way behind VAG stuff.
For my car, it is 14 years old with nearly 100k miles but still looks great and has worn well. My personal view is that the seats, headlining, door cards, and carpet are all excellent. However, the transmission tunnel trim is atrocious quality, and the centre console and where you insert the key near the column are very "1990s Honda Accord" that must have been very disappointing to the first owner when they collected it.
I think that the original 996 interiors are far from great, but much of this seems to come from the horrid colour combinations that must have made sense at the time?
I have been in enough air cooled 911s to know that there is a certain degree of "rose tinted" perspective occurring when complaining about the 996s though. I thought the 997s are very much the same as the 996s, only the 991 moves the game on but the car seems much larger and GT like overall. I would rank my car from my own ownership experiences as sub 1990s Alfa Romeo and about equal to the BMWs of the early noughties in terms of the feel, plastics, and quality, and way behind VAG stuff.
For my car, it is 14 years old with nearly 100k miles but still looks great and has worn well. My personal view is that the seats, headlining, door cards, and carpet are all excellent. However, the transmission tunnel trim is atrocious quality, and the centre console and where you insert the key near the column are very "1990s Honda Accord" that must have been very disappointing to the first owner when they collected it.
Richie200 said:
I have always found the 996 a pleasure to be around and have never really understood the negativity often fired in its direction. Also a dash delete convert much like your good self
Wow, hardcore, no stereo! Like your style. Edited by Richie200 on Thursday 31st December 09:11
Richie200 said:
I have always found the 996 a pleasure to be around and have never really understood the negativity often fired in its direction. Also a dash delete convert much like your good self
Wow, hardcore, no stereo! Like your style. Edited by Richie200 on Thursday 31st December 09:11
Here's my 'Ann summers signature' edition Inteiror
Certainly not boring!
The only thing that really gets on my nerves is the quality of the painted Inteiror parts. Loads of nicks in them, I've had a look into re-finishing them but haven't really seen a decent OEM like solution as yet.
Certainly not boring!
The only thing that really gets on my nerves is the quality of the painted Inteiror parts. Loads of nicks in them, I've had a look into re-finishing them but haven't really seen a decent OEM like solution as yet.
Edited by Scho on Saturday 2nd January 13:42
It's ok quality but I have never been a fan. Porsche interiors have been pretty shocking from a design perspective until very recently so surprised someone is trying to see the 996 one in a new light. The 997 is markedly better but still lacking in some areas.
All IMHO the 986/9996 interior bad points were:
really poor colour options leaving only black as viable
black was very oppressive without expensive ali or carbon packs to lift it
Ali was not ali - just silver painted plastic
none of the surfaces are cohesive - rounded slab of a dash, binnacle stuck on top, no link or surface smoothing with doors, or centre console
aircon/stereo unit again seem unintegrated with clumsy join lines
the console between the seats is cheap and plasticky - badly needed the carbon or leather option to cover it up
seats were of poor design, no sports seat with electrics, sports seats hugged better but too narrow
didn't put me off entirely as I was after a 996 turbo for some time, but eventually went for a 997t instead
squarer dash design was much more cohesive with centre console and doors
ali dash bits as std so black looks good
still black was my only option but sand beige and ocean were much nicer than savannah and metropole
decent seat options, adaptive sports seats excellent
the plastics were still poor but I have spent some money having centre console and other bits fitted in leather and now looks of a quality befitting a 100k+ car
All IMHO the 986/9996 interior bad points were:
really poor colour options leaving only black as viable
black was very oppressive without expensive ali or carbon packs to lift it
Ali was not ali - just silver painted plastic
none of the surfaces are cohesive - rounded slab of a dash, binnacle stuck on top, no link or surface smoothing with doors, or centre console
aircon/stereo unit again seem unintegrated with clumsy join lines
the console between the seats is cheap and plasticky - badly needed the carbon or leather option to cover it up
seats were of poor design, no sports seat with electrics, sports seats hugged better but too narrow
didn't put me off entirely as I was after a 996 turbo for some time, but eventually went for a 997t instead
squarer dash design was much more cohesive with centre console and doors
ali dash bits as std so black looks good
still black was my only option but sand beige and ocean were much nicer than savannah and metropole
decent seat options, adaptive sports seats excellent
the plastics were still poor but I have spent some money having centre console and other bits fitted in leather and now looks of a quality befitting a 100k+ car
Edited by Adam B on Saturday 2nd January 18:59
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