what is an 'early' 3.4 996?
Discussion
Slippydiff said:
ATM said:
These cars look great on 17's if you ask me. You can get Fuchs in 17 too. I know I'm in the minority here but these early cars were probably designed 23 years ago when 18 wheels just didn't exist or were very very new. Hang on my car is 22 years old in a couple of months so make that 24 years ago or maybe even 25 years. My car is very very low so perhaps alters the perspective but none the less tyre I think a smaller wheel is much more retro. I used to get women throwing themselves at me when I had 18 inch wheels on this car and it got boring after a bit. Since the switch to 17 inch it's not happened once. I can now just drive around undisturbed.
The 993 RS came with 18” wheels (not forgetting they came as standard on the 993 Turbo too) and subsequently on the 996 Turbo and 996 GT3.
By the time the 996 was conceived 18” wheels were pretty much de rigeur on it.
I do wander when the 996 was first designed. The early cars were made in 1997 so they were probably designed in 1995 or 1994 maybe. The 993 Turbo was launched in 1995 so I might have almost been right. I'd imagine the vanilla cars were designed with 17 wheels but that's just me.
Less is more and all that.
From wiki:
'The Porsche 996 was a new design developed by Pinky Lai under Porsche design chief Harm Lagaay from 1992 to 1994; it was the first 911 that was completely redesigned, and carried over little from its predecessor as Porsche wanted the design team to design a 911 for the next millennium. Featuring an all new body work, interior, and the first water-cooled engine, the 996 replaced the 993 from which only the front suspension, rear multi-link suspension, and a 6-speed manual transmission were retained in revised form.'
So they were designing the 996 as the 993 was only just entering production. It probably took so long to reach production because that was the time the 986 Boxster was conceived, to "save Porsche" as is often quoted.
'The Porsche 996 was a new design developed by Pinky Lai under Porsche design chief Harm Lagaay from 1992 to 1994; it was the first 911 that was completely redesigned, and carried over little from its predecessor as Porsche wanted the design team to design a 911 for the next millennium. Featuring an all new body work, interior, and the first water-cooled engine, the 996 replaced the 993 from which only the front suspension, rear multi-link suspension, and a 6-speed manual transmission were retained in revised form.'
So they were designing the 996 as the 993 was only just entering production. It probably took so long to reach production because that was the time the 986 Boxster was conceived, to "save Porsche" as is often quoted.
V8fan said:
From wiki:
'The Porsche 996 was a new design developed by Pinky Lai under Porsche design chief Harm Lagaay from 1992 to 1994; it was the first 911 that was completely redesigned, and carried over little from its predecessor as Porsche wanted the design team to design a 911 for the next millennium. Featuring an all new body work, interior, and the first water-cooled engine, the 996 replaced the 993 from which only the front suspension, rear multi-link suspension, and a 6-speed manual transmission were retained in revised form.'
So they were designing the 996 as the 993 was only just entering production. It probably took so long to reach production because that was the time the 986 Boxster was conceived, to "save Porsche" as is often quoted.
Thanks V8fan. I'm not sure who this Slippydiff joker thinks he is.....'The Porsche 996 was a new design developed by Pinky Lai under Porsche design chief Harm Lagaay from 1992 to 1994; it was the first 911 that was completely redesigned, and carried over little from its predecessor as Porsche wanted the design team to design a 911 for the next millennium. Featuring an all new body work, interior, and the first water-cooled engine, the 996 replaced the 993 from which only the front suspension, rear multi-link suspension, and a 6-speed manual transmission were retained in revised form.'
So they were designing the 996 as the 993 was only just entering production. It probably took so long to reach production because that was the time the 986 Boxster was conceived, to "save Porsche" as is often quoted.
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
ATM said:
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
That's the first I've ever heard of that! I spent a few years selling Porsche (later than early Boxster, but still 986), and nobody ever mentioned that to me?Fast Bug said:
ATM said:
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
That's the first I've ever heard of that! I spent a few years selling Porsche (later than early Boxster, but still 986), and nobody ever mentioned that to me?TSB #4407, dated March 4, 1997: " Eighteen inch wheels are not approved for use on Boxsters. Use of eighteen inch wheels on Boxsters under severe conditions may result in structural failures of the body and/or suspension".
ATM said:
Thanks V8fan. I'm not sure who this Slippydiff joker thinks he is.....
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
I wasn’t contesting when the 996 was conceived, more your comments that 18” wheels didn’t exist or were so new as to be all but unobtainable at that time
Even the later iterations of the 964 Turbo (965) could be had on 18” wheels, so by the time the 993 Turbo was rolled out, it would be a given it would do so on 18”s.
As Jeremy says, some cars are suited to balloonesque tyres. Think the early Ferrari 308, 2.7 RS etc.
Personally a 996 on 17’s doesn’t float my boat, as their wheel arches tend to look better filled with more wheel and less tyre sidewall, but by the same token, a 996 on 19”s just looks “wrong” IMO.
Aesthetically (if not dynamically) 18s are the 996 sweet spot.
This 911 UK’ers car on 18”s looks pretty much perfect.
If it’s sidewall compliance folk are chasing, I’d go for 18” Continentals, Goodyear’s or Pirelli’s, rather than the stiffer sidewalled offerings from Michelin or Bridgestone.
ATM said:
Fast Bug said:
ATM said:
I do know the early Boxsters were designed to run on 17 inch only and there was some scare mongering going on about 18 inch wheels breaking the chassis or some such madness.
That's the first I've ever heard of that! I spent a few years selling Porsche (later than early Boxster, but still 986), and nobody ever mentioned that to me?TSB #4407, dated March 4, 1997: " Eighteen inch wheels are not approved for use on Boxsters. Use of eighteen inch wheels on Boxsters under severe conditions may result in structural failures of the body and/or suspension".
anonymous said:
[redacted]
To my biased eyes the deeper side wall on those tyres look bang on!I've STILL not driven a 996, I really must get around to it some day. I had a very brief look at one for sale in Warwick at the beginning of last year and didn't have time for a test drive, but even just sitting in it gave me a sense of the solidity of its design and build quality. My biggest problem by far is that I like too many other cars, particularly the Italian stuff from different eras.
richthebike said:
P5BNij said:
That's a cracker - what size are the Fuchs please and where did you get them...?
Thanks. Matt at Porschacare sourced them for me. They're 18s. Need to check to remind myself of width/offset but they take a standard tyre.
I've seen the odd few 996s in passing with Fuchs on and more recently a Boxster which I think lives not far from me, it had also been lowered quite a bit, the Fuchs makes a heck of a difference to the overall look of the car. Not for everyone but I like 'em.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
And you have the temerity to suggest my picture wasn’t flattering !!A Cayman with collapsed suspension, a pile of tyres in the background and the photographers shadow perfectly showcased in the foreground...
Hardly a masterclass in photography is it ? !!
The irony is strong with this one, but as you would say in your own inimitable and antagonistic manner, whatever !
Slippydiff said:
This looks indeed rather good! I really like the design of this wheel. Do you happen to know what it is?But is has to be mentioned, that this car surely runs spacers.
The stance, tyre, wheel, body configuration is spot on!
I stand by my point, that from an aesthetics pov, the 997 looks rather good with the right 19".
Knowing that cmoos' (and onthers) knowledge on this subject far surpasses mine, I don't mean to argue with him.
But surely Porsche was thinking something to offer the sports pack on the 997 only with 19" wheels. Or is it really just a marketing trick?
With the kind of driving I do (20k miles in the last two years) I have never ever felt the 997 to be anything less than brilliant with 19" and Michelin PS4S tires!
Slippydiff said:
I wasn’t contesting when the 996 was conceived, more your comments that 18” wheels didn’t exist or were so new as to be all but unobtainable at that time
Slippydiff said:
If it’s sidewall compliance folk are chasing, I’d go for 18” Continentals, Goodyear’s or Pirelli’s, rather than the stiffer sidewalled offerings from Michelin or Bridgestone.
I didn't realise Michelin were stiffer in the sidewall. In 2004 I had a 986 with Conti and switched to the infamous [maybe not] Pirelli P Rosso because I liked their calendar, obviously. I found these softer compared to the Conti I removed. Ever since I have presumed Conti are all stiff. My reasoning being that German roads are all perfect compared to the Italian's idea of road surfacing. In recent years I have avoided Pirelli because I had a few develop bulges in the sidewall and when I bought my 981 it came on some modern Pirelli which were absolutely terrible tyres.I have a set of 18” BBS LM’s coming for my car, which I am hoping will look good. I’ll drop it the final distance from X74 to GT3 height at the same time.
I’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
I’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
Dammit said:
I have a set of 18” BBS LM’s coming for my car, which I am hoping will look good. I’ll drop it the final distance from X74 to GT3 height at the same time.
I’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
I love those wheels, would love some for mine but a bit rich for taste at £3.5k a set. Shame they never seem to come up for sale used oftenI’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
Filibuster said:
This looks indeed rather good! I really like the design of this wheel. Do you happen to know what it is?
But is has to be mentioned, that this car surely runs spacers.
The stance, tyre, wheel, body configuration is spot on!
Pretty sure that’s Coulstars car off 991ukBut is has to be mentioned, that this car surely runs spacers.
The stance, tyre, wheel, body configuration is spot on!
If it is, I think they are 18’s off a panamera.
P5BNij said:
richthebike said:
P5BNij said:
That's a cracker - what size are the Fuchs please and where did you get them...?
Thanks. Matt at Porschacare sourced them for me. They're 18s. Need to check to remind myself of width/offset but they take a standard tyre.
I've seen the odd few 996s in passing with Fuchs on and more recently a Boxster which I think lives not far from me, it had also been lowered quite a bit, the Fuchs makes a heck of a difference to the overall look of the car. Not for everyone but I like 'em.
As for size, my old 996 had 17s, my current one is on 18s. I wouldn't say I have a preference either way, but a lot is dependent on what suspension you're running in my view.
The Fuchs vs the BBS GT3 wheels on the other hand made a big difference. There's a big difference through the wheel (crisper with the lighter wheels).
Likewise, going up 10mm in width at the front was noticable. The 235s have more weight through the wheel but more bite (PS4 vs PS4).
I'm happy with 235s on the 18" Fuchs.
maxwellwd said:
Dammit said:
I have a set of 18” BBS LM’s coming for my car, which I am hoping will look good. I’ll drop it the final distance from X74 to GT3 height at the same time.
I’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
I love those wheels, would love some for mine but a bit rich for taste at £3.5k a set. Shame they never seem to come up for sale used oftenI’m also having a set of brakes made up for all four corners that will take better advantage of the 18’s (as the stock brakes had to fit under both 17’s and the space saver).
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