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    Dec 3, 2007 5:10:11 PM

    stickyshift
    Newbie
    stickyshift
    Loc: Chicago, IL
    Posts: 7, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 21, 2006

    Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    From what I understand, the earlier 2005s were 996s, and the later ones that year were the 997s. How do you tell the difference? I'm looking to buy a 997 really soon!

    Dec 3, 2007 6:01:16 PM

    Nugget
    Co-Pilot
    Nugget
    Loc: Houston Texas USA , United States
    Posts: 237, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 29, 2006
    Reply to: stickyshift

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Wow, where to begin? They look completely different?

    996 vs 997.

    Dec 3, 2007 6:02:03 PM

    GA997S
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    GA997S
    Loc: Athens, Georgia, USA
    Posts: 1059, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 19, 2005
    Reply to: stickyshift

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    They are completely different cars. The 05 Carreras are 997...the 05 Turbos are 996's. What exactly are you looking for?

    Dec 3, 2007 6:31:54 PM

    rantanplan
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    rantanplan
    Loc: Stuttgart , Germany
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    Reply to: GA997S

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    how can u know that ur buying a 997 if you dont know the difference between them?

    Dec 3, 2007 7:17:06 PM

    GA997S
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    GA997S
    Loc: Athens, Georgia, USA
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    Reply to: rantanplan

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Quote:
    rantanplan said:
    how can u know that ur buying a 997 if you dont know the difference between them?



    I'd suggest learning the difference before writing a check.

    Dec 3, 2007 7:23:42 PM

    rhino
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    rhino
    Loc: Island , Saint Lucia
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    Reply to: GA997S

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    x2

    Dec 3, 2007 11:23:58 PM

    aparker5
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    aparker5
    Loc: NC, USA
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    Reply to: rhino

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Headlights are the easiest way to tell from a far. 997 has round, classic looking headlights, 996 has ugly out of shape lights. Can you tell I have a 997?

    Dec 4, 2007 12:42:47 AM

    MMD
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    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: stickyshift

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Quote:
    stickyshift said:
    From what I understand, the earlier 2005s were 996s, and the later ones that year were the 997s. How do you tell the difference? I'm looking to buy a 997 really soon!



    Best way to buy one "really soon" might be to go to a Porsche dealer's lot and check the VIN number's 8th, 9th and 10th characters on cars in the lot. If you see "997" tell the salesguy that's the car you want to buy.

    ( )

    Dec 4, 2007 2:11:02 AM

    Heist
    Rennteam Master
    Heist
    Loc: Washington, DC , United States
    Posts: 4147, Gallery
    Registered on: Jun 15, 2007
    Reply to: MMD

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Headlights bruh. If they're the "fried egg, droppy eyed" design - it's a 996.

    If they're the classic round design - it's a 997.

    Dec 6, 2007 4:12:14 PM

    BSL
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    BSL
    Loc: USA , United States
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    Registered on: Jan 31, 2006
    Reply to: GA997S

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Quote:
    GA997S said:
    The 05 Carreras are 997...



    Not quite that simple. There were 2005 996 Cabs built too. The only 997's built in MY2005 (US anyway) were the C2 Coupe/Coupe S and Cab/Cab S. Any MY2005 C4 is a 996, as well as a C2 Targa.

    Dec 6, 2007 5:45:53 PM

    Grant
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    Grant
    Loc: Denver, CO , United States
    Posts: 12586, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 21, 2002
    Reply to: BSL

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Quote:
    BSL said:
    Quote:
    GA997S said:
    The 05 Carreras are 997...



    Not quite that simple. There were 2005 996 Cabs built too. The only 997's built in MY2005 (US anyway) were the C2 Coupe/Coupe S and Cab/Cab S. Any MY2005 C4 is a 996, as well as a C2 Targa.


    All 2005 GT3's and Turbo S's are 996 also...

    Dec 7, 2007 12:41:29 AM

    AP997S
    Junior
    AP997S
    Loc: California, USA , United States
    Posts: 53, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 6, 2007
    Reply to: Grant

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    The 997 configuration, in my opinion, is more refined from both a driveability and interior design standpoint.

    Dec 7, 2007 11:51:24 AM

    Italo
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    Italo
    Loc: UK , United Kingdom
    Posts: 1055, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 29, 2007
    Reply to: AP997S

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Dashboard is different

    Dec 7, 2007 9:07:40 PM

    rantanplan
    Pilot
    rantanplan
    Loc: Stuttgart , Germany
    Posts: 355, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 7, 2006
    Reply to: Italo

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    make the effort and go testdrive one of the later 996 models and then compare it to a 997 S or something. Go for the one that thrills you more...

    Dec 10, 2007 5:19:58 PM

    Ronnie
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    Ronnie
    Loc: good old England (sometimes Hong Kong)
    Posts: 206, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 13, 2005
    Reply to: rantanplan

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    wow, don't want to sound rude, but seriously you are on the internet, want to buy a 997 "really soon" and you can't tell the difference between it and a 996?!?!? I'm seriously gob smacked. I can only echo what others have provided in external links and also suggest a website myself called google.com

    good luck.

    Dec 10, 2007 7:30:56 PM

    Marwan Arakji Offline
    Senior
    Marwan Arakji
    Loc: Lebanon , Lebanon
    Posts: 572, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 11, 2006
    Reply to: Ronnie

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    just go to any dealer and park both models next to each other! they are brothers, but also a world apart...

    Dec 10, 2007 7:34:38 PM

    Marwan Arakji Offline
    Senior
    Marwan Arakji
    Loc: Lebanon , Lebanon
    Posts: 572, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 11, 2006
    Reply to: Marwan Arakji

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    I bought a 996 anniversary at the same time that the 997 was launched, and it cost me $5,000 less than the 997 base price... but I went for it cause I thought the new 997 with too polished, with it's front bumper and headlamps, PCM screen, etc... but I later traded up to a 997 C2S cab... now when I look at a 996's interior, it feels so poor and cheap... park them next to each other, and the differences will hit you like a truck!

    Dec 10, 2007 10:20:44 PM

    stickyshift
    Newbie
    stickyshift
    Loc: Chicago, IL
    Posts: 7, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 21, 2006
    Reply to: Ronnie

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    OK, I think that I've been taking enough of a beating that I need to reply. I've been on this forum long enough to know about the apparent differences between the 996 and 997, e.g. the different headlights. But does anyone know if the later 996s also had the 997 style headlights? I thought that I read something about that. Or maybe that was on the Boxster?

    Dec 10, 2007 10:27:46 PM

    The Groom
    Expert
    The Groom
    Loc: EU
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    Registered on: Jan 23, 2005
    Reply to: stickyshift

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    No, 996 never had 997-style headlights straight from the factory. And the 986 never had 987-style headlights straight from the factory either.

    However, it's easy to retrofit for a 997 wannabe owner. The interior styling is wildly different (all bio-design curves in the 996) and less likely to be altered, though.

    Dec 10, 2007 10:34:18 PM

    Grant
    Rennteam VIP
    Grant
    Loc: Denver, CO , United States
    Posts: 12586, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 21, 2002
    Reply to: The Groom

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Quote:
    The Groom said:However, it's easy to retrofit for a 997 wannabe owner.


    Really? I thought you'd need to replace the front fenders and bumper cover to change 996 to 997 headlights?

    Dec 10, 2007 11:15:49 PM

    The Groom
    Expert
    The Groom
    Loc: EU
    Posts: 1779, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 23, 2005
    Reply to: Grant

    Re: Differences between 2005 996 and 997

    Bumpers are an easy swap. Fenders take more effort, but are still doable. It'd probably require a respray, though. There are a lot of "997 look" kits for the 996 around, just like there were a lot of "964 look" or "993 look" kits for earlier models...
     
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