Just out of curiousity what is your opinion on putting a gt3 aero kit on a standard C2/C4.......do you view this as being fake?

I would not consider that fake because it could have been ordered from the factory that way. Many cars have that kit (OEM or aftermarket) and it looks natural on the car. No one questions it and in my opinion that's the way to go on a pre facelift 996.

With this kit you will constantly have to deal with:
Question: Wow, is that a 997 GT3 RS?
Answer: Well no, actually it's a 996 with a body kit

 

like I said I'm not doing this to impress anyone.....I'm going to do it because I think it looks great........hence I don't care if people ask questions......it is what it is.....and if people judge me on this.....then shame on you ;-)

Perhaps we need to define fake in this context?.........I'm guessing from what you have said: any thing that was not orinially intended by Porsche.......thus making anyone with a body kit driving a fake car?

the car in the link i included.....do you not think this car looks natural and great?

Hey I just think it looks good and that is why I'm going to do it........nothing more and nothing less.

ps - not having a dig at your car or implying its fake......it looks sick!

 

I agree with those that stated that the price will be much higher than you expected on this mod. I would be prepared to drop some serious coin at the body shop! Fitting a fiberglass bumper is one thing, but fenders (wings as you call them in the UK) will be a whole different matter. On previous Porsches that I’ve owned I’ve installed good quality fiberglass fenders and always ended up later spending the money to go to the steel wide body versions. The reason is simple, fiberglass is thicker than steel and inner panels are bonded to the undersides for mounting, which makes them even thicker at the key mounting points such as around the doors and hood. Also, other inner panels have to be bonded in for lights etc, and each bonding point is an opportunity for the part to warp and twist causing more fitting problems.

I was just speaking with a friend from Canada the other day who purchased some fiberglass doors for his Porsche race car, which are constructed the same as fenders, he said the body shop had to cut them in quarters and re-glass them back together to get them to fit on the car. The end result was that the fiberglass doors ended up weighing more than the gutted factory doors did.

I have nothing against fiberglass bumpers, spoilers, etc, and have had great success with them, but I would stay away from the headaches you will encounter with fenders. On a race car maybe, but not on your "pride and joy" street car. Plus, aren’t the 997 lights that you will need crazy expensive and what about wiring?

Just my 2 cents worth…

 

I recently modified my C2 cab to add Turbo-look front and rear bumpers and side rockers. I recognize that such a modification isn't for everyone and I got a fair share of neutral to negative comments... which is okay, easy enough to ignore - I also got a lot of positive comments. I think one of the great things about the 996 is that you can PERSONALIZE it and put any combination of body kits on it... and when you get bored you can change it again if you choose. For me - I didn't think the stock bumper covers looked aggressive enough (a buddy of mine after taking a front shot picture for me said, "Hey, looks like Herbie!" That was enough for me to go with my gut and taste)...

Anyway, it's YOUR car and YOU are the only one that matters. Besides, the only people that are going to ask you if it's a real GT3 are other Porsche people - non-Porsche people wouldn't know or care about the difference.

If that's what you want, go for it. I like pretty much everything about the kit except the wing... I know that's the iconic symbol of a GT3, but I've never warmed up to it.

Good luck!
Rudy

 

Yes, go for what you feel is good.
It's your car, do it if you think you like it.
Please remember to pose some pics after the conversion.

 

I wonder if it's possible to fit the 997 OEM fenders onto the 996 frame without too much modification?

 

I was told by the Porsche dealer in UK that it don't fit ......

 

I'd try someone else other than the dealer. they are not the most informed individuals.

 

thanks for the comments guys.
especially the comments from porscheholic.....I will not go for fibre glass fenders/wings on the back of this advice.....I will have to look into getting oem 997 fenders and then figuring out someway to make them fit.

the complete 997 light kit including all wiring 975 euros when purchased with the full kit from this company who also break porsches.....not a bad price me thinks!

I too don't like the big gt3 rear wing......however i do quite like the misha gt2 rear wing......I will see how the kit looks with my gt3 aero rear spoiler i currently have on the car......if it looks pants i will change it for the misha gt2 wing.

Now to find out if the 997 fenders/wings fit the 996......or if they can be easily manipulated to encourage them to fit as snug as a bug in a rug.....don't want no bodge job on a porsche!

 

hmmm....I just spoke to the company and enquired about the fibre glass fenders.......they said they fit straight on.....no bonding required.......they invited me up to see the orange car that was converted in the picture. They said they will do the kit for me but it is that easy to do it should be no problem getting any normal body shop to do this.

they said you can not fit the oem fenders as the 997 is a lot wider car than the 996.

Just waiting on a definate price and then I'm going for it!

I must admit I would prefer metal fenders and not fibre glass......but seems like this is not an option unless someone out there has any other ideas.

plus my TVR Tuscan is all fibre glass and I have no problems with that....quality of the body is fine.

will keep everyone posted and put up some pics when it is being done!

 

me too this is not a NB 996

 

I prefer the look of both the Absolute kit and the Total 997 LTD Edition from these folks, if I was going to do it and they include the wider rear fenders

 

I will ask the company about the wide rear end.

 

My local dealer wants me to lease a 09 Carrera S with PDK and Sport Chrono / PASM for $799 per month. Has 1400 miles on it.

Use your money wisely, that's all I am saying.

 

With all due respect to the people out there who say don't do this conversion for what ever reason, this thread is about investigation of an idea to determine if it works for a particular individual or not by assessing the pros and cons, which includes the price of the conversion. I understand that in your example, the lease means $28,800 for, let's say, a 3 year lease in a new car. But some of us already have a perfectly functioning Porsche, paid for in full and just want to tweak it a little here and there. Like you said, it's using our money wisely - but we have to investigate it to determine what works for us or not. That's all.

I'd love to hear about your experience with the 09 Carrera S if you choose to go for it. I've heard amazing things about it. Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us tuned in. Regards.