For many Porsche purists, the 996 model 911 Porsche was a departure from the 911 pedigree of air cooled radiators.
In 1998 when Porsche introduced the 996 model 911, it switched from air cooled radiators to water cooled radiators, with a view to complying with European environmental regulations and the desire to refine the 911.
This departure from air cooled radiators (which had been present in Porsche models since the 356, 1948 model) in the 993, to the water cooled radiator of the 996 was a signified generational change by Porsche.