adam...

I just sold my M3 and will be saving to buy an 84-89 911 next year. One thing I noticed about BMWs was that they tend to rattle. The M3 had one behind the dash and in the door. A 740 I drove had one at the seat belt and somewhere in the back seating area. A 525 had them everywhere.
How do Porsches rank in all of this. Are they "quiet" or do they suffer the same type of little rattles from places hard to find? I am very curious to find out so please leave lots of feedback to this post...it could mean the difference between a coupe and a convertable.

Thanks,
Adam

pH

I have a great machanic who I talked to a lot before I bought my 86 Carrera Coupe. I had always wanted one because of the styling, handling, power and sound but the mechanic gave me another reason -- bullet proof reliability and stout structure.

I bought my car with 102K now it has 107K and it is tight as a drum. What other car with over 100K would have zero rattles and still feel tight. Corvette, you must be kinding. Ferrari, you seldom see them crack 50K. There are so many 150 - 200K SCs and Carreras out there for a reason.

BTW another side benefit is comfort and roominess. I'm 6'2" and am amazed at how comfortable the seats are and at the space. Seats are chair-like and yet you feel like you're sitting very low.

You don't have to worry about rattles in Coupe.

Victor

Hi Adam,

If you are worried about rattles, a 911 is not for you. A salesman (who was trying to sell a 928 S4) once described them as an overpowered skateboard. Any car that is set up for handling/performance is going to develop some rattles. Ever been in a race car? (That's the reason Rolls Royces dont't rattle)

I have owned my '89 3.2 Carrera for 18 months and still get a "boner" everytime I fire it up. Even on the way to work.

Buy one, you will love it. If ot rattles, install a louder muffler like I did to drown it out!

Cheers, VC

MichaelW

My 87 targa is virtually rattle free, even with the top off. I also test drove an 87 cab that amazed me when it came to the lack of rattles. German, I mean Porsche production quality seems to be very high. Only annoying noise I have is that purring, especially at about 3000rpms!

Michael

Dial 911

Adam,
One of the things that amazed me the most when I bought my 20 year old SC coupe, is how tight and rattle free it was (and still is).

Even with the sport Bilsteins, lowered suspension, and wider rubber, the car body never talks back to me on a rough road.

911's have body! Anything else is just chit!

GeorgeMa

Sorry to report that my 83 911SC Targa does rattle quite a bit, but it has 132,000 miles on it.

MarkY

I don't have a single rattle in my 1988 coupe.

carnut169

My car is a 87 Cab & I have NO rattles or squeeks! Drove a 99 Cobra this weekend and that thing made up for my lack of rattles and squeeks! Sean.

TYPE911

82 911sc Targa 37,000 miles, no rattles, tight as a drum & very fast !
(ask the Boxster owner I hung with yesterday on Molas/Coalbank passes Southern Colorado)

There is no substitute

Ed Bighi

After a couple of Corvettes I had in the past, I don't hear rattles in any car. Vettes do rattle, but this sort of thing is quite normal in kit cars. As far as real cars like 911's, the rattles will be absent from most, with the exception of neglected cars. Targas do rattle a bit at times though, but not much. Definetely not Corvette like. I don't know about cabrios. Coupes are like bank vaults. Not even Porsche can make durable cars like these 911's, 964's and 993's were built any more.

Vampire

My 2 BMW's are rattle free. My '86 Targa has a small rattle, but still feel tight. The Targa top however, has air leaks (no water leaks!) and creaks and groans when it is on, especiall for the first few miles after putting it back on.

I have a hard time comparing the Z3 to the 911 in ride comfort. Driving a 911 give almost a sensory overload. I love both cars, but drive the 911 whenever I can.

Drew_K

I have a 92 C2 coupe with 48,000 miles. I have a rattle whenever it's cold outside, but it goes away as soon as the car warms up. I've got a few rattles that occur only when going over very rough roads. Other than that, the car is pretty tight.

On the other hand, a 911 is not a Lexus and I personally don't expect a rattle free car. More importantly, the build quality is extremely good on these "old" cars. I've been in early 90's Mustangs and Corvettes and there is NO comparison between the way these cars have held up compared to my 92 911.

89Targa

After reading some of the responses I feel like a lucky guy. I have a '97 M3 and a '89 Carrera Targa and neither one rattles.

Tom

bugeater

recent 87 cab owner and I don't have rattles but wind noise gets pretty loud (top up or down at speeds in excess of 80 mph! Good Luck

Steve, 914 guy

My wife rattles like hell every time I start spending money on my racecar