991.2 comfort and internal noise
#31
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manifold danger (03-19-2021)
#32
If the OP hasn't been chased off by our lot yet… …I'd suggest maybe he or she knows what they want: a 911. And the OP is considering one of the best 911 platforms to date for his or her needs.
A 991.2 Carrera coupe and/or Cabriolet on 19s or 20s is well worth finding for a test drive. Then the OP will know whether it works or doesn't. Where that drive happens will be at least as important as the spec. As others have noted, pavement has a major effect on whether I find my 911 loud or serene—with that regularly alternating on the same highway from one minute to the next. On some highways and freeways, tire noise is acceptable. On others, it's awful. And on others still, the tire noise largely goes away and the car is wonderful. Germany has a lot of the third variety. I suspect the nature of the 911 coupe's rear interior architecture, wheel arches, and the angled glass rear window amplify road noise—particularly with a pair of 305mm oil drums on 20s back there. Tire noise in the 997 GT2 was atrocious on "open grain" freeway pavement, which we have a fair bit of in Northern California—to the point I would add more sound deadening in despite the weight penalty if I had one. Guessing there's only so much that can be done without unacceptable compromises—as the real fix is skinny wheels and tires.
A 991.2 Carrera coupe and/or Cabriolet on 19s or 20s is well worth finding for a test drive. Then the OP will know whether it works or doesn't. Where that drive happens will be at least as important as the spec. As others have noted, pavement has a major effect on whether I find my 911 loud or serene—with that regularly alternating on the same highway from one minute to the next. On some highways and freeways, tire noise is acceptable. On others, it's awful. And on others still, the tire noise largely goes away and the car is wonderful. Germany has a lot of the third variety. I suspect the nature of the 911 coupe's rear interior architecture, wheel arches, and the angled glass rear window amplify road noise—particularly with a pair of 305mm oil drums on 20s back there. Tire noise in the 997 GT2 was atrocious on "open grain" freeway pavement, which we have a fair bit of in Northern California—to the point I would add more sound deadening in despite the weight penalty if I had one. Guessing there's only so much that can be done without unacceptable compromises—as the real fix is skinny wheels and tires.
#33
There's no question that the road surface makes a big difference. On the smoothest new asphalt, my 991.2's road noise is acceptable, though I can't say I've ever found a surface where I would describe it as serene. But it goes rapidly downhill from there--especially on concrete. This issue plagues Corvettes as well. I once took a 1500-mile, two-day, largely Interstate highway trip in a C7 Corvette and the experience soured me on the car--along with the poor steering feel and the atrocious shifter action.
The wide tires are a big cause of these problem, but so are the firm bushings and the lack of sound deadening. Unfortunately, switching to skinny wheels and tires isn't easy as nobody makes narrow 991.2 wheels--unless you go the high-dollar custom route.
As Stout says, German roads are substantially better. They repave a road when it deteriorates to the condition of a new American road. Which is probably why Porsche engineers don't see this as a huge problem, even though they do plenty of evaluations in America.
Come spring, I shall be adding sound deadening to my car. While I hate the idea of increasing weight, I have a non-sunroof manual coupe, so even if I apply 100 pounds of noise insulation, I'll still be more than 200 pounds lighter than a Targa.
The wide tires are a big cause of these problem, but so are the firm bushings and the lack of sound deadening. Unfortunately, switching to skinny wheels and tires isn't easy as nobody makes narrow 991.2 wheels--unless you go the high-dollar custom route.
As Stout says, German roads are substantially better. They repave a road when it deteriorates to the condition of a new American road. Which is probably why Porsche engineers don't see this as a huge problem, even though they do plenty of evaluations in America.
Come spring, I shall be adding sound deadening to my car. While I hate the idea of increasing weight, I have a non-sunroof manual coupe, so even if I apply 100 pounds of noise insulation, I'll still be more than 200 pounds lighter than a Targa.
#34
sad, but probably true. The only time a U.S. is nice and clean, is when either the road is brand new, or they just went through a multi-million dollar project to repave. Otherwise, potholes and loose asphalt galore on most highways and inner city roads. I think 911 were designed for the track, not the iron jungle of U.S. roads...
#35
I flew to North Houston and bought a 991.2 4S with the Exclusive Powerkit (GTS Motor). I drove to Colorado via Dallas, Amarillo, New Mexico, then Colorado.
My wife is used to my Mercedes E550 and CLS550 and once we drove out of the dealership, she said WOW, this is loud. I said WHAT CLOUD?
Look, roads do make a difference in the internal Db level for sure. Once we hit New Mexico it was night and day difference in Db level. In Dallas and most of Texas, the road would almost drown out the
Bose system. We hit New Mexico and Colorado and it was so much quieter. Not E550 quiet, but quieter. I didn't buy the car for comfort really. I bought it because it was quick and could handle.
Mercedes (either of them even with a Renntech tune and AWD) do not handle or have the launch that the Porsche does, but they are quiet and comfortable like they were designed. I thought the seats were very comfortable as well in the Porsche (18 way), but my wife does not like them at all. My GMC Denali has a Bose system with noise cancelling in the speakers and are as quiet as the Mercedes.
Maybe having Bose with noise cancelling in the Porsche might be the way to go.?...
BTW. Once I hit Blackhawk in Colorado and drove through the mountains to Boulder, I couldn't stop grinning as this car handles so well. My wife hates the Porsche. She knows its not going away though. She puts up with it, but she sighs everytime I say, lets take the 911.
My wife is used to my Mercedes E550 and CLS550 and once we drove out of the dealership, she said WOW, this is loud. I said WHAT CLOUD?
Look, roads do make a difference in the internal Db level for sure. Once we hit New Mexico it was night and day difference in Db level. In Dallas and most of Texas, the road would almost drown out the
Bose system. We hit New Mexico and Colorado and it was so much quieter. Not E550 quiet, but quieter. I didn't buy the car for comfort really. I bought it because it was quick and could handle.
Mercedes (either of them even with a Renntech tune and AWD) do not handle or have the launch that the Porsche does, but they are quiet and comfortable like they were designed. I thought the seats were very comfortable as well in the Porsche (18 way), but my wife does not like them at all. My GMC Denali has a Bose system with noise cancelling in the speakers and are as quiet as the Mercedes.
Maybe having Bose with noise cancelling in the Porsche might be the way to go.?...
BTW. Once I hit Blackhawk in Colorado and drove through the mountains to Boulder, I couldn't stop grinning as this car handles so well. My wife hates the Porsche. She knows its not going away though. She puts up with it, but she sighs everytime I say, lets take the 911.
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manifold danger (03-22-2021)
#38
A big reason along with many others why I bought a Carerra T. I want the experience. Need to make the exhaust louder soon with sport cats or maybe even cat bypass pipes.
#39
I had Soul's headers installed on my Targa GTS the day I sold it...I almost changed my mind after driving over an hour home since they sounded so good and noticeably louder. And I now I have their headers/cats on order for my incoming Spyder.
#45
FWIW my wife loves the 911, will choose it over the Macan on a sunny day, but is annoyed with the noise so it's short drives only with her in the car.