drodg

I have a three previous 911's of which the last two were 964's. I have always loved the granite like structure of the car. I am looking at going to a 2002-2004 C4S. I was wondering do the cars have the body intregity of the air cooled cars? I have read where there has been some rattle issues in windows etc? I am looking at lower mileage cars and would want a PPI done but that is something that I don't think would come out on a PPI. So you folks that have had 996's for awhile is it nothing to be concerned about? Thanks

Tippy

My 2000 was way more rigid than my '87 is, even with the '87 having a strut tower brace.......

bk12

I think the 996 is more rigid than any of the previous chasis...that being said, I do have a few rattles here and there. I do not know that more rigid chasis necessarily equals less rattle when dealing with different interior designs.

jyoteen

03 C4s w/ 74K miles here. I have no rattles or squeaks at all. Although I have the OEM suspension and I don't have a sunroof.

Ahmet

The 996 chassis (and significantly more so an 02+ car) is much stiffer than a 964. From memory the stiffest air cooled factory road car, a 993 twin turbo is something around 11,000 newton/m per degree of deflection, an early 996 is around 21,000 and a late 996 is above 28000. I would guess that a 964 and earlier cars are significantly less stiff than this...

However, the subjective "feel" often has to do with things like the bracing on the door skin, especially around the door handle, and hinges. The weighing of controls inside the cabin and so forth. In this way, you may not find the 996 quite like a 964. I prefer the water cooled cars, but no modern car will feel like a well built 90s car, even though they're better.
Ahmet

Palting

I think it was well said by Ahmet. The 996's are way more rigid, stiff and reportedly better integrity than the 993's by all things measurable. The subjective "feel" is different. Take the doors for example. I always though that the 996 door closed like a bank vault. That is, until I had a chance to drive a 993 turbo. Door had a more solid "feel" to it closing, despite numbers and other measurable parameters saying otherwise.

Patrick E

I hope this doesn't turn into another thread debating whether or not the 996 is a "real" Porsche.

Blackness

"Wha ch'yu talkin 'bout Willis?!"

nycebo

Do you think that it had more to do with the fact that the pre-996 cars utilized a window frame on the doors?

Chads996

Something to note as well. Most rattles have nothing to do with the chassis itself or its stiffness. It's simply most of the doodads bolted on it.

C.

drodg

So I should maybe rephase my question. Are the 996's prone to rattles? Thanks to everyone for the input. I know structural integrity or stiffness doesn't necessarily relate to no rattles or squeaks.

ArneeA

It depends on the individual car and your climate (extreme temperature swings).

My car has pss9's on full stiff and on 19s... and no rattles @ 24k mi.

Blackness

My dash, instrument surrounds, etc. are leather. I notice some squeaks occassionaly between the passenger air bag cover and the rest of the dash. Usually just a single push against the cover takes care of it. I've heard this is a common problem in 996's. I think there's even a TSB on the subject you can pull on Renntech.

Otherwise I don't have any issues with rattles and such. I live in FL and have the MO30 suspension, ~28k miles.

pongobaz

Less squeaks and rattles than my last Benz CLK500 and the stock C4S suspension is WAY, WAY stiffer. All the leather on leather contact will occasionally make some noise in cold weather, but the car is built like a vault. As Palting stated, the doors don't close with the same "thunk" as a 993 and that is no different than any frameless door on any other car (like my CLK). The window has to drop electrically a bit every time you open or shut the door so you don't get that airlock sealing sound like on the 993.

Palting

Possibly. I think the 993 doors were also less obligated to provide against intrusion on side impact, hence were lighter. Again, they "feel" lighter.

Rattles. The 993 turbo I drove had very few rattles. Mine had/has none , even with the X73 suspension. My teeth rattle more .