Is it just me, or is the 986 Boxster noisy and rattle prone?

[WhipE350]

Yup they are noisy especial when the weather is colder. Not a first time date car with the top up.

I have both a 2000 'S' and a 2007 Base and there is a big difference with the tops up. The only common noise they have is the whine of the engine.

The joints in the top you can dry lube and of course it's easy enough to get rid of the wind screen rattles. I'm going to be taking some thin carpet pad and putting in the roof and see if helps (and make sure it doesn't mess with the operation of the top). I also considered insulating the cover over the engine behind the seat. I like exhaust and air intake sound but the whining of the engine right behind gets to be a bit much. This of course is just experimental since I little fiddling with the car anyway.

With the top down (especially in cooler weather again) the wind noise is much worse in the 986 but that's quite alright since I love the open air.

I find with the 986 just put the top down and rev it up...I'm a top down guy, it just feels like a totally different car. There are not rattles to distract from the great handling and performance.

[recycledsixtie]

I have the top up most of the time and I find that it is one of the most rattle free convertibles I have ever had. In the colder weather here the suspension is firmer and I tend to hear more rattles. But it is not bad enough to justify a hardtop.

[BrokenLinkage]

Either I'm deaf or lucky because my 2001S has remarkably few noises for a convertible sports car of its age. About every 6-9 mos I hit the rubber cabin seals with Gummi-Phlege and it is as quiet as a church in there. I do get a little chatter only over steep-edged bumps due to deterioration of the bushings in the rear trailing arms, just waiting for my annoyance to exceed the cost of replacement. Sorry you guys are having so much trouble. Wonder if I would have more rattles had I gone ahead with an aftermarket exhaust?

[teleski]

Cool. Never heard of Gummi-Phlege before. Sounds like what I need to deal with my squeeking window seals when the car flexes on bumps. Just placed a quick Amazon order to try it out! Thanks BrokenLinkage for the mention.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by BrokenLinkage

Either I'm deaf or lucky because my 2001S has remarkably few noises for a convertible sports car of its age. About every 6-9 mos I hit the rubber cabin seals with Gummi-Phlege and it is as quiet as a church in there. I do get a little chatter only over steep-edged bumps due to deterioration of the bushings in the rear trailing arms, just waiting for my annoyance to exceed the cost of replacement. Sorry you guys are having so much trouble. Wonder if I would have more rattles had I gone ahead with an aftermarket exhaust?

There is an excellant chance.

[BYprodriver]

When these cars were new they were among the best at being rattle free. I was the lead test driver for press fleet vehicles in the SoCA region for MY2000-2003 for 75% of the new vehicles sold in the USA including Porsche. 1st order of business when I receive any new vehicle to the fleet is to test drive for squeaks & rattles. After every journalist loan the vehicle is test driven again to ensure no new noises are appearing. Of the 40+ Boxsters & 996's I test drove during these years 85% never had any noise issues during their press fleet service. This is also the years that Porsche's J.D. Power Initial Quality rating started to climb to the top of the industry.