ntrylvl

Congratulations on your purchase! I bought my '02 C2 coupe from the Autohaus guys in February of 2006, and I have been very happy with it so far. I've attached a pic of my car from the same Laguna ALMS.

Nice wheels...would you be kind enough to pass on to me the manufacturer and style.

Chaser,

The wheels are 18" Porsche SportDesigns, which were optioned on the original purchase. I believe they are around $3K (just an estimate).

Wheel Enhancement sells them, and I have seen them for sale here and there. Here's a link to the Wheel Enhancement page, for a close-up shot and more info:

http://www.wheelenhancement.com/index.php?...etail&id=50

Chris

Hey guys,

Just a quick hello and intro as last week I picked a nice little '99 C2 coupe, manual, silver over black, 18 turbo twist wheels (yes!), and 49k miles for $29.5k from Autohaus West here in OC.

I looked pretty hard about 3 1/2 years ago, but at that time couldn't find the car & deal that I wanted.

But really got the bug again after going to Laguna Seca for the ALMS final race in October....

I was seriously considering a 993, but I'd like to use this as an almost-daily driver and this 996 was just the right deal.

Well, I've had a couple nice drives already, and Saturday went out to the local Cars & Coffee show in Irvine (if some may be familiar with that).

I already picked up a nice set of Lloyd PORSCHE logo mats (black with silver lettering) for $70 on Ebay; really finishes off the cabin nicely.

Also plan to get clear corner lights at the fender (appear about $25 on eBay).

Probably also do some Llumar tint at a local place that has done several cars for me before.

I also polished the exhaust tips with a green pad and some chrome polish and they cleaned up really nicely.

(Got that idea from one of the threads here.)

The car drives great, very tight, and has been a California car its whole life. 3 previous owners and apparently each one barely drove it.

I lived in Germany for 5 years, so I can and do drive rapidly on the highway.

I'm most impressed with the power that comes on above 4k rpms, and how the 18s seem to stick like gorilla glue.

If I get a ticket in this thing, it's gonna be a triple-digit doozy. ;)

2 Questions:

- The motor seems to be sensitive at very low rpms in 1st gear, like pulling up the driveway (stalled it once) -- is that normal?

- Does anyone know a source for blue-tinted aspheric mirrors? (I've used them before but only seen clear aspheric on eBay for $140.)

Thanks and look forward to hanging out here occassionally. :renntech:

Congratulations on your purchase! I bought my '02 C2 coupe from the Autohaus guys in February of 2006, and I have been very happy with it so far. I've attached a pic of my car from the same Laguna ALMS weekend you mentioned in your post; the picture was taken on Sunday afternoon in Pacific Grove before driving home, which was a blast. Sorry can't answer your questions, but congratulations again and enjoy the 996.

:renntech:

Stunning fastboydave...Thank you!

Tried this out this morning and it absolutely works! Here's what I did...

1. Yesterday, I got caught in light rain on my way back and immediately noticed that the creaking was much reduced, substatiating the that the rubber trim was creaking against the dry bodywork.
   
2. This morning with my car dry in a covered garage, I pressed along the edges of the rubber windshield trim and sure enough, there was significant creaking along various areas!
   

I then proceeded to clean under the rubber trim with meths and soapy water using a thin soft cotton cloth wrapped tightly around an old plastic credit card;

• at the bottom of the windshield I got it in between the trim and glass
  
• at the sides along the A-pillar and roof in between the bodywork and trim
  

The creaking came from the rubber trim moving and rubbing between these surfaces.

Using the same setup of the thin soft cotton cloth around plastic card, this time soaking it with some silicone lubricant, I ran along the inside of the same surfaces at least twice to get enough silicone lubricant in them. Waited for a few minutes and cleaned off excess with meths and soapy water and voila!

I enjoyed my drive this afternoon so much more without the distraction of the creaking upfront :). Like fastboydave, this was getting worse and so becoming so unbearable to me that I considered replacing the windshield (see my earlier post on this thread). Thanks to fastboydave for sharing his experience for this rather simple fix!

I seem to be able to hear every possible vibration, rattle, and creak in my '02 C2, and--although I cannot say for sure that I have heard a creaking sound coming from the same area when driving--I just completed the steps you have outlined above. I did hear some "creaking" from the rubber trim where it meets the bottom of the windshield when I pressed on it, but nothing from the areas along the A-pillar or the roof. I cleaned and lubed them all regardless. Will post again to share results.

Thanks,

Chris

A few years back, I bought an '89 944S2 and realized later that THREE of the wheels were bent! I contacted Wheel Enhancement and was able to replace two of them, then they called me when they had a third. I would recommend replacing rather than repairing.

911 if it's a stranger or someone from work. 996 if it's someone in the know.

I am, however, obviously at code red in terms of my need to learn how to type/spell ("...I not at code red yet...")

Keith,

If you don't mind, please let me know how you like the SPT's once you have a chance to try them out. I not at code red yet in terms of needing to replace my Michelins so I'm trying to get a sense of what else is out there and would appreciate your opinion.

Demosan, I have 8's on the front and 10's on the rear. I think 285 is the widest I can go. Thanks for the note.

Chris

I'm looking at the Kumho SPT's, but I'm interested in input on rear tire sizes. I have an '02 C2, with 285/30/18 Michelin Pilot Sports. For the type of driving I do, I don't see a big upside to dropping over $1K on 4 new shoes, so I'm looking at value (the Kumhos on my 914 have been great so far).

My question is...what sizes can I go with on the rear wheels? I see 295/30/18--are these on option for stock wheel size?

Thanks for your help.

Chris

The ride is exactly the same as it was before the drop.

alprus,

Were you able to find an extra storage cubby (somewhere other than a Porsche dealership)? I'm looking for one for my 02 C2S.

The wheels are factory Sport Design 18's. Not sure of the widths - will have to check....

I swapped my 2002 C2's US M030 springs for some H&R's a few months back, and I'm ecstatic about the improvement in appearance. The car drives and handles great, too. Here are some before and after pics:

Loren...could you send me this TSB as well:

7/00 3041 Creaking Noise in Clutch Bell Housing Area 12-22-2000

I have an '02 C2 with similar sounds....

Thanks!

LOL that thread is from 2003 -- all TSBs have been available here for Contributing Members (almost 3 years).

Please go to the Current TSB section and view it...

Thanks, Loren. Funny how my intelligence drifts away when I finally get out of the office for a week!!!!!

My '02 C2 does the same thing. It bothered me at first, but if you push the car a little harder, it is less noticeable.

Funny how some of these things that are so annoying can be lived with once we realize we're not crazy. Temperamental beasts, these cars....

Loren...could you send me this TSB as well:

7/00 3041 Creaking Noise in Clutch Bell Housing Area 12-22-2000

I have an '02 C2 with similar sounds....

Thanks!

I just installed the H&R's on my 2002 C2 Coupe (have factory installed US Spec M030). So far, I am pleased with the appearance and ride. I will try to post some pics soon.

I saw the same article geza refers too, and I was surprised. I had also previously heard--from multiple reliable sources--that there would be no more Targas. It will be interesting to see if they make one or not, since the production/sales figures for the 996 version were relatively low.

I should be sleeping right now, but I'm obsessing about my rattling top.

My car is '02 C2 Coupe. Is it the sunroof? The braces that hold the roof in place? The ghost of Christmas past? Why, why, why must these cars be so perfect, yet so VERY flawed......????!!!!

Loren...any DIY that will keep me out of a straight jacket?

Chris

Thorsten,

Does your car always make the ticking sound? Mine seems to be playing with me. Sometimes the sound is there, and sometimes there is no sound. This morning, I was driving to work and thought the sound had disappeared, only to have it return on my way home this evening.

Chris

PSE is on, and on LOUD.

The 914 has fewer rattles.

I'm a victim.

;)

Question:

If the rattle doesn't go away, which is a better option...shoot myself or drive the car into a brick wall?

I hate rattles.

I've noticed a similar sound coming from the general area you pointed to in your original post. I've tried everything I can find in numerous posts, as well as suggestions from numerous Porsche-enthused friends. No improvement. I know we're all crazy about our cars, striving for perfection on all levels. I have to say I'm ready to drive my car off a cliff; maybe the rattle will stop then.

Chris

All,

Any update to this saga?

I use my air compressor, then follow-up with some Meguire's Quick Detail.

Another good option is to use compressed air that comes in spray cans...the kind you buy at a computer store to clean keyboards and such.

Karlooz,

Did you ever try the Dynamat to mitigate some of the increased chatter?

I have a 2002 C2 with lightweight flywheel, and the chatter is quite obvious. I second the observations that: 1) there is a constant chatter with the car at idle and the clutch disengaged, 2) the chatter only becomes obvious when the car is at operating temperature, and 3) gear noise is also noticeable when driving, particularly at lower RPM's.

Like everyone else who owns these cars, I am a perfectionist and cannot stand the smallest rattle or chatter. However, I do appreciate the feel of the lighter flywheel. Is it enough of a (perceived?) performance improvement to justify the extra noise? Maybe. But I'd be an easier sell if I could make the idle chatter quieter.

On a funny note, I bought this car only 1+ months ago, upgrading from my 2001 986S. When I test drove the car, the extra flywheel chatter wasn't present. It was only when I drove it home that I noticed the sound, and--not knowing what it was--it scared the **** out of me! So I took the car back to the dealer, who--of course--didn't know about the lightweight flywheel and agreed there might be a problem. Turns out they pulled everything apart and found the single mass flywheel, which apparently was/is brand new.

Not only did I discover something new about my car, but I also got a new RMS out of the deal, all at no charge.

I don't know if there is a moral to this story, but I have owned several Porsches, including a '72 914 (still have it), '89 944S2, '99 Boxster 2.5, '01 Boxster S, and now the 996, and what I've realized is that knowing the ins and outs of your car is invaluable, not only for self-diagnosis/saving cash, but also being able to sleep at night!

Sorry for the dissertation...figured someone would enjoy my story.