What if noise is an issue!

[JohnCRS]

Our Caymans are not necessarily the quietest cars in terms of cabin noise. Some may be desirable, such as exhaust and induction. But generally road noise can be a pain. In my own experience the 981 is the worst I have experienced.

Some factors I can possibly attribute iit to:
Wheel diameter
Tyre width and profile
Suspension and bushes wearing
Tyre manufacturer and wear.

I have an enquiry from a potential member who is looking for a car and for whom cabin noise could be an issue. What are your thoughts please?

John

 

[Twinfan]

I'd say avoid a GT4, GTS or R for a start......

 

[AndrewCS]

My 981 Cayman S PDK, on 20" rims / PS4S was pretty quiet but the PSE exhaust resonation at cruising was worse than the GT4

From an R - 981CS - 981 GT4 ... have never considered noise a real issue, we all have differing thresholds / acceptance levels

 

[Lucky981]

I agree, they are noisy, more so on motorways at between 70 and 80 particularly. I find myself manually dropping from 7th to 6th sometimes to stop the drone. My Cayman S has PSE. It sounds awesome and I certainly wouldn’t change it, but if cabin noise bothers you and you do some motorway miles, I would think seriously about PSE and 20’s.

A country road with sport activated however, is one of the things you can do in a car!.

 

[AndrewT]

I’d say tyre/road noise is the worst source of cabin noise and this could be attributed mostly to the tyre size but also may be due to the brand of tyre - I got the impression that my Cayman was noisier when using Pirelli tyres the it was with the Michelins which replaced them. I also found that changing to Michelins solved the rear tailgate drumming I’d experienced, I think perhaps the Pirelli tyres had stiffer sidewalls.

Although difficult in these Covid times perhaps it would help the potential owner if they could be taken for an extended passenger ride in a Cayman similar to the model they’re considering. As a tinnitus sufferer I find the noise level tolerable while driving but the ‘ringing’ in my ears is worse than usual for an hour or so after the drive.

 

[Wollemi]

If noise when cruising on motorways etc is an issue then perhaps they should consider a Boxster. The Boxster is appreciably quieter (when the roof is up!) than equivalent Cayman models. Also to consider is that the 981 and 982 are a lot quieter than the 987.

 

[Motorhead]

Speaking as someone who spent much of his working life dealing with vehicle sound and vibration development and trouble-shooting for different manufacturers, road-induced noise is something with which I’m very familiar. It’s a very complex problem involving both airborne and structure-borne routes as well as cabin acoustics, and other than at the design and development stage there’s little that can be done by the owner to influence road-induced noise in the cabin. Also it’s important to understand that “sound quality” (frequency content and balance) is just as important as the actual sound level.

Anyone who’s stood by an urban road let alone a derestricted road will appreciate just how much noise is generated by the tyres, so as has been mentioned the choice of wheel size and corresponding tyre aspect ratio and compound will be important. It’s important also to remember that in our Caymans the major source of the noise is very close to our ears! The problem is that experimenting with different wheel/tyre combinations will be outside the scope of the average owner owing to the significant expense involved.

The use of high-damping and softer elastomeric compounds in the suspension system and isolating the suspension subframes from the body can give significant benefits, but again this will be beyond the scope of the average owner and very likely will alter significantly the vehicle handling characteristics … not ideal for a sharp-handling sports car!

The application of panel damping and targeted barrier/absorption material is something which an owner could try, but their effectiveness could be a bit hit-and-miss and will add weight.

For some time manufacturers have been experimenting with sound cancellation as a means of attenuating road and other noise using speakers in the headrests. I’m not sure if it’s legal but maybe wearing sound cancelling headphones is the simplest remedy for anyone who wants a quieter Cayman cabin environment?

Jeff

 

[Scrounger]

I don't think it helps that there's is very little noise suppression in the wheel well. Regular cars have both plastic and carpet material in there but I was surprised that there's nothing of the kind on the 718 and as a result the stones rattling around under there is very unnerving.

Dan

 

[tscaptain]

For some time manufacturers have been experimenting with sound cancellation as a means of attenuating road and other noise using speakers in the headrests. I’m not sure if it’s legal but maybe wearing sound cancelling headphones is the simplest remedy for anyone who wants a quieter Cayman cabin environment?

Jeff

For longer journeys in our 997s we use Bose noise cancelling earbuds. Brilliant things which remove nearly all of the tyre drone ( which really aggravates our tinnitus) but still allows conversion and higher variable frequencies to be heard. I measured the cabin dB level at 70 mph on a concrete A road surface. The result was quite alarming!

 

[wysri9]

My wife would definitely agree that noise is an issue. I have a 981 Cayman S manual with 20" wheels and the tyre noise can be really bad. It is speed and road surface dependant but on a lot of motorway surfaces it can be very trying. I have not tried the solution suggested of using Bose Noise Cancelling earbuds but will certainly do that in the spring when she sees the light of day again (the car not the wife....!).

I would avoid any sort of sports exhaust like the plague. My previous experience with an after market sports exhaust on a Boxster was a disaster causing an incredible increase in cabin noise at certain motorway speeds etc.

 

[Motorhead]

I don't think it helps that there's is very little noise suppression in the wheel well. Regular cars have both plastic and carpet material in there but I was surprised that there's nothing of the kind on the 718 and as a result the stones rattling around under there is very unnerving.

Dan

Agreed Dan. I’m not sure that wheelarch liners have much impact on road noise in the dry, but the felt material you mention does help to attenuate hissing in wet weather. Like you I’m really surprised that Porsche have chosen not to line the rear wheel arches at all on their sports cars … if only to reduce the cringeworthy “bag of nails” effect of stones hitting the arches on newly resurfaced roads! Maybe it’s part of a weight-saving programme?

Good call on the noise-cancelling earbuds from cap’n Alan.

Jeff

 

[BrianJ]

If noise when cruising on motorways etc is an issue then perhaps they should consider a Boxster. The Boxster is appreciably quieter (when the roof is up!) than equivalent Cayman models. Also to consider is that the 981 and 982 are a lot quieter than the 987.

I agree with Graham that the Boxster is appreciably quieter than the Cayman at motorway speeds. I think all to do with the boot being a separate space and the sound reducing effect of the fabric roof. New tyres are IMHO always quieter than the ones they replaced because there is less rubber on the road. They gradually get noisier! However, for those with 20in Pirellis, I also agree that N1s are more supple than the original N0, giving a better and quieter ride. And finally, an unexpected benefit of putting PPF on the panel between the front and rear wheels was much less noise from road rash stones hitting the side.

 

[JohnCRS]

Well, thank you all for your input and suggestions. So, to conclude, what is or is not acceptable is a personal thing. You pay your money and make your choice etc. but the Cayman is never going to be a limo.

If noise is an issue:

- go for the smaller, higher profile wheel and tryre combinations

- avoid the PSE or other after market exhaust options

- compare Cayman with equivalent Boxster

But, if the opposite of the above is desirable as part of the ownership experience, investigate the Bose catalogue. (I prefer the headphones to the ear buds )

I did experience one car where the engine cover insulation was not present. It had been removed in the quest for weight reduction as it is fairly heavy. That certainly made a difference. I also think that wear and tear is a big factor. I am sure my 981 GTS is louder now at 55,000 miles than it was when I first purchased it, but it does have wider wheels and tyres than standard. Out of interest I will get a meter and compare the two sets. It is certainly louder inside than my previous 987R, but that had both smaller narrower 19" wheels and no PSE.

It is a fascinating subject and I can see how you might get sucked into it - thanks Jeff.

 

[tscaptain]

These are the ones we use

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/headphones/earbuds/quietcomfort-20i-acoustic-noise-cancelling-headphones.html#v=qc20_apple_black

They do 2 versions - one for iPhone and one for Android, so they can be used for hands free too.

Because of the rubber loop that fits behind the ear they don't need to be pushed far into the ear canal and are very comfortable on long journeys. I recall they come with 3 different size ear pieces. When you put them in and switch on the power, the way the drone disappears is magical![] No affiliation - just a fan.[]

 

[AlistairF]

I have struggled a bit with hearing issues caused by playing in a band in my youth and motorcycling. It manifests itself as sensitivity to noise amongst other things so roar from the rear tyres of my Boxster is an issue when touring (especially with the roof up) and makes listing to the radio impossible.

I thought my replacement N0 Goodyears were quieter to start with (than the original Pirelli), but there is not much in it (19"). Having had a look at the rear wheel arch liners, you can see Porsche haven't really given it much thought to this as there is a clear void that runs directly from the arch behind the liner behind the side panels...the noise permeates the vehicle structure from here too. I suspect that on the smooth German roads it isn't an issue. I now use passive custom ear plugs for motorway work.

 

[SJPS]

Perhaps this is going a bit off-topic, but does anyone have a comparison between a 981 with 20 inch wheels and a 718 GTS 4.0 with 20 inch wheels? Does the OPF (or just the different engine) on the 718 reduce the infamous motorway drone?