Targa...why or why not?

[GSpreeman]

I sold the '87 Carrera a few months ago and just dropped off my 356C to have a mechanic sort the engine, steering, and brakes. In the meantime, I can't tell you how much I miss driving the 911! I'm not even a speed demon.

So, why or why should I not consider a Targa? I know entry price is lower but then, so is resale price. What else should I consider?

[CarreraS2]

Why not?

Because it's not a cab.

And it's not a coupe.

[GSpreeman]

Basically, they cost less then the coupes or cabs. So, there must be a reason.

[84porsche]

Targas are the best especially the Guards Red ones.

[84porsche]

Originally posted by GSpreeman
Basically, they cost less then the coupes or cabs. So, there must be a reason.

I love having the option to pull the top off at anytime and have a full sunroof. The coupes hold their value much better but I would say it is mostly the market that controls that.

[M.D. Holloway]

Older p-cars are rare enough, Targas even more so. Who else has something like them that perform and are accessable (sp)? They look really cool, you can race them (something you can't do in a cab...

[addictionMS]

Because it's not a cab. And it's not a coupe.

they cost less then the coupes or cabs

both of these could be reason To Buy, as well.

Jim

[LakeCleElum]

Driving a car like this is all about taking the top off. I sold my 912 coupe just to have a Targa (73.5 911)......Sure, I won't get as much when/if I ever sell, but I didn't buy it to be an investment. I think it's safer than a Cab. and quieter in windy/wet weather....My .02 cents worth.....

[LeeH]

Why? Here, let my daughter explain it:



We were in our current car a few days ago ('72 coupe) and she told me that she wished the roof would come off.

[ausdilecce]

I now have an 87 Targa and had an 83 SC coupe. The differences are many.

Pro Targa -
- can go topless WITHOUT getting windblown
- Built in roll-bar ( it saved me once already in a rollover )
- Harder to break into than a cab if theif is going to try to cut the material (targa tops have alu plates running the length of the roof )
*Minor* chassis flex ( I consider a plus cuz - call me crazy but -*I* kinda like it)

Con Targa
- leaks from top ( can be minimized with due care and determination )
- chassis flex ( if you don't like it )
- ruins the 'pure lines of a 911' mantra ( which I don't subscribe to FWIW
- wind noises from top ( can be minimized with due care and determination )

Hope that helps

[DC_Targa]

can go topless WITHOUT getting windblown

Since I live in the land of sun, fun and Porsches I have a biased opinion. Most ladies don't care about chassis flex or wind noise or if it is a 3.6 or 2.7. It rains here so seldom I haven't a clue if my top leaks or not. Seems most people forget about one of the important things about P cars. Ladies with long blonde hair usually want to show it off without getting it too messed up by the wind. Yup, I married a blonde who was born in Germany!

To double the "unwantedness" my P car also has a Sport-o-matic. OMG, no top and a tranny that doesn't need too much attention! What can I say... I've spent enough years spending all my pay checks to foster my racing habit. I've still got a couple of my old race cars, but most days (key word is MOST) a topless p car can be more fun to drive

BTW, DC stands for

Demolition Crew

but the Targa part is My P-car

Cheers,

Dennis

[Crachian]

The design works remarkably well. I was a coupe snob until I got a targa and got it.

[KobaltBlau]

security is better than a Cabriolet, and you don't miss much in terms of top-off experience.

[Steve87-911]

Depends partly on what you're going to use it for. If you live in a sunny area and like the topless ride, Targas (or cabs) are great.
If you're a track maniac and subscribe the flex issue, then get a coupe. While I love my Targa, I still prefer the rooflines of a coupe...that is until I remove the roof, the it's a wash.

I think the resale issue is moot. If you sell a targa for a few hundred less than a coupe then presumably you paid a few hundred less for it to start with...a moot subject.

While I also like the safety of the roll hoop, one deciding factor for me buying a sweet Targa was that the CFO (wife) was much more agreeable to me spending 20k IF the 911 was a Targa.

Today I took a nice Saturday morning topless ride on the local twisties...I'm still pretty jazzed about that.

[K. Roman]

Ultimate Targa Thread!

This thread speaks for itself.

[KobaltBlau]

I've not found that targas are worth less than coupes in my particular market ... maybe so-cal is different, but I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[dmcummins]

I have a coupe and a targa. The targa is definatly the weekend, go for a spin with the wife car. If I could only have one it would be a hard to pick. I don't track my cars (yet) and the targa seems pretty stiff to me. I like the early cars so no AC is also a factor.

It's been said here before. Coupes may look better to most from the outside but targas look better from the inside.

Take the top off and go for a spin in one. Then you'll know.

[MOMO3.2]

GSpreeman:

I live in SoCal and a Targa is pure bliss here. Most of my favorite Porsche moments have been greatly enhanced by the open air factor of my Targa. I guess that is why Porsche decided the Carrera GT should be a Targa (duh). There are those that just don't get it. Thank God Porsche designers and engineers do!

LeeH:

That is one of the greatest "Porsche moment" photos I have ever seen. What a lucky, lucky man you are!

Sincerely,

Mike

[84CAB]

If you like the Targa get one!! You can't see the roof line of the coupe while driving it.

[Mike Kast]

Targa has more head room than a coupe. Roof problems can all go away for $800.00 even if you decide to leave it on.
From certain angles the lines on a Targa look a little boxy, right where the rear glass hits the Targa bar. Everything about the Targa has grown on me though. I think it is the same situation as some of us who have ended up with somewhat unpopular or undesirable colors. When it comes time to restore or repaint the color remains the same because the car takes on a personality that just can't be changed.
I didn't want a Targa but the best car I could find after looking for some time turned out to be a Targa. When the roof is off on a spring day I am King.
I have wondered why there seem to be more Targas than Coupes. I wonder if the original owner of a Targa was generally more of a weekend driver where a higher percentage of coupes got on the track and got wrecked. Or were just not as well taken care of in general. I think they sold in about equal numbers.
I have stiffened mine up considerably. I will be turning the odometer to 250,000 miles next time I drive and she has yet to show signs of cracking in half.

edit... two people have written me asked so,
The amount of difference on my car was impressive. The reason may be because it does have 250,000 miles. It may be that on a newer car it wouldn't make much difference I have no way of knowing but it changed the feel of my car completely. I have never driven without a strut tower brace so I don't know how much it helps but I'm sure it does.
This was the magic bullet, well worth the $170
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_miscel_pg3.htm#item14
I never would have thought it would make a difference until the mechanic who did my alignment and corner balance pointed right at the spot the bar triangulates and said that is the weak point. So I bought it, I think he was right.
I like the way they look too. It looks much better over all than it does in the picture. The picture illustrates the location well though.