911 Targa vs Coupe

[Maxx1]

I'm considering buying an 80s 911 and like the coupes the best, but a Targa top 911 sounds interesting as well. How much trouble are targa tops in terms of alignment and sealing well? Are they easy to remove and reinstall? I've never messed with one, so I have no clue.

Also, all else being equal, is there a price difference between a targa and a coupe?

Thanks!

[calling911]

Search a little.

[Targa Me]

I have an 1984 Targe and I love it, but then again I love the coupe as well.
I think price difference would depend on the rest of the car. Targa's do tend to leak. I replaced my side targa seals and now I need to replace the front and rear seals, the rear is leaking a lot when it rains. The leaks can be annoying if you drive a lot in the rain and I should mention there's a bit of wind noise with the top on; but when its sunny out and you have that top off, there's nothing like open-air motoring. Now knowing what I know about Targa's; would I buy another one if I had to do it all over again, ABSOLUTELY. I love my Targa.

[runfaster]

easy to install, can have seal issues, usually a couple thousand less.
personally I am not a huge fan of the 911 targa, but i have a pos 914, that is kind of fun to drive around in with the targa top off, but it is car that I only drive around in nice weather in....so not sure what a targa is like in rainy weather.

[javadog]

Maxx1,

Long time, no chat....

Coupes are more solid feeling, targas feel more flexible. Targas feel heavier, because they are. Targas tend to understeer a little more and they tend to have slightly higher steering effort, when you are hustling the car a little.

On a nice day, or a warm evening, a targa is a huge amount of fun. With the windows up, you get a almost the same feel as a convertible, without the buffetting from the wind. A coupe with the windows down or sunroof open is much noisier and less pleasant. I can't think of a nicer drive than in a targa, on a warm, clear night. Targas can be used in fairly brisk weather with the top off, if you roll the windows up. A convertible is a much less comfortable car, even with a wind stop in place.

Targa tops are easy to remove, or install. It's a one-person job. I can do one in about 30 seconds. The tops do have a limited lifespan, especially if they are folded often. I wouldn't buy a targa that hadn't had the top rebuilt and there are only two guys that I would have rebuild one. Figure $1-1.5k, depending on whether the seals and frame need work, in addition to the upholstery work. A targa top will never seal as well as a coupe and they will be noisier with the top on. There are a bunch of adjustments that you can do to the top, the seals and the windows, so a well sorted car can be pretty decent. I wouldn't buy a targa to drive often, in the rain. I did drive an '80 targa as a daily driver, year round, until I bought a new coupe in 1983, so it can be done. Of course, I was younger then.

Targas were originally more expensive and used to command a premium on the used car market. Times may have changed and the consensus on Pelican may be that a coupe is worth more, simply because they guys here are a little different than the market as a whole. This many years down the line, miles and condition will have a much larger impact on the price than the body style.

Cheers,
Jeff

[DanielDudley]

Jeff pretty much said it all.

I would include that a well set up Targa is a proper 911. They make a great all purpose sport/pleasure car, and SOs love them. But here's the thing. In a sea of 911s some stand out. It doesn't matter if the car is a targa or a coupe. It has the stance, the deep rimmed wheels, the right color and look. It has the right interior for the exterior, and when you drive it, it is well set up, and it is a superior drive.

Targa or coupe, pick the car that you love, and you will have no trouble selling it when the time comes. If you haven't owned a Targa, maybe you should drive a couple. If you know what you like in 911s, it can be found in a Targa.

[efhughes3]

Targas are great. My Targa top is seldom on.

[jtfreels]

Make sure the top is in good shape and fits well. I drive mine every day, rain or shine, it is noisy with it on. But spring and fall when the weather is just right nothing better than driving with the top off.

But my real recommendation is to buy one of both That's the plan I'm working on.

Jay

[sabeo.m]

I have an 80SC Targa, my Father has a 83SC coupe. I love driving my Fathers coupe, it does feel lighter and more solid than my Targa. I get my track car fix in his coupe, but when it comes to a pleasant drive on a beautiful summer day, the sound from the engine all around you, well then personally, nothing is better than my Targa. If you are looking for a track car then maybe the coupe will work out better, even though there are a lot of people that have Targas as track cars and are awesome! They express they truly have the best of both worlds..

[archtech]

I've had two coupes and now a targa. Driving the targa on a daily basis is so much more enjoyable than the coupe... with the open air and low buffeting, its like a perfect convertible.... and on a cold day, the heat stays in the cockpit. Rarely is top ever on...easy on and easy off. Wife and kids love it. I also rebuilt the targa top from new webbing on up... pretty easy to do...lots of info on how to do it.... and in the end pretty inexpensive. You'll understand how it fits and be able to tweak it to get a good seal. I also just found a '72 targa project that I want to turn into a autocross, driving event, street car. A fellow Pelican recommended some chassis stiffeners welded in... said it was easy to do since its was inexpensive, inside the cockpit at the inner rockers, and under the carpet...mentioned it did wonders for a targa he had built. As said before, targas can be the best of both worlds. Looks wise, for me, best is targas with the silver trim, then coupes with black trim, then, coupes with silver trim and targas with black trim equal. Either way you go, there is no wrong answer!

[Maxx1]

Thanks for the great info! I'm looking for the kind of car that won't be driven in the rain, so a Targa top shouldn't be much of a problem. Still I'd like to have one that seals properly in case I get caught in the rain. I'm not sure if I'd like the flexy chassis, but a Targa sounds like fun in general.

[efhughes3]

I would bet you'd never feel any flex.

[kanadary]

i have a targa and love it but personally i like the looks of the coupe's smoother lines cause its not as harsh as the targa (just aft of the front door). i agree with one of the other poster, get both, that's my plan.

[Bill Verburg]

As long as you have a folding top it's easy enough to fold and stow, they do leak in heavy rain.

JMO, but they are best when the car is only used on nice days and where parking an open car isn't a security issue.

The only time my top is on is for winter storage, I don't even carry it in the car usually(they wear best when not folded and out of the sun). If it's not nice or security is a concern I drive something else

[wjfk32]

Greetings:

Luv the Targa--Mine has a 3.3Turbo/ xtra goodies inside . Just use the German-armoral-oil for rubber seal/conditioning..
Just this weekend had the top off Jones Beach.N.Y. Doing some nice top-end runs.. U will hear air coming in on top-end runs with the top on.
Best of of both worlds...

But I do love the hardtops also.

[Albuquerque]

If you live in a place where there is good weather most time of the year, don't hesitate, Go for a Targa!

[SpeedracerIndy]

I have some first hand experience with both. My dad has an 88 Targa, and I have an 81 coupe and we frequently trade cars for a few weeks at a time. The flex in the Targa is significant and noticeable, although I didn't realize it until I had owned my coupe for a while. It is also much heavier. Heavier steering, and more sluggish acceleration, heavier breaking effort. It is a heck of a lot of fun to drive on a nice day though. For cruising around town in nice weather you can't beat it!!! If I had to pick between the two, I'd have a really hard time deciding which one to keep. If it's a nice day and I'm driving my coupe, I always wish I had my dad's targa. It gets so many more ooo's and ahhh's than my coupe too. I guess it really comes down to what you want to use the car for.

[dicklague]

Targa's are considered poor cousins to the coupe for many purists. They are loved but less desireable.

My personal opinion is it is either a coupe of a cabriolet......no in between with that ugly bar and leaky panels for me.

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by SpeedracerIndy

I have some first hand experience with both. My dad has an 88 Targa, and I have an 81 coupe and we frequently trade cars for a few weeks at a time. The flex in the Targa is significant and noticeable, although I didn't realize it until I had owned my coupe for a while. It is also much heavier. Heavier steering, and more sluggish acceleration, heavier breaking effort.

Even an '88 Coupe is going to feel heavier than your '81. As to sluggish and significant flex, I'd question the shape of the suspension and the engine. I've driven coupes with bad suspension bushings, worn shocks, etc that made it feel pretty "flexible". There would be enough power increase in an '88 to overcome the weight bump. You'd feel the weight in the turns and perhaps braking though, I'd imagine.

Mark Donohue, who knew his way around many models of Porsche, made the statement once that he preferred the handling of a Targa over a coupe. He could certainly make a car flex, and apparently flex to his benefit.

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by dicklague

Targa's are considered poor cousins to the coupe for many purists. They are loved but less desireable.

My personal opinion is it is either a coupe of a cabriolet......no in between with that ugly bar and leaky panels for me.

Yep, they are horrible looking. That bar is such an eyesore....