Why have G50 targas gone up so much lately?

[Baezventures]

What is going on? It's seems like there are not many for sale but other than than that, any other factors? I always thought Targas did not bring the money.

[Icepack]

I think overall the market has softened. This is just one example, but Bringatrailer tends to bring high prices for G50s, and the consensus is this car went cheap:

1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa G50 | Bring a Trailer

[Djs36345]

Condition and mileage seem to be the key when discussing Targas and Cabs. Examples abound on BAT.

[specialtyoneinc]

Nice cars bring good money. It's becoming harder to find nice cars at reasonable prices. A targa will usually fetch 10% less than a coupe on the G50 cars (apples to apples)

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Baezventures

What is going on? It's seems like there are not many for sale but other than than that, any other factors? I always thought Targas did not bring the money.

That's a long standing pelican myth. For all the years members here were bad mouthing them Bruce Anderson was placing a 5-10% premium on them in his Excellence market guides.

[Rick Brooklyn]

People might have finally woken up to the realization that Targas are awesome.


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[gearby]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

That's a long standing pelican myth. For all the years members here were bad mouthing them Bruce Anderson was placing a 5-10% premium on them in his Excellence market guides.

Like a lot on here, I've been around Porsches for 30 years. It's not a myth. If the market suddenly decides targas are worth more than coupes, so be it. Targas have been less desirable ever since I've been around. If one day, cabrios suddenly rule the roost, so be it. Nothing is impossible.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by Icepack

I think overall the market has softened. This is just one example, but Bringatrailer tends to bring high prices for G50s, and the consensus is this car went cheap:

1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa G50 | Bring a Trailer

That car didn't go anywhere. No sale at $27k.

[SalParadise]

Coming from a Targa guy, I know the rest of the world does not view Targas with as much disdain as they do on Pelican.

I probably own the least desirable 911 out there. It's a 1975 Targa and no one around here even considered them for anything more than for parts until the past 5 years.

1) It has the 2.7. Bruce Anderson et al hated this engine, and spread the hate to every corner of our hobby. The 2.7 became a circus engine. Nowadays when people are looking at 911s it doesn't come up - as much.
2) A Targa. To me a Targa was never, ever worth less than a coupe. It was worth more to me because it was the first 911 I got a ride in (1980 SC) and the first 911 I drove (1973.5 T), and frankly I like the looks better. It's me but there are lots of people like me that aren't on this board.
3) A 1975. Now people want them because of emissions. What people don't say or want to say is they drive better than a longhood - and they don't feel like such an old car as a longhood. They were built by hand just like the longhood.

Targas are better in my mind for the experience. I owned a '74 coupe, but it didn't put the hook in me (but that's due to my own experiences).

Whatever - the market may see a change, but it's my belief that the world in general sees both as a 911 and don't have any prejudice toward a Targa as they do on here.

[Alan A]

Have they gone up or has the ask gone up?
Subtle but important difference.

Caveat - I'm thinking here about 997TT cars. More particularly the 09s. There aren't many and the ask has remained sky high or increased, while the practically identical (but without last year of the mezger sales tag) 07 and 08s are dropping slowly as you'd expect.

Wondering if it's a small market and people are trying to force it up, rather than the cars actually being riven up be demand.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Icepack

I think overall the market has softened. This is just one example, but Bringatrailer tends to bring high prices for G50s, and the consensus is this car went cheap:

1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa G50 | Bring a Trailer

The rear was repainted.
Could mean it was smashed.


Engine appears dirty. Leaks or Cosmoline?
That could mean engine out service.

144k miles is not low miles that BAT types prefer.
Comments indicate people don't want high miles without compression/leakdown.

Lipstick red also may hurt demand.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by gearby

Like a lot on here, I've been around Porsches for 30 years. It's not a myth. If the market suddenly decides targas are worth more than coupes, so be it. Targas have been less desirable ever since I've been around. If one day, cabrios suddenly rule the roost, so be it. Nothing is impossible.

I assert there are two parallel worlds. I think the targa vs coupe thing is similar to the oil wars. Coupe guys will pay more for a coupe. Targa guys will pay more for a targa. There's an arse for every seat and I assert that there's really always been pretty close to pricing parity across the two. They are just different buyers so when you ask any one person they will always value their own favorite higher.

[drauz]

over the past 10-15 yrs, it seems there're more nice old Targas (& Cabs) available than Coupes, "all things being equal". Is the underlying supply of Coupes smaller? Is there more churn among Targa & Cab owners? Does the maint cost of unique Targa & Cab parts figure in? The segments may parallel, yet my observation over the years is that in toto, there are fewer nice Coupes available, they sell for more than nice Targas, & sell more quickly.

[McLovin]

They are getting old enough that the open versions have started to catch up or equal the coupe versions.

As Porsches get older, they start to move more from the semi-daily driver or race type cars, to nice weather Sunday drivers. They start to fall into the old classic car adage "When the top goes down, the price goes up."

Styling wise, Targas fell out of favor in the 90s and 2000s, but their quintessential 70s and 80s style is becoming more popular again.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Rick Brooklyn

People might have finally woken up to the realization that Targas are awesome.


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Ohhhh, Targas are awesome alrighty, SickRick; awesome at suck!!!

And a Targa wiff a "will pop" 2.7 engine?!?!?! Double supersuck (are you listening, SaucySal???)!!!

You flexi-flyer guys are weird (and you suck)!!!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

You flexi-flyer guys are weird (and you suck)!!!

3:51 am EST for your post. That's 2:51 am Central, BAB.

Ask you Mom if you can stay up that late next time.

Were you late for school? I thought so.

[nixtfy]

I have owned 2 coupes and 1 targa. I don't think I will ever own another coupe. Like having 2 cars a race car and a Sunday driver.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Ask you Mom if you can stay up that late next time.

Bobasaurous, both my mom, and yours, said that I can stay up as late as I want, as long as I'm bashing Targas and slinging feces at their owners!

[gearby]

Originally Posted by nixtfy

I have owned 2 coupes and 1 targa. I don't think I will ever own another coupe. Like having 2 cars a race car and a Sunday driver.

The reason that targas are less desirable has nothing to do with the driving experience. They are less desirable because the coupe has the classic 911 lines whereas the targa bar breaks up those lines. The cabrio even more so, hence the even lesser desirability for those.

[Djs36345]

Originally Posted by gearby

The reason that targas are less desirable has nothing to do with the driving experience. They are less desirable because the coupe has the classic 911 lines whereas the targa bar breaks up those lines. The cabrio even more so, hence the even lesser desirability for those.

I wish this argument will finally go away. Luckily with the internet we don't have to speculate any longer. The evidence is in plain sight. Go on BAT and compare sale prices over the last 12 months between coupes and cabs with as close to similar mileage and condition as possible. It's plainly obvious targas and cabs sell just as well as coupes. Again, these are not asking prices or Hagerty speculation, these are actual sales.