Porsche 911 Targa 4 S: Review
Why the 911 Targa was one of the more surprising cars of 2014
'Big sunroof' 993, 996 and 997 Targas out of shot...
Half rice...
Odd then that the one that gave us the most surprise and delight in the last 12 months was the version that, quite clearly, stands at the opposite end of the spectrum from the 911s we've traditionally been attracted to. The Targa is, after all, heavier, slower, four-wheel drive only and based around the twin gimmicks of retro novelty and the kerbside theatre of an elaborate folding roof. It is, unashamedly, more about style than content.
Bit more involved than popping out a panel
It's certainly got the visual impact and wow factor. Referencing the original 1965 Targa's silver roll hoop look while adopting a high tech solution to the faff of manhandling roof panels would appear a masterstroke. It's certainly given the Targa a more distinct voice in the ever growing 911 range, especially when compared with the big sunroof look adopted by Targas in the post-964 era.
...half chips
And, as the Cabriolet has proved, the 991's shape has proved more accommodating of removal of the roof than perhaps any other open top 911. Structural integrity is often used as a stick to beat cabrio versions of popular coupes but, without that reverse C-pillar, Targa and Cabrio 911s have always looked like big bootied versions of the more muscular and purposeful coupes. Which is ironic, given the well stocked rear seems to have fallen into favour in recent times.
Driving experience not compromised one bit
You may have surmised from the above admission for thinking the Targa is now a bit of alright that it's merely adequate to drive. True enough, by the numbers it remains arguably the least driver focused 911 in the range, the PDK 4 S Targa as tested 90kg heavier than an equivalent 4 S Carrera and more than £8,000 more expensive to boot. Indeed, you could have a C4 GTS PDK and £122 in your pocket (nearly enough for your embossed Porsche crests on the headrests...) for the £98,801 starting price of this car. A PDK 4 S Cabriolet is a small amount - £647 to be exact - more and 20kg lighter. And of all the 4 S variants the Targa is the slowest by as much as half a second to benchmarks like 0-62mph, 0-100mph and Porsche's own measure of 'elasticity' - in-gear acceleration from 50-75mph in fifth in a manual equipped car. If such things keep you awake at night it's also slightly thirstier and worse on CO2, though only marginally.
Inspiration to use original's influence is inspired
Against that added bulk the normally aspirated S engine does have its work cut out too, 400hp less of a concern than the fact there's 'just' 324lb ft of torque and it doesn't arrive until the rev counter passes 5,600rpm. By modern standards that's decidedly peaky but, in keeping with the general theme, it's less about the numbers than the sensations.
The S motor spins up with eagerness you'd have expected of a GT3 of a generation or two back and if it lacks punch in the guts acceleration it more than makes up for it with the howl as the lungs open around 4,000rpm. Just kicked in, ja, and all that. You need to rev it out then but PDK makes dropping a few cogs literally a twitch of a finger away and as hardships go we've had to endure worse. If you're feeling flush there's always the 430hp Powerkit option too, a snip (cough) at £9,387.
No longer the ugly duckling of the 911 range
Package holiday
And, of course, it all works beautifully as a package. Much has been said about the 991's electric steering but, of its type, it remains among the better ones and simulated or not the twanginess around the dead ahead gives you the sense of something to lean against. And although it doesn't get the four-wheel steering of the Turbo or GT3 that traditional 911 understeer is gone, the structure stiff and wobble free and torque vectoring four-wheel drive system utterly dependable. Standard on the S, with PDK you get PTV Plus with a full electronic control over a variable locking rear diff. Indeed, on a greasy road it'll even settle into subtle and delightful four-wheel drifts that feel entirely natural and confidence inspiring, hammering home the daily usability point.
Standard 4WD means it works even in this
So there we are. 2014 may be remembered for many things; for those of us fixated by rear-engined Porsches it'll be remembered as the year the Targa turned cool. Hope yet for the Turbo S Cabriolet? One step at a time...
PORSCHE 911 TARGA 4 S
Engine: 3,800cc flat-six
Power (hp): 400@7,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 324@5,600rpm
0-62mph: 4.8 sec (4.6 with PDK, 4.4 with PDK and Sport Chrono)
Top speed: 184mph (183mph)
MPG: 28.2 (30.7) NEDC combined
CO2: 237g/km (214)
Kerbweight: 1,555kg (1,575) DIN empty
Price: £96,413 (£98,801)
Figures in brackets for PDK.
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Photos: Roo Fowler
As for the car, I think it's nice enough but I'd probably go for a GTS coupe over a Targa.
This finely honed, beautifully engineered car is perhaps so aerodynamically flawed that it is a windy, blustery thing that does not encourage you to drop the roof.
You could make a case that to mess up such a fundamental part of this car - the whole point of it really - means that this is really a rather, silly, pointless 911.
After all, whats the point in having a Targa if you leave the roof up more often than not?
But... I don't understand (except for cosmetic reasons) why the roof is fabric. It makes the car noisy and boomy inside when it is up. If they fitted a lightweight carbon fibre or other top with some sound insulation they could have similar looks, but when the roof was up it would be like a coupe, much better.
I even explored having a roof panel made in CF, but it was crazy expensive, so no purchase.
Targa is my fav out of the bunch, just look at it.....Work of art!
The answer comes from your pals over at Autocar. The slight increase in weight at the rear from the Targa mechanism, slightly higher up, and the slightly softer suspension makes it roll a little more and squat a little harder on its rear wheels in bends - in total making a 'more rewarding and interactive' drive. Making it more like a traditional 911.
This is the really interesting thing about the Targa - that less is in fact more. It is slower, heavier and softer sprung than the coupe and should be more of a boulevard cruiser. But for some strange reason the whole is more than the parts and Porsche have managed a slightly unique engineering feat here.
That is the point about the Targa and I had to look up the Autocar test to understand this.
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