Porsche 997 Targa - Are roof problems real or myth?
Discussion
Hello PHers!
I've been helping a buddy look at 997s to hopefully buy one and the Targa keeps cropping up as a cool option. They're well priced and have near coupe looks with a lot of the benefit of summer fun usability of a convertible.
BUT...
A few people have suggest steer clear on the basis that the roof is never quite right, leaks, bangs, costs a million pounds to fix the mechanism etc. etc.
Can anyone please tell me whether this is on balance real or more like the myth of all the 996 engines that are ready to blow just by looking at them or GT3s that spontaneously combust when Walter Rohrl coughs three times.
Interested in all views based on a bit of experience if you have it!
Thanks all.
Joseph AKA legalknievel
I've been helping a buddy look at 997s to hopefully buy one and the Targa keeps cropping up as a cool option. They're well priced and have near coupe looks with a lot of the benefit of summer fun usability of a convertible.
BUT...
A few people have suggest steer clear on the basis that the roof is never quite right, leaks, bangs, costs a million pounds to fix the mechanism etc. etc.
Can anyone please tell me whether this is on balance real or more like the myth of all the 996 engines that are ready to blow just by looking at them or GT3s that spontaneously combust when Walter Rohrl coughs three times.
Interested in all views based on a bit of experience if you have it!
Thanks all.
Joseph AKA legalknievel
Hi, not a 997 Targa owner I'm afraid but I had a 996 Targa for 9 years.
The roof system is essentially the same between the 997 and 996. To get an idea of how complicated a piece of kit it is have a look at illustrations 811-01 to 811-03 on the Porsche on-line parts catalogue for the 997.2. Many of the parts are trim pieces but you will see that a number of them have a 996 prefix.
During my ownership I spent about £3,800 on the roof over a two year period. Issues were related to the guides getting clogged up and the cables and motors failing. If the roof is slow there is an issue. I seem to remember that 14 seconds is about right for opening or closing.
Some people try to lubricate the guides but I don't think this is recommended as dirt is attracted to the cable brushes which causes them to stick. The cables are a weird arrangement as they are covered in a sort of brush material and the cables are turned by the motors to rotate and slide the glass back and forth i.e. they are not retracted or coiled by the motors. Replacing one or both motors is complex as they have to be synchronised otherwise the roof will not run straight and will jam. Disassembling the roof is complex task best left to someone who has done it before.
I bought my car from Ray Northway who has experience of these roof systems. My servicing was carried out by Tech9 who also did all my roof work.
I loved the car and the roof was a good compromise for me. Some of my issues were due to the car not being garaged and living under a tree.
I changed for a 991 with glass roof which is not comparable to the 996/ 997 Targa. The hole in the roof is smaller and of course the is no opening hatch which I found very useful. Perhaps I should go back!
Hope this helps.
The roof system is essentially the same between the 997 and 996. To get an idea of how complicated a piece of kit it is have a look at illustrations 811-01 to 811-03 on the Porsche on-line parts catalogue for the 997.2. Many of the parts are trim pieces but you will see that a number of them have a 996 prefix.
During my ownership I spent about £3,800 on the roof over a two year period. Issues were related to the guides getting clogged up and the cables and motors failing. If the roof is slow there is an issue. I seem to remember that 14 seconds is about right for opening or closing.
Some people try to lubricate the guides but I don't think this is recommended as dirt is attracted to the cable brushes which causes them to stick. The cables are a weird arrangement as they are covered in a sort of brush material and the cables are turned by the motors to rotate and slide the glass back and forth i.e. they are not retracted or coiled by the motors. Replacing one or both motors is complex as they have to be synchronised otherwise the roof will not run straight and will jam. Disassembling the roof is complex task best left to someone who has done it before.
I bought my car from Ray Northway who has experience of these roof systems. My servicing was carried out by Tech9 who also did all my roof work.
I loved the car and the roof was a good compromise for me. Some of my issues were due to the car not being garaged and living under a tree.
I changed for a 991 with glass roof which is not comparable to the 996/ 997 Targa. The hole in the roof is smaller and of course the is no opening hatch which I found very useful. Perhaps I should go back!
Hope this helps.
Thanks a lot for this. So it sounds like more than just internet rumour. He'd be keeping it outside for at least part of the time and there are indeed trees so maybe it's not for him. I have to say I think they look mega, especially in 4S guise, but reality has to come into it.
Cheers,
Joseph
Cheers,
Joseph
had a 997 for 4 years and mine was trouble free
however I wouldn't have another
Its a good looking car, the glass roof makes for a lovely airy cabin and the rear hatch is a bonus, but..........
You can feel the extra weight of the glass up top on the handling, and when open its actually not that much bigger than the sunroof on the coupe.
On paper should be the best of all worlds. In reality airy cabin aside its neither fish nor foul
however I wouldn't have another
Its a good looking car, the glass roof makes for a lovely airy cabin and the rear hatch is a bonus, but..........
You can feel the extra weight of the glass up top on the handling, and when open its actually not that much bigger than the sunroof on the coupe.
On paper should be the best of all worlds. In reality airy cabin aside its neither fish nor foul
Not 997 but a couple of mates have 993 Targa’s both for over 10 years....so they probably bough them at about the same age that a 997 Targa is now. No idea how similar roof mechanisms are but both used to keep them outside and both now don’t and say the cars are much better for it. One’s had some a decent bills for his roof and is now scared to use it although that is probably the worst thing to do ! He also looked in to getting a high quality glass out respray done but was put off by the Porsche specialist body shops saying taking a targa roof out is a big job and will likely mean a few parts will need replacing...bill would be very ££££.
OP, get yourself over to 911uk.com....there’s a resident forum member who is a Porsche technician at Precision & he has a good reputation on Targa roofs (he worked on a friend’s 996 & we travelled down from Staffordshire) & he, along with the guys at Northway are the 2 main specialists who I understand have probably worked this most of them. There is some internet myth though there’s also some good ways to ensure longevity of operation I.e. not greasing this mechanisms!
The Targas are great cars & very versatile although the key is to buy one where the previous owner knows how to look after the roof.
The Targas are great cars & very versatile although the key is to buy one where the previous owner knows how to look after the roof.
As a 996 Targa owner of 7 or so years I would 100% back up what 996Targa and MrC986 have written above.
So far, I’ve not had any major issues with my Targa roof - only the odd leak and creak that has needed my attention to correct. Perhaps my good fortune to date is down to it being a ‘good’ one or maybe me and previous owners looking after it properly (regularly using the roof, cleaning out gutters, adding lube to rattle and squeak points etc) - perhaps a bit of both.
As 996Targa states, it is really important not to lube the roof mechanism - doing so might improve the opening and closing function initially but acts as a dust and dirt trap that eventually causes the roof to seize.
Re the driving dynamics, in normal driving I’ve never noticed the weight of the roof compared to a coupe, but then I am not a racing driver or driving god so might not have the sharpest senses! It’s worth noting the suspension is tuned on the Targa to be more compliant than the coupe and I actually prefer the slightly softer ride. If you plan to track your car regularly then a glass roof and softer suspension are another matter altogether...
I would suggest you drive both variants and see which one you get on with the best. Having owned a Targa, coupe (996 C4S) and cab (986 Boxster S) i would say that Targas are a pretty unique proposition which you’ll either love or.. not ‘get’ at all.
If you choose to go down the Targa route, check carefully that the roof works as it should, looks in good nick (nice clean runners when open) and doesn’t creak and/or squeak unduly (they all do a little bit) and - crucially - doesn’t leak! There are tell tale sights (and smells) to evidence the latter...
Minor leaks, creaks and squeaks are easily solved. As MrC986 states, there are some excellent resources on 911UK talking through how to do this.
So far, I’ve not had any major issues with my Targa roof - only the odd leak and creak that has needed my attention to correct. Perhaps my good fortune to date is down to it being a ‘good’ one or maybe me and previous owners looking after it properly (regularly using the roof, cleaning out gutters, adding lube to rattle and squeak points etc) - perhaps a bit of both.
As 996Targa states, it is really important not to lube the roof mechanism - doing so might improve the opening and closing function initially but acts as a dust and dirt trap that eventually causes the roof to seize.
Re the driving dynamics, in normal driving I’ve never noticed the weight of the roof compared to a coupe, but then I am not a racing driver or driving god so might not have the sharpest senses! It’s worth noting the suspension is tuned on the Targa to be more compliant than the coupe and I actually prefer the slightly softer ride. If you plan to track your car regularly then a glass roof and softer suspension are another matter altogether...
I would suggest you drive both variants and see which one you get on with the best. Having owned a Targa, coupe (996 C4S) and cab (986 Boxster S) i would say that Targas are a pretty unique proposition which you’ll either love or.. not ‘get’ at all.
If you choose to go down the Targa route, check carefully that the roof works as it should, looks in good nick (nice clean runners when open) and doesn’t creak and/or squeak unduly (they all do a little bit) and - crucially - doesn’t leak! There are tell tale sights (and smells) to evidence the latter...
Minor leaks, creaks and squeaks are easily solved. As MrC986 states, there are some excellent resources on 911UK talking through how to do this.
Edited by Gallicbred on Saturday 1st May 14:20
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