For There’s a large sunroof that slides in under the rear window. This slight difference from the coupe doesn’t rob the Targa of a stonking drive, though – it’s still brilliant.
Against The Targa is only available with all-wheel drive, and costs a lot more than the coupe. It seems churlish to complain, but a bit more space on the rear bench would have made the 911 much more practical.
The Targa strikes the best balance between catching a few rays and maintaining the coupe’s structural integrity, but it lacks the open-air excitement that comes with the cabriolet.
If you’ve got your heart set on a Porsche 911, then congratulations, you’ll be making a brilliant choice. Your options aren’t over just yet, though.
There are a number of different versions that range from fast to very, very furious. The base models have a 341bhp 3.6-litre engine, while S has a 380bhp 3.8 and GTS a 402bhp 3.8. If you want something even more hardcore, there’s always the 429bhp GT3, the 493bhp Turbo, or the 523bhp GT2.
Some of these cars also come with a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive, so that’s another thing to mull over. You can also choose a Targa version, which has a large sunroof that slides back to expose you to the elements almost as much as the cabriolet, but without the cabrio’s wobblier body and mushier suspension.
Whichever 911 you pick, you won’t be disappointed because they’re all fantastic. However, we reckon that the GTS strikes the best balance between performance and everyday usability.
I have owned Porsches for 25 years now. I've had quite a few. My current car is a 2008 997 Turbo Tiptronic. I had a 2004 996 Turbo Tip before this…
A couple of weeks ago I traded my 2007 manual 997 Targa 4 in for a ex-demo 997 Carerra S, the newer "facelift" model with the new PDK gearbox and a…
I have owned a 996, 3.6, for four years. Altough it is great to drive, I found this car much less reliable than I thought it was. This is a key issue…
Having just stepped out of a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera into a 997 Turbo, I am giving up on a overwhelming wedge of glorious noise but am…