capndar

Currently own a 944 coupe - formerly owned a 914 (targa, of course) and I am now looking at a 911 targa - how does the 911 targa system compare with the 914? I though the 914 set up was solid and wasn't too noisy, and reasonably weather tight...how is the 911 targa - and did they make any revisions over the years? (modern era from the SC on)?

Thanks

87turbo911

Ask Dan Petchel at http://www.carsinc-nj.com about it. He knows lots of stuff about Targa tops.

epbrown01

The biggest changes for the targa came in the early 70s and late 80s. In the early 70s they switched from two posts at the rear to three for a more secure, less noisy fit. Around 77 or 78 Porsche but the brake booster in a position in the trunk that makes it impossible storean unfolded top (or the hard top, for those of us lucky enough to own one).

Around 86 or 87, Porsche changed the seals on the targa and discontinued the earlier seals. Replacing a targa seal on an earlier car now means removing some excess rubber from the later-style seal in order for it to fit.

Personally, I like my targa (love the roll-bar, like having glass at the rear) but value-wise it might be better to go for a cabriolet if you want open-air motoring - the cabs hold their value better and look better.

Emanuel

fixnprsh

Targas have water leaks, recover is a bitch, seals aren't cheap ,and for gods sake....take the release tool out when you park, otherwise you might return to your car and find the top missing! and a new one is over the $5000 mark!

epbrown01

Mine doesn't leak, they can be adjusted to avoid that and with good seals. Are new ones even available? Most people looking to replace one troll eBay for a week or two. Recovering is a toughie, though.

Emanuel

g-50cab

I went from a Targa to a Cabriolet - a 1990 C2 Targa to a 1987 Cabriolet. My wife wanted a cabriolet - and the deal was too good to pass up. That being said - I think I like the Targa better, even though it was a little noisier. The Cab is great if you want to feel like a rock star - But for drivings in DE or autocross (which I do) the cab feels much more vulnerable, even with a roll bar (bolt in, bolt out DAS bar).

JCP911S

Targas are fiddly compared with coupes. They are not as solid, and frequntly have minor leaks in heavy rain. A top rebuild will cost upward of $900. If you must have open air driving, however, they are still very good, solid cars and a good compromise. If you don't really care, stick with a coupe.

wwest

Love my 78 Targa, if Porsche were to re-introduce the old style Targa or even a T-top I would be dumping my 01 C4 immediately!

Cabs are BUTT-UGLY with the top up!

bones

Love my leak proof Targa too. I competely recovered the top to factory spec with a kit for less than £100.00 sterling, looks like new.

g-50cab

350z convertibles are BUTT-UGLY with the top up - 911 Cabriolets are not!

Ron Minson

I love the look of a cab with the top up or down. Next car will be a cab if I can ever move out of Oregon.

fixnprsh

hehe, i dont know how many of you have ever had a cab on a lift but, try opening the doors when it is in the air with the weight on the lifting pads and not the wheels, you have to yank pretty stoutly to open the doors, for some reason it seems to only be cabs (inc. 993's) and not targas

g-50cab

If you jacked one wheel up on my alfa romeo you couldn't even open the door.

fixnprsh

haha, my buddy used to work at chevy, and he told me if you lifted the C4 vettes up on a hoist with out opening the rear hatch glass it would shatter!

In my days with VW, the old Rabbit cabbies, you could drive them around a bumpy interchange, and see daylight through the corner where the mirror base met the A-pillar/windshield frame. now that is scarry

JSilk

I'm thinking of getting a DAS bar for my 88 Carbiolet so that I can do DE. I'm 6"2". Any thoughts on whether I'll be able to use that bar (instead of having one made) and meet the PCA >2" clearance specification?