Jeff Jones

Thanks everyone for the input so far. After another trip to the dealer I've decided on a few things:

Carmine Red. I love the Blue but I think the car is even more stunning in that red. It's also the color that Porsche introduced for the GTS which I like for some reason.

I'm skipping the PDCC. I need to save some money someplace and for the driving that I'll be doing 95% of the time I don't think I will notice. The car will handle better than anything I've ever owned before.

I'm going with the Leather interior over Standard or GTS. Try as I might I just can't force myself to fall in love with the Alcantara. The GTS package cost isn't worth it to me.

Just when I thought I had every option nailed I started to obsess about the seats. I'm 5'10" and 250. The 18 way seat is a pain to get in and out of without stressing the left bolster (eventual damage is inevitable) but I like the extra room in the back/shoulders. It's not too tight when I'm sitting in it at all, I'm just really concerned about the entry/exit wear and tear. The 14 way seat is much nicer to get in and out of, is comfortable in the seat but seems to hit my shoulder blades a bit when holding the wheel. My perfect seat would be the bottom of the 14 and the top of the 18. Porsche Exclusive perhaps

Cheers,
Jeff

Jeff Jones

I'm also sticking with the Power Steering Plus feature. I can completely understand the opinion of others that find the parking lot maneuvering unnaturally easy. There is something nostalgic about a car that gets unwieldy to move around at low speeds. You know that you are directly connected to those huge tires! However, after having a 78 SC Targa and an 87 TL Cab without power steering I'm in a different camp. I love that Porsche has a solution for great road feel when you need it at speed and being able to single finger parallel park when you want to.

thomnellie

I ordered my Targa 4S with every performance option except the carbon ceramic brakes. It is a Porsche after all, and I dream of my first track outing. I also got the PSP. I don't understand comments about the steering being too light at parking speeds. I have driven several cars with variable assist and find the low speed effort in my Targa to be significantly heavier than in other vehicles. In fact, I find the variable assist quite transparent, equalizing the steering heaviness across the speed range. No matter what speed you are traveling, a given amount of steering effort gives a predictable deflection of the steering wheel, at least until you really lean into a corner at speed, then the steering effort lets you know that you are making it work. Until I had read some recent posts, I completely forgot that I had the PSP. Haven't seen the Carmine Red, but I think the targa looks spectacular in Guards Red, so I think you should be pleased with the Carmine.

Archimedes

Love my PSP, but there's no way it's single finger light in my car.

Vise

Couple comments... re: interior you may want to also consider the hybrid option similar to what I have. Leather interior with full leather seats (no GTS package) but alcantara trim on the mid-doors, lower dash, and center arm rest lid. I also have the alcantara wheel/shifter and it ties in very well to the alcantara A-pillars and headliner. I think it is a bit more interesting than the normal all leather interior... plus the painted interior trim sets it off.

On the seats, I'm similar build wise to you (tip-top condition LOL) and the 18 ways are excellent. Agree there is potential for some wear on entry/exit but once seated they are fantastic. Just keep the leather treated/conditioned religiously and you should be ok.

Also if it isn't too late put the PDCC money into the Burmester. Trust me, it is phenomenal.

NateOZ

I saw the Carmine Red Targa GTS at the NY Autoshow and it inspired me enough to get one.

To give you my view on your questions:
- I left the stickers on the door, but changed the model designation to 911. Might pull it of as well, but figured I would wait to see it first.
- I went with the GTS interior package in the end, it looks far less busy in person and I'm a big fan of alcantara wheels vs leather having owned Porsches with both.
- Carmine looks great in person (having seen both a Targa and GT3 in it), Sapphire looks great in some lighting but not good in others. I would get Carmine of the two.

Jeff Jones

Tip-top condition indeed. I'm in shape. Round is a shape.

Vise, do you use your car as a daily driver? If so, any annoyance getting in and out of the car with the 18 way seats? Is it something that becomes natural or do you think about hitting the bolster every single time?

I'm trying to weigh that concern with the feel of the 14 way on my shoulders which I'm thinking would be even more annoying since it lasts the entire time I'm in the car.

I would feel bad about being so obsessive with these decisions but I know I'm in good company on this forum

77tony

18 way heated/ventilated are the bomb. A bit tricky to get in/out of, but once your in there are wonderful (6'3" 215lbs). Do try all the seats at your dealership for fitment for your body type. T

CamsPorsche

What red is this?

Rocket_boy

A red that isn't available.

Seriously,...it looks like the couple year old "ruby red" that isn't available any longer. You may be able to PTS it though.

mmaturo

I'm 6'-2" and 260 and have no real issue getting in and out without killing the bolster but I have had years of practice with my R8 seats. The ventilated seats are worth the $$...not sure I realized how nice that really is till my S. With the seat automatically pulling back and the wheel up I find it pretty easy to get in and out with my usual technique. Place left arm on A pillar and back in and down with right leg in to left of wheel and turn once on the seat. Miss it. Should be a beautiful car.

Jeff Jones

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated. I'm glad to see there is another Porsche fan that also loves Audi. I had a S5 that I loved and my daily driver is a Q5 that I modified pretty heavily (before they came out with the SQ5). But I'm looking forward to this Targa GTS more than any other car I've ever owned. Well...maybe my 78 Targa gives it a run for the money!

I also realized that most of the time I'm going to be driving this car with the roof open. Entry and exit are so much easier when you don't have a roof to deal with

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff Jones

Order locked, no looking back now On August 28th (hopefully a bit before) I will take delivery!

For anyone else out there obsessing about their options I suggest that you get out of the online configurator and spend as many hours in the dealer as possible driving cars. I was set on several things that got reversed after spending time with the cars. I found the sport plus seats much more comfortable. I discovered that I really like PDCC. And while backing the dealer's car into a tight spot I decided that the front/rear parking sensor with camera was worth it

Thanks for all of the help getting to this point. The wait is painful but at least summers in Seattle never feel very long!

• 911 Targa 4 GTS
• Carmine Red
• Leather Interior in Black
• Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
• Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC)
• Deletion of Model Designation
• Luggage Net in Passenger Footwell
• Smoking Package
• ParkAssist (Front and Rear) with Reversing Camera
• Power Steering Plus
• Deletion of Alcantara®
• SportDesign Steering Wheel
• Interior Package Painted i.c.w. Leather Interior
• XHB Center Console Trim in Leather
• Adaptive Sport Seats Plus (18-way) with Memory Package
• Premium Package Plus w/ Adaptive Sport Seats Plus (18-way)
• BOSE® Audio Package

The only real "risk" that I'm taking is with the painted interior trim on the doors and dash since I wasn't able to see another car like this in person. But I wanted to spice up the interior a bit and the GTS package wasn't an option for me.

Gj325

That's going to be one sweet ride!!!
I went with GTS package I didn't think of the pop you added it's going to be awesome. Can't wait to see the pictures in Aug.

eg991

This is going to be great; can't wait to see pics. Good luck with the wait!