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Edited - you do realize that a Targa does not and cannot be ordered with SPASM?
Honestly there is a reason the Targa does not come with SPASM - it is a big heavy GT. I own one and have had a targa forever. I have also had the Coupe with SPASM.
You can of course do a lowered suspension, there are plenty of threads on that and what is best, closest to OEM, etc.
But you are in a Targa - that is heaviest of all the 911 variants. It is not a track car (can be, but you get my point).
Also - unless you are tracking it, I am pretty sure you are not pushing it enough to feel the difference between having SPASM and PASM. No offense, but the only way you know (or me and 99% of non professional drivers) is by noticing an addition 0.4 inches of clearance in the wheel wells. (yes 0.4 inches is the difference).
The PSE can be changed in many ways. I actually bought the last two 992 targas I have had without PSE - I like the look of the quad exhaust better. You can have that coded to be a PSE and get about 80% of the sound.. Then put valve controller on and be even louder. Go aftermarket exhaust as well and take it up a notch. The PSE is pretty underwhelming TBH - the 911 is not know to be a loud car at all, and even with quite a bit of money it is not that much louder.
Sadly without Sport PASM you’d have to get something like Ohlins coilovers and manually change settings. Ergo you’re better off finding the car you really want.
Edited - you do realize that a Targa does not and cannot be ordered with SPASM?
Honestly there is a reason the Targa does not come with SPASM - it is a big heavy GT. I own one and have had a targa forever. I have also had the Coupe with SPASM.
You can of course do a lowered suspension, there are plenty of threads on that and what is best, closest to OEM, etc.
But you are in a Targa - that is heaviest of all the 911 variants. It is not a track car (can be, but you get my point).
Also - unless you are tracking it, I am pretty sure you are not pushing it enough to feel the difference between having SPASM and PASM. No offense, but the only way you know (or me and 99% of non professional drivers) is by noticing an addition 0.4 inches of clearance in the wheel wells. (yes 0.4 inches is the difference).
The PSE can be changed in many ways. I actually bought the last two 992 targas I have had without PSE - I like the look of the quad exhaust better. You can have that coded to be a PSE and get about 80% of the sound.. Then put valve controller on and be even louder. Go aftermarket exhaust as well and take it up a notch. The PSE is pretty underwhelming TBH - the 911 is not know to be a loud car at all, and even with quite a bit of money it is not that much louder.
Last edited by Richard_Wallace; Mar 15, 2025 at 09:16 AM.
Edited - you do realize that a Targa does not and cannot be ordered with SPASM?
Honestly there is a reason the Targa does not come with SPASM - it is a big heavy GT. I own one and have had a targa forever. I have also had the Coupe with SPASM.
You can of course do a lowered suspension, there are plenty of threads on that and what is best, closest to OEM, etc.
But you are in a Targa - that is heaviest of all the 911 variants. It is not a track car (can be, but you get my point).
Also - unless you are tracking it, I am pretty sure you are not pushing it enough to feel the difference between having SPASM and PASM. No offense, but the only way you know (or me and 99% of non professional drivers) is by noticing an addition 0.4 inches of clearance in the wheel wells. (yes 0.4 inches is the difference).
The PSE can be changed in many ways. I actually bought the last two 992 targas I have had without PSE - I like the look of the quad exhaust better. You can have that coded to be a PSE and get about 80% of the sound.. Then put valve controller on and be even louder. Go aftermarket exhaust as well and take it up a notch. The PSE is pretty underwhelming TBH - the 911 is not know to be a loud car at all, and even with quite a bit of money it is not that much louder.
Thanks, thats very useful. I didn’t realize that the Targa 4S can’t be ordered with SPASM.
More importantly, your warning about weight makes me think I should have stayed in a convertible altogether.
Maybe I’ll keep it for one summer then resell when I find the right car. Haven’t even test driven it since its still winter here.
SPASM is only 10mm lower than what you have. And you already have a valved exhaust, just with a different muffler design. M Eng or whomever can help you open up those valves better. You might be overthinking this.
you do realize that a Targa does not and cannot be ordered with SPASM?
@Richard_Wallace , I vaguely remember that the 992.1 Targa sat 10mm higher than the regular Carrera (for the reasons you mentioned).
But if you ordered the SPASM option, that height would then be reduced by 10mm, making it sit at the same height as a regular Carrara. But this would still not bring it to the (lowered) height of a Carrera with SPASM.
Our C4S Cabriolet with SPASM (and HRE wheels), and C4S Targa. The Targa is very compliant and comfortable. Cabriolet noticeably stiffer.
I think the easy fix for you is KW HAS (height adjustable spring) kit or Techart HAS kit (Basically the same, different colors) which will give you the lower look and firm it up a bit with less spring travel. We also put M-Engineering stage 1 tunes on both, with exhaust valves open 100%. Great sound and tons of power. A few small mods, and enjoy it.
@Richard_Wallace , I vaguely remember that the 992.1 Targa sat 10mm higher than the regular Carrera (for the reasons you mentioned).
But if you ordered the SPASM option, that height would then be reduced by 10mm, making it sit at the same height as a regular Carrara. But this would still not bring it to the (lowered) height of a Carrera with SPASM.
Do I remember incorrectly?
Nope. The Base has PASM and the Targa has the PASM as standard and cannot have SPASM. The base with PASM and the Targa with PASM would sit at the same height...
The 991 and 992 targa could not be ordered with SPASM or any lowering at all from the factory. All other variants could be or could not be optioned with the Sport Porsche Active Suspension Management.
So you could get a S, Cab, GTS, etc. with or without Sports PASM. Even the GTS Targa does not have SPASM (nor can you order it)- which outside the bump in HP and CL wheels, it missed out on all the suspension goodies that the Cab and coupe had. Thus I always scratched my head on people opting for the Targa in GTS guise, vs just the S - as it misses out on the suspension goodies that the GTS gets, and the other things (I think) are minor to pay that much extra for.
I sold my 992.1 C4S cab in September and have been sad living without a 911 despite getting a Cayenne Turbo GT and a Taycan GTS
I saw few options and ended up picking up a 2023 Targa 4S without being diligent enough on options.
It has sport chrono but NO PSE and SPASM. It sits high.
the PSE I was planning to fix with coding and an APR valved catback
now I am at a loss about what to do for suspension.
I just want it to be like my C4S that had SPASM. I want everything to work like OEM.
What can I do? I could sell the car but can’t find a decent alternative in my local market (Montreal)
thanks
yeah as others have mentioned you've got the only suspension you can get on a Targa so you didn't screw up. KW HAS seems to be people's go to option for lowering targas. There are a few folks on here with lowered targas. People make a big deal out of the weight, and to me its completely overblown. Especially if you are comparing cab to targa, unless you are a very serious driver trying to find every ounce of performance the cab and targa to me are essentially equally compromised. If you are looking for a track car to me its coupe or just accept the compromise of either topless option. Maybe I've gotten soft in my 40s but I love the ride of the targa. I wish it visually was lower but not dying for anything stiffer. Even visually though in person it bothers me a lot less than in pictures.
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I messed up. Targa 4S without PSE and SPASM
