Amfab

Hi, I'm a newbie on this site. I'm currently searching for answers on this, but if anyone would like to chime in it would be great.

Im selling my 84 targa, ::sniff:: after 18 years,::sniff:: and after going back and forth between getting another 84-89 with low miles and just starting over, I decided to go for a 993 Targa.

Iv'e always loved the 993, they were just a bit non-911 shaped for me. But then the concept of a Targa that I dont have to get out to take the top off, and having air conditioning that feels like more than a penguin blowing through a straw is quite appealing.

Anyway, I went to my mechanic today to talk to him about reliability and service cost and he said "No! dont get the targa, the tops break, and they are impossible to fix. Just get a coupe, or a cab."
(I dont like being that exposed, in a cab)

Coincidentally there was a coupe for sale on a bulletin board at his shop for $38k, with 48k miles Silver/Black 6spd. (a private owner that serviced the car there, and he said it was immaculate) Which is the price range Im looking in.

So I had decided on the Targa, and he threw doubt into my plan. I mean 18 years with a Carrera Targa, 5 years with a 911L Targa and 3 years with a 914. Living with just a sunroof? It seems to be pretty wide on the coupe though, yet it doesn't go too far back, but I haven't driven one.

Im debating which is more of a potential problem, the Targa top breaking, or me getting depressed due to a version of Seasonal Affective Disorder, because of reduced sunlight to my pineal gland.

Any information at all regarding the top , or other issues would be greatly welcomed.

By the way, the car I am looking for is a White (silver as 2nd choice) 993, Black interior (could live with tan, or maybe gray), 6spd,
Maximum 65k miles (if the 60k service has been done) So if anyone knows of one. . .
I debated the Tiptronic due to the amount of freeway driving I have to do. But it seems a little non-interactive to me, plus Ive had over twenty years of pre-hydraulic-clutch left leg training. I wouldnt want to get flabby. . .

Any advice regarding the reliability of the top, smog or tip vs. manual or anything else would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
-Andrew

luvmy356

If you search the 993 forum using "targa" as your keyword, you'll find lots of stories of leaks, rust, sunshade malfunction, rattles, basically everything to scare someone away from a Targa. When word got out that I was about to buy one, one of the shops I frequent also told me to run away.

But after reading the posts and seeing that rennlist folks like Mike J are very knowledgeable and can offer advice if anything goes wrong with the top, I took a chance and bought one a few days ago, its white w/black-light grey two tone interior.

Funny thing is that I originally wanted a daily driver coupe as I have other p-cars with folding tops for sunny days. But when this Targa came up for sale, I couldn't resist as it was an original owner local car with all with all records and top end/clutch done. Its a neat experience driving with all this ambient light in the cabin when its cold and wet outside. I just hope I don't have any problems with it.

HJK

I think ther are scary stories about everything on the car. I got one, 34k miles on it and yes there's squeeks and noises, BUT; nothing a knowledgeable technician can't sort. I went rigoreus, replaced all rubbers and seals (including the doors) had the roof realigned and adjusted and it's flawless, no more noise no squeeks, no rattles, and if they come back (which they will) you just have it serviced with a regular service and voila.... So yes, it's more hassle, but it can be overcome and it ain't too much of a pain in exchange for open driving.... G'luck with whatever your choice will be.

Mike J

I think this forum has about all the information you can absorb in the archive...but it does take timeto read it all.

You have to remember this forum is an area for problems and complaints so you will get a disproportionate number of discussions on problems to perhaps what is happening in the general population.

The generic problems with the 993 (valve guides, SAI issues, DMF issues, premature shock absorber wear, etc) are systematic to all 993's and certainly not focused on the Targa. You have to be carefull and make sure you have ae PPI. The 993 is more expensive to maintain than the 911's you are used to (my previous one was an 1983 911SC...bulletproof!!) to be prepared.

The next part is my two cents worth...

As far as Targa's to there are also two groups of opinions...those from people who own one and those from people who don't. Sometimes it seems that most of the negative comments including leaks, rattles, squeaks, etc. come from the people who don't own one ; the owners of Targa's are a loyal lot and usually rave about the tops and say that any inconvienance far outways any problems.

I can probaly claim the championship cup for Targa top problems, eventually winning a 14 month "negotiation" with Porsche to have my top totally replaced, and even with all that I still love the 993 Targa. Once you have a Targa all the other 993's seem dark (unless its a Cab with the top down!!). People comment about flex ; I don't notice any more than the coupes that I have driven and I have tracked my car. Again this is my biased opinion!

I suggest you drive an assortment of cars, take a 993 coupe, targa and cab out and see what you feel. See if you can find an "S", they have great appeal and have wonderfull curves. If you decided to purchase a Targa have it checked out and just enjoy the car!

My opinion is unbiased of course!

Mike

no1fltim

I second the opinions above - once you've driven a Targa all the others seem dark. Its definently a different flavor and there will be adjustments that need to be made to keep the top functioning well. That said, one of our local cabs just had to have his top adjusted to the tune of $1800.00. Nothing that opens is trouble free. I love mine and wouldn't trade.

Tim

Chris W. - '96 Targa

Hi Andrew,

I bought my Targa 5 years ago with 22k miles on it. It just turned 82k miles a couple weeks ago. It's a daily driver, and I absolutely love it.

Regarding the top, I've had three problems that I had to fix:

1) Wind noise around the wind deflector at the front of the top. This is fixed by adjusting how tightly the wind deflector closes. One nut on each side to adjust, takes about 5 minutes. I've had to do this twice since I bought the car.

2) Creaking noise at the driver's side front corner of the top frame. This is fixed by putting loctite on and tightening a couple of allen-head screws. The screws are behind the trim panels, so it takes ~30 minutes for that one. I did this once a couple years ago, but need to do so again.

3) The retractable sunshade had a couple of broken guides. The guides are made of pot metal, and had to be replaced. Cost of parts was < $10, but they're not a commonly stocked item and so had to be ordered from Germany. Took a couple weeks to get them. The actual repair took about an hour, most of which was spent figuring out how to get the guides into the sunshade, and then into the tracks the shade rides in.

Honestly, I rarely use the sunshade, as I prefer the light streaming in above.

After 60k miles driven, that's it for top problems. Perhaps I've been fortunate; I don't know. I certainly don't regret getting the Targa!

Best,

Chris

Chris W. - '96 Targa

Oh, and if you like driving a manual transmission, hold out for one in your search. You won't regret it!



-Chris

Amfab

luvmy356, was that the white grey one with about 85k in Belvue? I was looking at that one, no wonder they didn't get back to me. Congratulations.
Thanks for your advice everyone.
Wind noise and leaks? If it was raining and I didn't have a leak, or people if understood me all the time on my cell phone at 60MPH, I'd think I was driving something Japanese.
Yeah, Bulletproof, my 84 is like that. Well thats disappointing to know they aren't as strong a car. I understand. I just don't want it to be a hobby like something British.
I can do a lot of my own maintenance, I just prefer to do it on my schedule
Thanks again
-Andrew

dbf73

Andrew - you might want to ask around and see if there are any targa gurus in the LA area. With that many P-cars and population, there is sure to be at least one. You may trust your mechanic for most things but sometimes you need a specialist resource.

Adrienne

At 11 years old and 138k miles, my Targa works fine. I suppose at some point something will break. My wind deflector whistles if I try to close it at highway speeds (easy fix there) and my sun shade binds occasionally. But who cares. That's piddly stuff compared to the joy I get from driving the Targa. If you like the Targa, get it. Your pineal gland will thank you.

Mike J

See, what did I tell you!

luvmy356

That was me. The owner had listed his car for sale for a few weeks at one of the other repair shops I spend money at. By the time I called him, he had already consigned it at the local "exotic" dealer as he didn't get any responses. He had to give the dealer 10 days notice to pull the car, so I figured if someone bought the car in the meantime it wasn't meant to be.

The dealer had their chance to make their commission. They had the car for almost two weeks and didn't actively market it until the owner gave them the notice. Within two days of his notice the car appeared on their website and on autotrader. Also during this time, I went to the dealer looking for a 993 and the salespeople didn't show or tell me about the car.

My advice for anyone looking for a car is to also visit all the independent P-car repair shops that you work with. They always have customer cars that they are familar with posted for sale, and often its by owners who are not active in the local club or online, so you don't hear about them.

creator8

I love my Targa and I love the Tip. For a daily driver it ticks every box. The Tip is something you have to spend time with and figure out how to use to get the best out of it. I'm a pretty hardcore enthusiast so it was a stretch going to a Tip--and a Targa. But this car was going to be a daily driver in LA traffic and also my wife really pushed for a Tip as she doesn't drive stick. I really like it now and except for a car that would be mainly for track or canyon running--I'd go Tip again.

My opiinion is that the early Targas were problematic but they figured out the issues on the later ones. You can't beat the full glass top-its an amazing effect. I'm not a big convertible fan, but I like being able to go open when the sun isn't too strong or on a warm summer night. Plus you close the shade and then you've got a coupe. On the downside, there's a few more creaks and rattles than a coupe, but you get used to it, and they go away when the roof is opened. I've had no issues with leaks. I'm conscious to open and close the roof when the car is on even ground.

The Targa also has a unique line from the rear. The roof is narrower at its base than a coupe so the rear arches appear wider. The black of the glass against white or silver is also a neat look.

The Targas are unique cars that I think in the future will be very desirable. There were only 122 sold in the US in 98--and I believe none sold in 98 in the ROW as the 996 was out by then.

97Targa

I've had mine for about 4 years now. I love the way it looks and works.
No problems so far. If I encounter any, I'll get it fixed and keep on enjoying it. IMHO, It truly is the best of both worlds. The security of a coupe and the open feel of a cab. But it feels much less closed in even with the top shut. You always have the light coming through. Unless you choose to close the sun shade. It's also a trip to drive in the rain becasue of the way that the water beads/streams off of the glass top.
Guess what my recommendation is?

Leander

I recently paid $1,200 to have my 96 targa top realigned. It had slipped slightly down into the car - a small metal bearer or plate had sheared, and the rails had to be replaced. The motor, one set of cables and the seals were fine. Most of the cost was in labor - it was like performing open heart surgery. Everything had to be in the right place and it was quite difficult to access all the bits.

The mechanic (Chris at A. Bauer in Oakland) said there was nothing I could have done to prevent this from happening - seemed to be a failure of the metal in the small (4cm long) roof plate (replacement cost $250) - he showed me how the replacement Porsche part was sturdier than the original.

Since the repair, the roof has been a joy to use especially now the weather is getting nicer. Prior to the repair the roof creaked and groaned over every bump - it sounded as though I was wrecking the car, and it leaked heavily in rain. Now it is perfect and I love it!