tomjack

Are there any shops that do a 996 aftermarket targa or t-tops conversion?
Here's my dilemma:

I'm in the market for either a 996TT or a Boxster S in the next couple months. I love open air driving but can't afford a 996TT Cabriolet. So, my options are:
1. Buy a 996 targa and do an aftermarket turbo or SC
2. Buy a Boxster S and do the same
3. Buy a 996 TT and have an aftermarket targa conversion done (my top choice if it were available.)

Thanks in advance.

SKooT1027

I would think any kind of conversion would sacrifice the safety of the frame. Sort of like how you can't just cut the roof off a car to have a convertible. I think the best bet is go for the TT from the factory if that's what you want, but maybe wait if you're heart set on a vert. Save up a bit more, and buy it in a few months.

medtech

Uhhh, negative.

I think you need to do more research, cause you're talking about 3 ENTIRELY different cars.

Good luck...

SH || NC

#2 would be cheapest I think, and you wouldn't be cutting up the car. I'd say save your pennies until you can afford the TT cab.

gota911

Why "settle" for something you don't really want? Wait until you can afford what you REALLY want.

redridge

get a 996 convertible and SC it.

Marc Gelefsky

Buckle in folks, here we go!

maci911

#1

UCrazyKid

You might as well by a salvage title car and modify it because once you start cutting on a perfectly good car your resale value will drop right into the toilet. Otherwise go with option 1 with a S/C.

Meister Fahrer

A Targa is based on a convertible, which has multiple enhancements/reinforcements to maintain some rigidity.

I could hook you up with my buddy from high school who cut the top off a '68 Buick station wagon, installed a roll bar, and painted racing stripes.

Otherwise, a Boxster is really a great platform to start with. GL.

Another Don

Being the owner of a new (to me) 996 Targa I would be astonished if you could retrofit a Targa top onto a 996TT for less than the cost of the 996TT. It would appear that about the only way to get the rails, top, and electric motors would be to buy a donor 996 Targa, cut the top off of it and then weld this top onto the 996TT. The cost of the parts and labor for such surgery would have to be astronomical. So my guess is that your option #3 would wind up costing you more than the 996TT cabrio that you say is beyond your budget.

Going the other way... buying the Targa and adding a fan to the engine...would seem to be slightly better. I say, "slightly" because there are still a couple of problems with this approach.

The first problem is finding one. Based on a little research that I did while looking for mine, Targas appear to be about 5% of the 996 production in any model year. That is, out of ~12,000 996s ~600 are Targas. Then, you probably want a manual transmission in this Targa (I know I did) and my count is that probably two-thirds of the Targas are fitted with Tiptronic trannies. The bottom line is that a manual Targa is a rare bird indeed.

But let's say that you did find the Targa you wanted and had it fitted with the SC or turbo. You probably would like to get that extra horsepower to the ground, which would call for wider tires and wheels. But, the Targa is a narrow body and so now you need more than a little fender work to make it a wide body, or flares, or something to accommodate those wider rear shoes. When the dust settles, the 996TT cabrio is still probably cheaper than the car plus the cost of the mods for option #1.

Don't care for a Boxster, myself. I don't fit very well. So I'll simply say Good Luck with your option #2.

So my recommendation would be to learn to live with the sunroof on the 996TT coupe or keep saving until that 996TT cabrio will fit your budget.

Just my 2¢ YMMV

salayc

Not a worry with a 996.

kunkstyle

^^^

ivangene

1. Buy a 996 targa and do an aftermarket turbo or SC
(what makes you think you need turbo or SC... how much seat time do you have in a 996 or other P-car and what are you planning to use the car for... can't afford a TT... SC conversions are not cheap either)

2. Buy a Boxster S and do the same
(wrong forum... we never heard of this model before)

3. Buy a 996 TT and have an aftermarket targa conversion done (my top choice if it were available.)
(this is a wild thought....I dont have any idea why anyone would chop the top off a TT just to look up.....I am not even sure what to say about this one)

Leenseen

What about a 997 4S Targa?