Always have liked the Targas . . . my first p-car was a 911SC Targa. Can't wait to see the 997 version.

Scott

 

I was in Zuffenhausen last week and spotted the targa :




Rest of the pics you can find in my gallery :

http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/album468?page=1

 

Re. coupe or cab. based....here's a quote from the Feb. '02 edition of Excellence that reviewed the 996 Targa (and please forgive my typing skills) ...

"A primary difference is that the new car is built on a coupe's chassis while the 993 Targa was based on the more flexible Cabriolet's chassis. The 996 version begins life as a coupe then has its top cut off at the base of the A- and C-pillars. The B-pillars are severed at the top and a pair of new roof rails are welded in. Steel bars with a 30-mm cross-section reinforce the top rails and are welded in place, adding both structural rigidity and extra roll-over protection. Since Porsche is able to begin the Targa transformation earlier in the car's construction, there is no need for a seam to show on the A-pillars. But two seams remain at the bases of the C-pillars."

According to Excellence a total of 3 levels of rubber seals are provided to prevent leaking and squeaks. The magazine goes on to note that ... "The assembly (Targa-top unit) is brought into the chassis through the windshield opening, lifted into place and then bolted in from below. Aerodynamics cause the Targa insert to pull upward against the roof rails as speed increases, improving sealing at high speed even further."

"The 993 Targa may have introduced the current Targa concept, but the 996 rendition has an ace up its sleeve in the form of the first-ever hatchback on a 911."

IMHO the open targa top with windows down, although surely not a cab., gives a fantastic open air experience that a s.roof (have had many) simply cannot replicate. The hatchback adds a feature that turns this great sports car into one that is more useable on a day-to-day basis....transports 2 people and their gear to the golf club, for example, with no worries about the security of the clubs (or other items) while say, you're in for dinner. When I look for my next p-car the Targa will be high on my list (997S Targa - sweet!). My "steed", with clubs stowed in the back, awaits my wife and I following golf and dinner just this past week-end (forgive the blurry pics).

Cheers

 

Rufie, those Targa shots are significant. First of all, it's clearly a US spec car. Second, it looks to my eye like it's a narrow body car...not a C4. It's been rumored that the Targa would only be offered as a wide body C4/C4S.

 

I would disagree. If you look at the first pic you can just see that the lower part of the rocker panel is unpainted, which is what you get a standard on the C4/S.

 

I think in rufie's second photograph you can see the extra 'edge' aroundf the taillight, showing that it is indeed a widebody car.

 

Maybe it is a wide-body car...I still have a hard time seeing the difference unless the two are next to each other. Mine's black, so I've never noticed a difference in the lower rocker panels.

 

When I was on a factory tour in the beginning of May, there happened to be a new targa top top sitting on the stand waiting, most likely to be installed on a test car?!!!

 

This is a stupid question, and I know your answer is going to be "go with 2007", but I'll ask anyway- if the Targa comes out in 2007, is there any reason to wait until 2008 to get it, in case there are any bugs associated with the Targa top?

It will look beautiful in white.

 

Porsche has been using these types of targa tops for a few years. Mine is an '02 and works perfectly, no leaks, no rattles. I've heard a few other (996) targa owners with experiences similar to mine, so you should be good to go with a "first" generation 997 targa....just my $.02.

 

I think the 996 & 997 share the same roofline, so then it's the same as a 996 targa? Meaning it should be OK?

 

Yesterday I read in the french magazine 'Flat6 Magazine' that the new targa will be presented at the dealers together with the new turbo. Could be because the production of it was at full speed last week.
Further they say that it is a widebody from the C4.

Cya,
Rufie.

 

when does the new turbo get presented?

 

Any recent news on when one can order a 997 Targa in the US?

 

Technically speaking all 997's are built on the 997 cab chassis, since Porsche chose to develop the cab chassis first on the 997 (for the first time) and then add the roof after the fact. They did this because it ensured that the cab would have sufficent torsional rigidity and it wouldn't hurt the coupe or targa either since they would benefit from additional strength from their extra pillars.