Porsche 997: Targa vs. Cabriolet
Deciding between a Targa or Cabriolet top on your Porsche 997? There's a ton of pros and cons to think about. This might just be the most pivotal and important decision of your entire life. Choose wisely. Continue reading as this article will help.
This article applies to the Porsche 997 (2005-2012).
The choice for open-roof Porsche 997s comes down to two options: the Targa or the Cabriolet. "Targa" refers to a "missing" part of the roof, while "Carbriolet" can be referred to as a convertible. Both have slightly different functions, and each have inherent advantages as well as disadvantages. Weighing these pros and cons can help make that choice easier.
Open-Roof Options
Porsche provided consumers with two open-air rooftop configurations for the 997, which includes the Targa and Cabriolet. The Targa consists of a 1.5 square-meter of retractable roof over the driver's and passenger's side seats. At the push of a button, the roof panel can be retracted into the rear cargo area, providing full sun exposure over the driver and passenger. It is, in essence, a very large power-operated sunroof.
The Cabriolet, on the other hand, utilizes a fabric retractable top over an aluminium and magnesium frame. The roof fully folds into the rear of the car, allowing full unrestricted open-air driving.
Pro Tip
Rennlist members have reported that handling with both the Targa as well as Cabriolet feel a bit softer than their hard-top counterpart. It seems Porsche may have tuned the suspension to soften the edges a bit, and counteract the increased weight inherent in open-topped cars.
Targa Pros and Cons
The Targa option provides a large sunroof-style opening over both the driver and passenger. As mentioned, this rooftop is power-operated and can be opened or closed at the push of a button. When closed, the Targa top is transparent, allowing the sun to enter the cabin even in the rain. Additionally, a retractable sunshade keeps those rays from overwhelming the interior components and the passengers. Another advantage of the Targa model is that the rear cargo area opens in full-glass hatchback style, allowing full access to the trunk. Also, the Targa design allows open-air motoring without a lot of wind noise and buffeting.
Some drivers have complained about creaks and squeaks from the Targa top when closed, but some report that this is a maintenance issue that can be easily fixed by the average Porsche owner. Some say the sunshine overhead can be bothersome, while others note that the retractable sunshade is perfectly adequate to the task (one of the more relative comparisons). Lastly, rear visibility suffers significantly with the roof open because of the sliding design of the top.
Cabriolet Pros and Cons
The Cabriolet is a full-fabric retractable roof setup over a metal frame. The roof folds completely to the rear, allowing maximum sun exposure and the full convertible experience. A clever wind deflector keeps most wind noise and buffeting to a minimum.
While the folding roof can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 30 MPH, this might be seen to be a negative when compared to the Targa top, which can be opened or closed at any time as well as speed. There isn't much cargo space in the 997 to begin with, but the Cabriolet's folding top ensures there's virtually none to be had.
Appearance and Curb Appeal
The Targa model, at least in profile, retains almost perfectly the hard-topped 997 appearance. At that angle, this 997 looks just like any other 997. But to make up for this, Porsche added an aluminium strip along the roof line of Targa models only. Some owners may find this distracting as it's a sure giveaway of what you're looking at.
The Cabriolet looks very little like its hard-top counterparts. Whether this is a problem for buyers, it is up to personal preference. Rear cooling louvers display a slightly significant aesthetic difference as well.
Conclusion
Those planning to get the fastest, best-handling Porsche 997 are not in the market for either a Targa or a Cabriolet. Porsche knows the open-top consumers, and so they built a certain softening of the suspension into those models to increase comfort. The extra weight required for the lack of roof strength means performance suffers a little, but this will not be much of an issue for most drivers.
However, those looking for the full open-motoring experience should opt for the Cabriolet. A high-quality lightweight folding roof is one of the best in the business. Even when open, there's little to complain about when it comes to noise or buffeting. While the Targa does not betray the elegant lines of the hard-top 997, there isn't much to be gained other than it amounts to a large sunroof. Still, this is preferable to those looking for a more discreet design.
Related Discussions
- Carrera 4S Targa - Rennlist.com
- 997 Targa Ownership Pros and Cons - Rennlist.com
