993 Desired...
- Thread starter Guest
- Start date
38F3E1
PCGB Member
I do agree but that doesn't seem stop there being a definate premium charged by dealers and those selling privately. Maybe because they are rarer?
Slighty off topic but related ... I looked in latest Porsche Post and nearly all the 993s for private sale where either Targa, C2S or C4S. Not a single varioram coupe advertised. Wonder what that means
38F3E1
PCGB Member
I find the sunroof on the coupe is pretty unusable at reasonable speeds even with the windows cracked. For the amount of time I use it it would be better not having one.
The Targa however is completely different and very usable even with spirited driving. Also you can just open the front section which gives a nice flow of fresh air in the car.
I have both cars. In this area the Targa definately wins by miles.
The Targa however is completely different and very usable even with spirited driving. Also you can just open the front section which gives a nice flow of fresh air in the car.
I have both cars. In this area the Targa definately wins by miles.
38F3E1
PCGB Member
I am going to restrict my comparison to the two cars I have which means I am comparing the Targa with a 96 and onwards Coupe. Both have manual gearboxes.
Somebody else will have to contribute about the various differences between pre 96 and 96 and onwards Coupes and between manual and Tipronic gearboxes. Hopefully other people can chime in with their opinions on the following as well.
Things of interest in no particular order..
Wheels
I really like the look of the wheels on the Targa. However they are expensive to refurbish and the black coating on the bolts holding the rims together does degrade so they can look tatty. The wheels are also heavy. It is not recommended to change to 18" wheels on the Targa. I personally also like the 17" cup wheels on a Targa but they are not standard and most have the 17" Targa wheels.
You can put 17" or 18" wheels on a Coupe. The standard 17" cups are pretty light and because they are plain are easy to clean and refurbish. Standard optional 18" wheels would be the hollow Turbo wheels, which are also light. You can't buy these new anymore. A popular change is to fit the 18" 2002 wheels for the 996 that are also light. Lots of other 18" wheels available.
Suspension
It is not recommended to make the suspension firmer on the Targa. If suspension upgrades are your thing then a Coupe is the option. Plus buying a Coupe allows hours of discussions, on forums such as this, on the subject as to which is the best upgrade.
Both cars with the same suspension set up and properly aligned drive the same. So it becomes a question of whether you want to change the car in this area.
Engine.
Targa and 96 onwards Coupe have the same engine (VarioRam version). No difference between the engines at all. Same power, same torque and same performance feeling when driving.
Gearbox
Not so much a difference in Targa and Coupe as between G20 and G21 boxes. G20 is better for cruising and G21 better for spirited driving as the revs are kept higher. My Targa has the G21 box and the Coupe has the G20. Coupes swapped from G21 to G20 sometime in 96. I don't know if the Targa swapped as well as my Targa has a slightly earlier delivery date. I personally prefer the G21 box and I can tell the difference between the two. My Targa feels faster because of it.
Brakes
Identical set up. Identical performance.
Targa Roof / Sunroof
I don't like the sunroof on the Coupe. It's noisy when open and windy. Very rarely use it unless gently cruising around. Would prefer the Coupe without but that seems rare on C16 RHD UK cars.
The Targa roof has a serious coolness factor to it. The fact that it is all glass and opens at the press of a button is very neat. I use it a lot with just the front opened as it gives a nice flow of fresh air. If it is warm I will open it fully and find driving at 100mph no problem in it. I am not saying all is stillness and calm in the cabin but it is still pleasant. If it is really sunny you have to have the blind shut unless you wear a cap or like sun on your head. You can open the front and have the blind shut but I have found the blind can get sucked up into the opening if driving at high speed.
With both cars I find the climate inside the same if the Sunroof / Targa roof is closed.
So what's bad about the Targa roof? Well it squeaks a tiny bit sometimes, rattles a bit sometimes and sometimes I get a little rain inside the car if it is very wet. But I must stress these are all minor. It would not put me off buying one. However one thing to bear in mind is that as the Targa roof gets older it is likely to require attention and they are complicated and therefore will be expensive to fix.
Driving.
Both run on 17" wheels with standard suspension. I find they both feel the same on the road. The Targa feels faster but that is due to the gearbox type and not the car type. The Coupe would probably be slightly faster with the same gearbox because it is slightly lighter. The Coupe body is probably slightly stiffer but I am not good enough a driver to tell.
The difference between having the car properly set up (ie aligned correctly, replacing knackered shocks etc) or not is probably greater than the difference in feel between the two models.
Finally "¦
So what's my favourite? Neither, I like them both. In the end I will keep the Coupe for the long term but that is because I originally started out with the specific aim of buying a narrow body Coupe to keep for a long time.
I was offered a one owner Targa from new car in great condition with 40K miles in Iris Blue, which I happen to like as a colour. So I bought it. Finally I found a Coupe in Midnight Blue with 27K miles also in very nice condition so bought that. The reason I kept looking was because I want a car to be used for fast driving including track and therefore wanted the option to upgrade suspension etc and that is only really an option for a Coupe. My ideal Coupe would have no sunroof, upgraded suspension and a G21 gearbox or a re-geared G20 (all things on my list to do with it).
I was going to sell the Targa but I can't bring myself to do it as I like it. And my wife loves driving the Targa. But I couldn't sell the Coupe either. We now use the Targa as a regular driver keeping the Coupe for weekends only.
In summary apart from the obvious fact that one has a roof and the other not, they are very similar cars in feel to use and to drive. If you only want to use the car on the road either will give you lots of smiles. Each has small advantages and disadvantages. The choice will depend on what you want to use it for and which you prefer in looks.
Ian.
Somebody else will have to contribute about the various differences between pre 96 and 96 and onwards Coupes and between manual and Tipronic gearboxes. Hopefully other people can chime in with their opinions on the following as well.
Things of interest in no particular order..
Wheels
I really like the look of the wheels on the Targa. However they are expensive to refurbish and the black coating on the bolts holding the rims together does degrade so they can look tatty. The wheels are also heavy. It is not recommended to change to 18" wheels on the Targa. I personally also like the 17" cup wheels on a Targa but they are not standard and most have the 17" Targa wheels.
You can put 17" or 18" wheels on a Coupe. The standard 17" cups are pretty light and because they are plain are easy to clean and refurbish. Standard optional 18" wheels would be the hollow Turbo wheels, which are also light. You can't buy these new anymore. A popular change is to fit the 18" 2002 wheels for the 996 that are also light. Lots of other 18" wheels available.
Suspension
It is not recommended to make the suspension firmer on the Targa. If suspension upgrades are your thing then a Coupe is the option. Plus buying a Coupe allows hours of discussions, on forums such as this, on the subject as to which is the best upgrade.
Both cars with the same suspension set up and properly aligned drive the same. So it becomes a question of whether you want to change the car in this area.
Engine.
Targa and 96 onwards Coupe have the same engine (VarioRam version). No difference between the engines at all. Same power, same torque and same performance feeling when driving.
Gearbox
Not so much a difference in Targa and Coupe as between G20 and G21 boxes. G20 is better for cruising and G21 better for spirited driving as the revs are kept higher. My Targa has the G21 box and the Coupe has the G20. Coupes swapped from G21 to G20 sometime in 96. I don't know if the Targa swapped as well as my Targa has a slightly earlier delivery date. I personally prefer the G21 box and I can tell the difference between the two. My Targa feels faster because of it.
Brakes
Identical set up. Identical performance.
Targa Roof / Sunroof
I don't like the sunroof on the Coupe. It's noisy when open and windy. Very rarely use it unless gently cruising around. Would prefer the Coupe without but that seems rare on C16 RHD UK cars.
The Targa roof has a serious coolness factor to it. The fact that it is all glass and opens at the press of a button is very neat. I use it a lot with just the front opened as it gives a nice flow of fresh air. If it is warm I will open it fully and find driving at 100mph no problem in it. I am not saying all is stillness and calm in the cabin but it is still pleasant. If it is really sunny you have to have the blind shut unless you wear a cap or like sun on your head. You can open the front and have the blind shut but I have found the blind can get sucked up into the opening if driving at high speed.
With both cars I find the climate inside the same if the Sunroof / Targa roof is closed.
So what's bad about the Targa roof? Well it squeaks a tiny bit sometimes, rattles a bit sometimes and sometimes I get a little rain inside the car if it is very wet. But I must stress these are all minor. It would not put me off buying one. However one thing to bear in mind is that as the Targa roof gets older it is likely to require attention and they are complicated and therefore will be expensive to fix.
Driving.
Both run on 17" wheels with standard suspension. I find they both feel the same on the road. The Targa feels faster but that is due to the gearbox type and not the car type. The Coupe would probably be slightly faster with the same gearbox because it is slightly lighter. The Coupe body is probably slightly stiffer but I am not good enough a driver to tell.
The difference between having the car properly set up (ie aligned correctly, replacing knackered shocks etc) or not is probably greater than the difference in feel between the two models.
Finally "¦
So what's my favourite? Neither, I like them both. In the end I will keep the Coupe for the long term but that is because I originally started out with the specific aim of buying a narrow body Coupe to keep for a long time.
I was offered a one owner Targa from new car in great condition with 40K miles in Iris Blue, which I happen to like as a colour. So I bought it. Finally I found a Coupe in Midnight Blue with 27K miles also in very nice condition so bought that. The reason I kept looking was because I want a car to be used for fast driving including track and therefore wanted the option to upgrade suspension etc and that is only really an option for a Coupe. My ideal Coupe would have no sunroof, upgraded suspension and a G21 gearbox or a re-geared G20 (all things on my list to do with it).
I was going to sell the Targa but I can't bring myself to do it as I like it. And my wife loves driving the Targa. But I couldn't sell the Coupe either. We now use the Targa as a regular driver keeping the Coupe for weekends only.
In summary apart from the obvious fact that one has a roof and the other not, they are very similar cars in feel to use and to drive. If you only want to use the car on the road either will give you lots of smiles. Each has small advantages and disadvantages. The choice will depend on what you want to use it for and which you prefer in looks.
Ian.
pilotpaul
New member
It's nice to see other Targa fans defending our corner.... [
]
Ian's summary sums up my own feelings pretty well. In the five years and 35k miles I have had my car I've....
- Taken it around the UK
- Take it around Europe
- Taken it around the 'Ring !
I've found it a great compromise between a cab and a coupe. The roof blind has failed twice resulting in long arguments with Porsche GB about who was going to pick up the repair cost but apart from that boringly reliable....
I've never been a big fan of sunroofs. They are too small, and noisy when open at speed. What's the point of them ? When you have a total glass roof with a huge opening that's much more sensible ! I'll never forget my first trip down to the 'Ring at mph on the autobahn with the roof wide open - lovely....
Now I have a nice motorsound airbox coupled to the larger exhaust pipes I can hear that flat six in all her glory.
Every year I say to myself - 'Time for a change' - but I haven't changed yet. I'm still saving up for that GT3 !
All 993's are nice. I drove nearly 20 cars before I bought one. Everything from a 'basic' Coupe through to a Turbo. My other half must have seen every OPC south of Birmingham ! I was happy to buy a Targa at the time and today I have absolutely no regrets about my decision.
My advice to you would be.....
- Get a manual
- Get a darker colour Targa - blue or black. I think the roof blends in better with a darker colour then a silver vehicle.
- Check the roof and blind operation carefully. The mechanism should be smooth and quiet.
- I was very particular about finding one with Sports Seats. I was glad I waited for the right car.
Good luck with the search !
PP
]Ian's summary sums up my own feelings pretty well. In the five years and 35k miles I have had my car I've....
- Taken it around the UK
- Take it around Europe
- Taken it around the 'Ring !
I've found it a great compromise between a cab and a coupe. The roof blind has failed twice resulting in long arguments with Porsche GB about who was going to pick up the repair cost but apart from that boringly reliable....
I've never been a big fan of sunroofs. They are too small, and noisy when open at speed. What's the point of them ? When you have a total glass roof with a huge opening that's much more sensible ! I'll never forget my first trip down to the 'Ring at
mph on the autobahn with the roof wide open - lovely....Now I have a nice motorsound airbox coupled to the larger exhaust pipes I can hear that flat six in all her glory.
Every year I say to myself - 'Time for a change' - but I haven't changed yet. I'm still saving up for that GT3 !
All 993's are nice. I drove nearly 20 cars before I bought one. Everything from a 'basic' Coupe through to a Turbo. My other half must have seen every OPC south of Birmingham ! I was happy to buy a Targa at the time and today I have absolutely no regrets about my decision.
My advice to you would be.....
- Get a manual
- Get a darker colour Targa - blue or black. I think the roof blends in better with a darker colour then a silver vehicle.
- Check the roof and blind operation carefully. The mechanism should be smooth and quiet.
- I was very particular about finding one with Sports Seats. I was glad I waited for the right car.
Good luck with the search !
PP
Porker993
New member
I just spent hours replacing the sunroof cables on my '94 coupe and I wouldn't have bothered if it had been noisy or unusable. I agree many sliding steel sunroofs are worse than useless, e.g. the one on my 3.2 carrera which was too noisy to open much above 30 mph. Many have a buffet zone or frequency where you get a dreadful drumming noise.
My current 993 is not like that for some reason. Especially since I fixed it and replaced the springs the front lip seems much more rigid and does it's job better, which is to deflect the airflow from the open roof. I therefore don't get that awful resonating hum any more and I have had it open up to 100 mph with no problem. At 60 or 70 mph it's almost inaudible - like having a window slightly open. Of course you shouldn't operate it above 60 mph, but that does not mean you can't have it open.
So I beg to differ
My current 993 is not like that for some reason. Especially since I fixed it and replaced the springs the front lip seems much more rigid and does it's job better, which is to deflect the airflow from the open roof. I therefore don't get that awful resonating hum any more and I have had it open up to 100 mph with no problem. At 60 or 70 mph it's almost inaudible - like having a window slightly open. Of course you shouldn't operate it above 60 mph, but that does not mean you can't have it open.
So I beg to differ
Guest
New member
I always wanted a coupe, as I thought that anything else wouldn't be a real sports car.
However, during the search I absolutely fell in love with the Targa and bought one instead. The reasons? The roof mechanism is a marvel and it preserves that classic look of the coupe. Also, I realised that the performance and handling were still everything that I'd dreamt about. Another thing is the feeling of space in the cabin that the extra sunlight gives you... it seems less claustrophobic. All small reasons, and probably quite personal ones. I've never regretted my decision though.
However, during the search I absolutely fell in love with the Targa and bought one instead. The reasons? The roof mechanism is a marvel and it preserves that classic look of the coupe. Also, I realised that the performance and handling were still everything that I'd dreamt about. Another thing is the feeling of space in the cabin that the extra sunlight gives you... it seems less claustrophobic. All small reasons, and probably quite personal ones. I've never regretted my decision though.
Guest
New member
Many thanks to everyone for their really helpful comments, particularly Ian (Ian_UK) for his Coupe / Targa comparison.
I actually drove my very first Porsche last Saturday, a P-reg'd 993 C4 which was really terrific and has made me more determined than ever to own a 993. That was at Paragon (in East Sussex), but my other half did not appreciate the turquoise green colour, so the hunt goes on!
And I have still not decided on the Coupe verses Targa issue, so I need a closer look at a targa to see if it looks as good from the inside as it does from the outside. Every other requirement is coming together now; year 96 or later, dark colour, ideally no sunroof if Coupe and definitely ruffled leather interior - that looks so good, but is presumbly expensive (or impossible?) to change to if original car does not have it?
I actually drove my very first Porsche last Saturday, a P-reg'd 993 C4 which was really terrific and has made me more determined than ever to own a 993. That was at Paragon (in East Sussex), but my other half did not appreciate the turquoise green colour, so the hunt goes on!
And I have still not decided on the Coupe verses Targa issue, so I need a closer look at a targa to see if it looks as good from the inside as it does from the outside. Every other requirement is coming together now; year 96 or later, dark colour, ideally no sunroof if Coupe and definitely ruffled leather interior - that looks so good, but is presumbly expensive (or impossible?) to change to if original car does not have it?
Hi - I had a coupe first then went for a targa and after 4 years its still excellent. The car feels very tight (£100 OPC strut brace added to the front made a big difference) and it feels much bigger inside than the coupe. I'd also agree on the darker colour looking better.
An annual lubrication gets rid of the squeeks and lowered suspension is fine. Never used the sunroof in the coupe but the targa gets opened up at every opportunity......
Charlie
An annual lubrication gets rid of the squeeks and lowered suspension is fine. Never used the sunroof in the coupe but the targa gets opened up at every opportunity......
Charlie
Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members
Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions
