targa or coupe

[Diesel130]

Is there any performance / handling / ride quality etc lost with a 993 targa vs. a standard coupe ? (assuming both are manuals of course). I thought I read somewhere the targa was based on the cabriolet - which presumably means its heavier and less stiff chassis - but now can't find that reference again.

 

[968er]

Yes, as it is based on the cab

 

[Sundeep]

ORIGINAL: Diesel130

Is there any performance / handling / ride quality etc lost with a 993 targa vs. a standard coupe ? (assuming both are manuals of course). I thought I read somewhere the targa was based on the cabriolet - which presumably means its heavier and less stiff chassis - but now can't find that reference again.

depends on what you want our of your car....

Coupe has better handling but Ride quality and performance is pretty much the same.....

but a 8-10 year old car is all about finding the one in the right condition

 

[Guest]

Trackday aficionados will probably prefer coupes but I wouldn't swap the Targa for anything in the world. At the end of the day it's a Porsche so handling and ride qualities are superb in every way.

Just back from an extended "drive that pass" trip through France, Switzerland and Northern Italy doing Stelvio, San Gottardo and Silvretta to name but a few and to be able to take in that glorious mountain scenery with the roof open was quite something, especially for the passenger []

 

[burrow01]

Targa has a heavy glass roof which is supposed to bring the Centre of Gravity higher and affect the handling, but I suspect you would be hard pushed to notice this unless you are really a race driver.

Same with the Cab - supposedly less rigid body, but unless you are a dedicated trackdayer, I defy you to say the handling is rubbish []

Worn shocks and incorrect alignment will have a greater bearing on the handling and feel of the car than the rigidity or otherwise of the chassis for most people

my 2p []

Pete

 

[pilotpaul]

My Targa certainly goes around the Nurburgring without too many problems, even if it is a little heavier than the tin-tops []

Targawoman - it sounds like you had a similar driving trip to me......http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=217540

It's a great way to see the scenery.

PP

 

[38F3E1]

Having owned both I can tell you that on standard setup you won't be able to tell the difference on the road. Both feel the same to drive. The Targa is a lovely car and I enjoyed driving it a lot. It has many attributes you don't get in a Coupe.

It depends on what you want the car for. I ended up long term with a Coupe because I felt a Coupe was a better base car for the mods I wanted to do which was to upgrade the car to a more sporting setup. Putting M030 with HD Bilsteins on the Coupe has transformed the ride and taken the driving experience to another level. I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing that to the Targa.

Ian.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: pilotpaul

Targawoman - it sounds like you had a similar driving trip to me......http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=217540

It's a great way to see the scenery.

PP

Hi PilotPaul - yes, there are some similarities. If I ever find the time I may put it in an article for PP with some pics etc. We basically drove through the night on the motorway through France and into Switzerland, stopping at lovely Lake Constance for breakfast and then on backroads along the lake, through Austria and up the Silvretta where we were fortunate enough to witness a classic car rally. Well, the rally had just finished, so lots of beauties were parked up there. Then via Bolzano to our destination for a week in Southern Tyrol. The return journey took us up San Gottardo and Stelvio to the Ticino region of Switzerland where we stayed a bit. And finally back to Old Blighty taking the winding roads through the Vosges mountains. No demanding high passes there, but lots of wonderful winding mountain roads with virtually no traffic (non that couldn't be overtaken easily in any case []). We had heaps of fun and got a nice tan into the bargain ... not gonna happen in a tin-top I dare say...

Must try your trip at some point!

 

[pilotpaul]

Do write up your trip for the Post. I reckon Maurice has had enough of my ramblings..........[]

I've attached a shot of our little jaunt last week......

PP

 

[Sundeep]

ORIGINAL: ian_uk

Having owned both I can tell you that on standard setup you won't be able to tell the difference on the road. Both feel the same to drive. The Targa is a lovely car and I enjoyed driving it a lot. It has many attributes you don't get in a Coupe.

It depends on what you want the car for. I ended up long term with a Coupe because I felt a Coupe was a better base car for the mods I wanted to do which was to upgrade the car to a more sporting setup. Putting M030 with HD Bilsteins on the Coupe has transformed the ride and taken the driving experience to another level. I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing that to the Targa.

Ian.

actually I do prefer the coupe to the targa and yes I can tell the difference.....

but I've fitted the full M030 set up shock/spring/roll bars + strut brace and it has made a huge improvement to the ride performance even if it is only 17's (although the oem wheels are very pretty even if they weight like they are made of lead!) and it doesn't compromise the normal road feel, it's certainly no RS or track car but it's improved on the basic set up and made me decide to keep my car for now....

in fairness the base Targa is 50% stiffer than a Cab, but a Cab is 50% less stiff than a Coupe (you can do the maths) so I've probably (with the M030 et al) only got back to about a standard coupe's setting of sorts...

works fine on a track day and at the Nurburgring, which I'm booked to go on the 18/19th August (so expect a bug plastered car for the festival!)

 

[Diesel130]

Thanks all !! Still looking ...

 

[zwhitea]

ORIGINAL: Sundeep

in fairness the base Targa is 50% stiffer than a Cab, but a Cab is 50% less stiff than a Coupe (you can do the maths) ...

If this is the case how come Porsche allow the fitting of 18" wheels to the later Cab's but not any 993 Targas..? [8|]

Adam

 

[Sundeep]

ORIGINAL: MoC2S

ORIGINAL: Sundeep

in fairness the base Targa is 50% stiffer than a Cab, but a Cab is 50% less stiff than a Coupe (you can do the maths) so I've probably (with the M030 et al) only got back to about a standard coupe's setting of sorts...

I'd be a trifle surprised if those figures are at all accurate .. do you have an authoritative source ? I'm always ready to listen ! [:-]

Are we discussing structural rigidity or spring rates and roll bar stiffness ? Don't mind which ..

cheers, Maurice []

it's from a very good source the porsche factory of course !!

honestly ! these coupe owners and their big spoilers........ [&:]

 

[Diesel130]

Presumably you are talking structural stiffness ? Is there any less room for rear seat passengers in the targa ?

 

[38F3E1]

Width, seat size and legroom no. If the passenger in the back is tall they do have to mind when the glass screen comes back but it only takes a couple of inches from the cabin height when open and none when closed.

Ian.