Sep 12, 2005 12:42:21 PM
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Ron (Houston)
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Board: Porsche - 911 - 997
Language: English
Region: Worldwide
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Sep 12, 2005 1:10:09 PM
- EricAlain
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Reply to:
Ron (Houston)
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
I'm very happy to see there will be a 997 Targa. It's great news because I'm a Targa enthusiast.
I know there has been a lot of discussion wether to make or not a Targa.
- Targa sales represent at best 10% of overall 911 sales ... so it's a "marginal" product.
- Actually for the 996 it was around 7.6% in 2001/02 and approximately 7.5% in 02/03. For 03/04, I don't have a precise number but I suspect it was quite "confidential".
In the US, it seems customers aren't really "in love" with the Targa.
2002 : 692 units sold (or 6.0% of total 911 sales)
2003 : 450 units (or 4.8%)
2004 : 144 units (or 1.5%)
2005 (to August) : 40 units (or 0.6%)
Sep 12, 2005 1:18:25 PM
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Ron (Houston)
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- Reply to: EricAlain
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Quote:
EricAlain said:
In the US, it seems customers aren't really "in love" with the Targa.
I think the main reason is that Targa lost its popularity when the actual top roof didn't come off, IMO. 993 Targa looked good but it was the start of bigger sunroof as opposed to complete removal of top, a la Carrera GT.
Even though the Targa looks nice, and I'm sure has taken a lot of engineering time in design and so forth, but I think in the U.S. if you want a bigger sunroof than your coupe you just get a cab.
Thanks for stats EricAlain, as always with solid info.
Sep 12, 2005 1:33:12 PM
- MattTheCarNut
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Ron (Houston)
Sep 12, 2005 1:37:08 PM
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Gnil
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Reply to:
Ron (Houston)
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
The "Old Targa" "à la CGT" like the one on the 964 or 3.2l was a very nice feature ... but not really easy to manipulate. On the top of that it was tough to place it on your own.
I agree the current Targa system isn't a true genuine Targa but an extra large sunroof.
To be honest, I live in Paris and I wouldn't go for a Cab because it's simply impossible to park the car in the street with the top down. Some people are also sometime quite aggressive when they see you with the top down ... So the "ideal" solution is the Targa. Nobody notices you're driving with the roof open. It is also so nice when the weather is grey and dull to have some "extra" light illuminating the interior.
Also at low speed driving with the top open is wonderful but above 120-130km/h (75 mph) it's a real pain ... you just have to press the button and you're in a silent "coupe".
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Oups ...
And last but not least, I like to open the rear window to put bags on the rear "jump" seats.
For example, you can't fit a big suitcase in the rear by folding the front seats ... while it's a "piece of cake" doing it with the Targa.
The Targa is the Station Wagon version of the 911 !!!!
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Quote:
EricAlain said:
Oups ...
And last but not least, I like to open the rear window to put bags on the rear "jump" seats.
For example, you can't fit a big suitcase in the rear by folding the front seats ... while it's a "piece of cake" doing it with the Targa.
The Targa is the Station Wagon version of the 911 !!!!
So, you 're saying it might be the next favourite ride for soccer moms?
Besides this I am a huge fan of the modern targas, in fact choices for a 993 would narrow down to a targa or S-model.
The main downside might be it's price. It's not considerably cheaper than a convertible and the heavy roof indeed puts the cener of gravity a bit higher. anyways, I amsure that they will find solutios for these problems in the future!
By the way, I'd say it is the 4S-model!
Sep 12, 2005 2:33:53 PM
- SrfCity
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- Loc: Orange County, CA
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Reply to:
Ron (Houston)
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Quote:
Ron (Houston) said:Quote:
EricAlain said:
In the US, it seems customers aren't really "in love" with the Targa.
I think the main reason is that Targa lost its popularity when the actual top roof didn't come off, IMO. 993 Targa looked good but it was the start of bigger sunroof as opposed to complete removal of top, a la Carrera GT.
Even though the Targa looks nice, and I'm sure has taken a lot of engineering time in design and so forth, but I think in the U.S. if you want a bigger sunroof than your coupe you just get a cab.
Thanks for stats EricAlain, as always with solid info.
Agree. It's kind of a duckbill platypus. Not quite a real targa, not quite a sunroof and not quite a cab.
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
You're right the Targa is "soccer moms" first choice ...
A lot of people believe the Targa isn't sporty by nature .... I don't agree, it is may be not the sportiest 911 but is sporty enough even if they don't offer the sport chassis option.
Actually, if I remember well, if you were attending a Porsche Driving Experience event in Liepzig a few month ago, you would have driven a Targa on the race track !!!
My Targa is my daily commuter and I love it.
Sep 12, 2005 4:03:00 PM
- EricAlain
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Sep 13, 2005 2:40:49 AM
- Silver Bullet
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Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
While it may be close, I think that Targa is a photoshop just like the 997 TT pics from the same site. Prior Targa spyshots with camo show that the front part of the roof is not painted to match body color as this one seems, and the lines where the roof meets the body at the rear of the car seem air brushed.
Nonetheless, I'm happy to see the Targa make a comeback and sincerely hope that it will be offered in S, 4WD, and Turbo models. T2S, T4S and TTT!
-SB
Nonetheless, I'm happy to see the Targa make a comeback and sincerely hope that it will be offered in S, 4WD, and Turbo models. T2S, T4S and TTT!
-SB
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Does the Targa glass slide on the outside of the rear window, or inside the vehicle when opened??? I ask this, because if it slides along the outside, it looks as though it would run into the rear winshield wiper from looking at the photo...
My opinion: Photoshopped, but would love a C4S version for my lifestyle, and I ain't no soccer mom!
My opinion: Photoshopped, but would love a C4S version for my lifestyle, and I ain't no soccer mom!
Sep 13, 2005 6:17:22 AM
- U Boat Commander
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Reply to:
Ron (Houston)
Sep 13, 2005 12:32:04 PM
- EricAlain
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- Loc: Paris, France , France
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- Reply to: U Boat Commander
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
On the 996 it is running inside of the rear window.
Sliding outside would mean the car would be ugly with the roof open and you would get a lot of noise as well. As you also mentionned the rear wiper wouldn't work either.
I suspect they will keep more or less the same system for the 997 ... "Why change it ... it's ain't broken".
I don't think they will offer an all wheel drive version nor a turbo. As far as an S version is concerned, I keep my fingers crossed.
Sliding outside would mean the car would be ugly with the roof open and you would get a lot of noise as well. As you also mentionned the rear wiper wouldn't work either.
I suspect they will keep more or less the same system for the 997 ... "Why change it ... it's ain't broken".
I don't think they will offer an all wheel drive version nor a turbo. As far as an S version is concerned, I keep my fingers crossed.
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
I liked the targa, but it was too hot here in Florida even with the shade. I would love to see Porsche take the development costs and put toward a hard top cabriolet instead. That would be the car to buy. Looks and quite of a coupe with the topless feature available. 
Re: 997 Targa Spy Pic
Quote:
dan996 said:Quote:
EricAlain said:
This is a typical expression you would hear in the US
Soccer Mom : A women driving a minivan with many kinds in the back heading towards the soccer field .... or school
Hey Eric, a lot of the ones I know are not so kind!
Especially not in the back... And not in front of a school - watch out for little children.
Porsche DID actually develop an impressive "hard-top" model, who's spyshot was presented on AutoBild quite a while ago. As far as I remember it had a retractable rear window, independend from the roof itself.
Anyways, the targa is a very smart invention in my eyes - and I predict that we will see similiar ones from other manufacturers in the future.
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