Driving Targa 4S-Sportscar or "911SL"?
Hello rennteamers,
First of all, I would like to say that a car is not a sportscar because it looks like one, but because you can have fun on the track. You need to feel your car with the ass and the hands to have fun. This feeling is only possible with track compatible cars. With a SL, you may feel comfortable on a highway (I had a CL 55), but it is impossible to drive it on the track and you will not have fun to drive it on curvy roads.
So, is the Targa a sportscar?
I think everybody on this forum will agree with me that C2's and C4's are real sportscars. So what are the differences with them and the consequences on the driving fun:
On public roads, I repeat on public roads:
1) The very large panorama roof gives an amazing feeling of freedom. Everybody who likes large windows at home will like it.
2) The AWD changes the targa from a summer compromise between coupe and cab to a new concept of whole year daily all weather sportscar. On curvy public roads, I repeat on public roads, you can drive this car much faster and safer than a C2.
3) I did not notice any rattle, but I heard a rumor before ordering that some 996 targas had to be modified. Two reliable sources told me that there is no risk of rattle with the 997 targa, so I ordered. You will find some threads about this issue on this forum.
4) The car is very stiff, light-years stiffer than a F360 berlinetta for example (I called mine ). But the reinforcements of the chassis and the roof have a cost: some more weight (60 kg). Compared to a C4, I could not feel any difference in the handling on public roads.
5) I tried some emergency stops. The improved brake system of the C4S and T4S is fantastic. The readying of the brakes when the system detects the probability of an emergency stop and the break assist function are not only life saving, but probably time saving on the track (braking later).
On the track:
We see here the fundamental problem of all sportcars: How much grip are you willing to loose, especially on the track, because of the weight you create by improving the fun you want to have on the road. In case of the targa, we are speaking here of the weight of the retractable roof and the AWD, which add a tremendous comfort to the car on the road.
First of all, I could not drive on a track because the car is not totally broken in (2200 km), but tested it quite hard on public roads with good visibility. So all what you read here is "feeling" that will have to be proven once on the track:
6) The car has a light oversteering tendency that is announced very early. It is easy to (is that the good word?) and you can push very early on the throttle.
7) In steep turns, you can swing the targa in a light sliding at the beginning of the corner and keep her with the throttle until the exit of the turn.
8) At the exit of the corners, the traction is so fantastic and the adrenaline shots so intense that only orgasm is better....
9) Because of the slightly softer coil springs and dampers, you will, compared to a C4S, loose some grip on the track, but the difference in lap times will not be significant (I think less than 1s/km). On the other hand, the car will your ass and hands the proximity of the limit much earlier. So, if you are a beginner or you go on the track only once or twice a year, you will have more fun with an easy to drive targa than with a hardcore GT3.
10)The targa is not a race car, because you cannot add a cage without loosing the benefit of the panorama roof. Never race without a cage!!!
11) And, if you are a very very lucky hardcore track oriented driver, buy a targa for the road, a cup for the track and a cayenne to tow the trailer of the cup. Please no
Now lets talk about elegance, what is a matter of taste.
12) The stripe is polarizing, but IMO it gives an amazing upper line to the car.
13) IMO, because of the quite dark roof, light body colors are less elegant than dark ones. This is especially noticeable from a front view of the car (look at the front window).
14) IMO, in the interior of the car, the feeling of freedom is more intense with light leather colors.
15) I cannot tell about the opening rear window, because I do not play golf.
16) I hate that bloody key...In my house, each time something pushes against the key in my pocket, it opens the front panel or the rear window of my parked car. At each following push, the car is beeping...and each time my wife says ..."Your toy is crying" !!!
Summary:
17) The targa 4s is the best and most elegant daily driver I ever had.
And at the end of my speeches, I like to add a provocative statement: "Chicks like targas more than all other cars...."
I like you rennteamers...hope you understood my "frenglish"
Carlos
First of all, I would like to say that a car is not a sportscar because it looks like one, but because you can have fun on the track. You need to feel your car with the ass and the hands to have fun. This feeling is only possible with track compatible cars. With a SL, you may feel comfortable on a highway (I had a CL 55), but it is impossible to drive it on the track and you will not have fun to drive it on curvy roads.
So, is the Targa a sportscar?
I think everybody on this forum will agree with me that C2's and C4's are real sportscars. So what are the differences with them and the consequences on the driving fun:
On public roads, I repeat on public roads:
1) The very large panorama roof gives an amazing feeling of freedom. Everybody who likes large windows at home will like it.
2) The AWD changes the targa from a summer compromise between coupe and cab to a new concept of whole year daily all weather sportscar. On curvy public roads, I repeat on public roads, you can drive this car much faster and safer than a C2.
3) I did not notice any rattle, but I heard a rumor before ordering that some 996 targas had to be modified. Two reliable sources told me that there is no risk of rattle with the 997 targa, so I ordered. You will find some threads about this issue on this forum.
4) The car is very stiff, light-years stiffer than a F360 berlinetta for example (I called mine ). But the reinforcements of the chassis and the roof have a cost: some more weight (60 kg). Compared to a C4, I could not feel any difference in the handling on public roads.
5) I tried some emergency stops. The improved brake system of the C4S and T4S is fantastic. The readying of the brakes when the system detects the probability of an emergency stop and the break assist function are not only life saving, but probably time saving on the track (braking later).
On the track:
We see here the fundamental problem of all sportcars: How much grip are you willing to loose, especially on the track, because of the weight you create by improving the fun you want to have on the road. In case of the targa, we are speaking here of the weight of the retractable roof and the AWD, which add a tremendous comfort to the car on the road.
First of all, I could not drive on a track because the car is not totally broken in (2200 km), but tested it quite hard on public roads with good visibility. So all what you read here is "feeling" that will have to be proven once on the track:
6) The car has a light oversteering tendency that is announced very early. It is easy to (is that the good word?) and you can push very early on the throttle.
7) In steep turns, you can swing the targa in a light sliding at the beginning of the corner and keep her with the throttle until the exit of the turn.
8) At the exit of the corners, the traction is so fantastic and the adrenaline shots so intense that only orgasm is better....
9) Because of the slightly softer coil springs and dampers, you will, compared to a C4S, loose some grip on the track, but the difference in lap times will not be significant (I think less than 1s/km). On the other hand, the car will your ass and hands the proximity of the limit much earlier. So, if you are a beginner or you go on the track only once or twice a year, you will have more fun with an easy to drive targa than with a hardcore GT3.
10)The targa is not a race car, because you cannot add a cage without loosing the benefit of the panorama roof. Never race without a cage!!!
11) And, if you are a very very lucky hardcore track oriented driver, buy a targa for the road, a cup for the track and a cayenne to tow the trailer of the cup. Please no
Now lets talk about elegance, what is a matter of taste.
12) The stripe is polarizing, but IMO it gives an amazing upper line to the car.
13) IMO, because of the quite dark roof, light body colors are less elegant than dark ones. This is especially noticeable from a front view of the car (look at the front window).
14) IMO, in the interior of the car, the feeling of freedom is more intense with light leather colors.
15) I cannot tell about the opening rear window, because I do not play golf.
16) I hate that bloody key...In my house, each time something pushes against the key in my pocket, it opens the front panel or the rear window of my parked car. At each following push, the car is beeping...and each time my wife says ..."Your toy is crying" !!!
Summary:
17) The targa 4s is the best and most elegant daily driver I ever had.
And at the end of my speeches, I like to add a provocative statement: "Chicks like targas more than all other cars...."
I like you rennteamers...hope you understood my "frenglish"
Carlos
