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993 Targa ??

ireid

Well-known member
Joined
11 Nov 2008
Messages
48
What do owners past and present think of the Targa vs the coupe? In particular, how noticeable is the reduced rigidity and how much more prone are they to squeaks and rattles?
 
Mine has a small squeak from the roof on uneven roads but no rattles. With the roof open it is not very noticeable and with just the front part open it is even less noticeable. Driving with the sunscreen closed makes it almost silent. On motorways and decent roads it can hardy be heard at all.

The massive plus is the airiness of the cabin with the glass above your head and the fact that mine is a high days and holidays car, means nearly all the driving I do is with the targa top open. No gloomy dark interior is something I love about it.

I don't track day it or drive at full tilt other than for short bursts so there is no issue with rigidity for me and I doubt many 993s are driven hard enough to even notice a difference.

I did have a leak from the roof when I bought it and it has got some obvious old water ingress signs on the soundproofing under the carpets but no rust or discolouration of the floor pan. Probably worth checking under the carpets of any you are thinking of buying. Leaking is now sorted but the car does not get subjected to much heavy rain and I avoid jetwashing as that is just asking the water to find a way in!

All in all as a car used for 'nice day" motoring I wouldn't swap it for a coupe, which seems to be the 993 choice of most and is reflected in the higher values of coupe over targa. Summer days driving with the convertible feel cannot be beaten though....imo.

No doubt people who have owned both will be along to give you a comparison rather than a one sided view soon enough! :D
 
I have a Targa in rebuild at the moment, I've not driven it yet but hoping to get it nice and tight, I've renewed all rubbers etc. Mine will be a road only car fit for family outings and some spirited driving now and again, the roof should be nice on those warm days.

I do like the lines of the Targa too, look awesome from the rear.

Trev
 
I had a Targa. Lovely car, much missed. More 'chilled' than the coupe, in my experience. It was an 8/10ths sort of car... Better to enjoy the great views out of that glass roof, but cabrio underpinnings and extra weight up top make the coupe a better focussed drivers car if such things bother you.

I loved how you could have the glass roof open with the blind pulled back... wonderful on a brightly star/moonlit winters' evening.

That sweeping glass roof gives it a style all of its own, they do look particularly good from the back.

Roof on mine was not rattly or squeaky. Softer springing felt good on UK roads.
 
This is all really great info guys, thank you. So full disclosure, if I get one it will be as a base car for a resto mod. Amongst other things it will have 340 or so BHP and corresponding torque so the extra weight of the Targa will not worry me😉. I've never seen a 993 Targa resto mod, so it may well be a first if it happens.
 
Sounds like a fun project! That said, mine really did drive well on UK roads with the 17in Targa split rims and standard softer suspension.

When my boat comes in I would love a 993 with a 3.8 litre conversion.
 
ireid said:
...it will have 340 or so BHP...

Sounds great, looking forward to the thread already! How are you going to achieve that?
 
By a stroke of luck, 911 Retro Works are based just a few miles from where I live. They do really good work at a price that compares well to others in the same game. They outsource the fettling of the engine to Strasse in Leeds.

So if I do take the plunge then those will be the guys who will be doing the work. I would certainly start a thread on here to get views and input on speccing the mods and upgrades.
 
Reads like a cool project, however I would seek a little expert advice re going the Targa route with that sort of power.

Firstly, 340bhp from a 993 motor is going to cost serious wedge. IIRC 9m struggled to get near that figure with Billet Heads, 3.8, RS Cams, Motec Management etc.

Secondly, the Targa is not a fan of lowered, harder suspension and 18" rims. It was fitted with a 17" Speedline and again IIRC Porsche did not recommend bigger wheels and lower profile tyres for this car.

I'm a big fan of a restomod and fair play for going the 993 route when nearly all others go long bonnet backdate or 964... but be sure and speak with a few specialists before parting with your hard earned. :thumb:

C.
 
There's a few guys on Rennlist that have gone down the 3.8 NA 993 engine route, GT3 crank and oil pump, rods, billet 9M heads etc, Motec, looking at 40-50k right there. it's possible to sink some serious cash into it.

Trev
 
This car has had some wedge spent on it...

"The engine had a full rebuild from a 3.6 to a 3.8 including GT3 crankshaft, Custom Arrow rods, Mahle 3.8 barrell & piston set up, mechanical rocker arm and shaft tappet modification, Super Cup custom camshafts, Varioram stripped clean and rebuilt plus all gaskets, seals and bearings. The car was then set up by Chipwizzards to achieve 330bhp."

https://rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/vehicle/993-carrera-3-8/
 
Well perhaps I was being a tad optimistic at 340 bhp, but based on past experience, Rick at Retro Works reckons well north of 300 is achievable without going bonkers on the spend.
 
ireid said:
Well perhaps I was being a tad optimistic at 340 bhp, but based on past experience, Rick at Retro Works reckons well north of 300 is achievable without going bonkers on the spend.

Would be interesting to know what work is done to achieve such figures?

3.8 and a WS Map should see you around 310'ish. It then gets expensive for bigger gains.

Best bang for buck if you want fun is losing weight. Stripped or lightweight interior with lightweight buckets, lose air-con, wiper motor, spare wheel, fit lightweight wheels etc. That 100+kgs taken away will make a noticeable difference on the road.

C.
 
It certainly involves a 3.8 top end rebuild. Before making a final decision to proceed I will speak to Strasse direct and get the full low down on the engine mods.
 
cableguy said:
ireid said:
Well perhaps I was being a tad optimistic at 340 bhp, but based on past experience, Rick at Retro Works reckons well north of 300 is achievable without going bonkers on the spend.

Would be interesting to know what work is done to achieve such figures?

3.8 and a WS Map should see you around 310'ish. It then gets expensive for bigger gains.

Best bang for buck if you want fun is losing weight. Stripped or lightweight interior with lightweight buckets, lose air-con, wiper motor, spare wheel, fit lightweight wheels etc. That 100+kgs taken away will make a noticeable difference on the road.

C.

Don't get put off, you'll love the process, even if extra bhp is harder than other cars.
 

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