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Porsche 911 Targa 4S

Test date 07 December 2006  Price as tested  £78,420

What’s new?

The 911 range reaches completion with the welcome – if entirely predictable – return of the Targa model. This time, the roof glass is lighter, and it’s only available with the four wheel drive system and wider body of the Carrera 4. You can choose from standard 3.6 or 3.8 ‘S’ versions.

What’s it like?

As in previous incarnations, the Targa features a sliding glass roof panel instead of any lift-out sections. This gives the cockpit a wonderfully panoramic feel, and open air driving is easily achieved with the press of a single button.

Roof open or closed, the wind noise is very well contained. Chassis rigidity suffers slightly over a coupe, but it’s taut enough that in everyday driving you’d barely notice it – not something that you could say about the full convertible 911.

We drove the ‘S’ variant with standard PASM suspension and relatively few options, and it’s a sweet car with a fair ride and a wonderfully yowling flat six. It is, naturally, rather quick too.

Should I buy one?

The Targa is a good compromise for those looking for the benefits of open top motoring but with the everyday practicality of a coupe. It’s not for hardcore 911 fans, and it’s not cheap either, but it’s a car to enjoy over a lengthy ownership period.

Adam Towler

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