I'd have to say it would make a huge difference for me if this was a daily driver or a weekend toy (OP didn't state this). If I lived in a nice climate and the car would be a weekend toy (and not planning on tracking it), I'd just go all the way as Verde says and go Cab. DD in a nice climate, Targa is a nice option. Would never buy a Targa new due to larger depreciation but used, yeah, makes sense.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I would like an S, but to keep thisunder 60 probably prevents that from happening.

I don't actually live in a warm-weather spot - I live in Northern California, and it's only really open top time when you go out of town. That's what makes the targa top more attractive. Never was much of a rag top man.

You really have to do a nationwide search to see much of an inventory, and if I did find one in a far away place, would I be willing to buy it sight unseen if it was the right car and the right deal.

I have heard there have been some problems wqith the tops sqeaking and rattleing. True? There are a lot of moving parts.

 

I think there are more stories of squeaking/rattling tops from non-Targa owners than Targa owners. Occasionally I'll get a squeak, but it is always easily resolved, either by waiting a little while, or cleaning the rubber weatherstrip at front and back of the sliding top. To me, this issue is over-blown for the 997 Targas, and relates more to older Targas that weren't made as well.

If you want a Targa, you may well need to be willing to buy it from somewhere else due to limited numbers. Compared to price of the car, the investment in a plane ticket is fairly insignificant. I bought mine from a seller 450 miles away. Did all the possible due diligence from home, then made final decision after seeing car in person, and drove it home. But I was prepared to fly home if necessary.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me for any other input.

 

I bought my car far away from home as well. I live in Oregon and found my car in Santa Clara from a private party. Traded a couple of emails and phone calls with the seller to get the details and negotiate a price. I than had him take the car to Stevens Creek Porsche in Santa Clara for a PPI/DME. Wife and I flew down the day of the PPI/DME (used miles so the flight was free), met at the dealership, went over the PPI/DME which was perfect, seller and I went to a local Bank of America where I got him a cashiers check, wife and I jumped in the car and took a nice two-day drive home (could have done it in 10 hours if I was by myself).

Wife and I were prepared to fly back if the car didn't check out.

I would agree that on any high end car such as a Porsche, no matter how limited the supply such as a Targa, it is worth it to look beyond your local market. There was no way (or I'd be waiting a very long while) I would have gotten my car at my price if I limited my search to Oregon/Washington.

 

For the Targa, unless you are planning to race competitively (and if so, why buy a Targa?).. then the power from the 4S vs the base 4 is not a necessity. There is plenty of power in the base Targa 4.. its a Porsche 997, right? To read some of the posts about the glass top, one would think they were made of lead, weighing 400lbs and the Targa 4 stock engine was made for use in a Hundai. For what the Targa 4 (3.6l) is made for, daily driving, weekend driving, heck, even for racing against yourself at a DE, there is PLENTY of power there. So unless you really feel the peer pressure and fear some stigma of not having that S and a bigger engine in the back.. trust me, the base Targa 4 has plenty of go.

I think my fat butt probably weighs more than 2x the top.. so when I get in I add way more weight... but it is lower in the car, so one could argue I compensate for the higher up glass. ;-)