911 Targa Vs 911 Cabrio vs 911 Coupe Weight

"NoahthePorscheGuy" (porsche) 01/13/2014 at 17:28 • Filed to: Targa, 911, 911 Targa 4s

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The first thing to go through my head when I saw the new 911's roof mechanism was "HOLY SHIT THATS AWESOME". The second thought to go through my head was "HOLY SHIT THATS PROBABLY HEAVY" I spent many minutes searching through the 911 Targa's microsite to find the answer. Its not awful, but its not great either.

The 911 4s Cabrio weighs approximately 3,340 lbs with the manual.

The 911 4s Targa weighs approximately 3,428 lbs with the manual.

The 911 4s Coupe weighs approximately 3,186 lbs with the manual.

Thats honestly a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, 3,400 lbs isn't exactly fat, but its a little unnecessary. If Porsche stuck with the manual mechanism, I'm guessing it could of easily saved 200 lbs. I don't think the automatic roof adds anything to the driving experience, and it takes less than a minute to take off a real Targa roof, fold it, and put it in the trunk. I would take a minute out of my day to save 200 lbs without a doubt.

The 911 4s Targa will do 0-60 in 4.2 seconds with the PDK.

The 911 4s Cabrio will do 0-60 in 4.1.

The 911 4s Coupe will do 0-60 in 3.9.

My point is in the 60's and 70's the Targa wasn't much heavier or slower than the normal, because it was a simple roof.

At least its still really really sexy.

2 more small rants.

I wish the Targa had a unique roof panel, because it looks like they just took the cloth from the cabrio. The orignal Targas had beautiful vinyl covered roofs which looked unique, and also were flat, not curved, giving the Targa a unique roof line.

I can live, because I'm just happy they brought the Targa back.

And it's really freaking sexy.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:32

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And people had the nerve to argue with me over this.

/What do I know, I'm only an engineer...

Party-vi > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:32

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Fold away that targa top and watch the panties drop.

I'd have the targa.

NoahthePorscheGuy > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:33

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Keep in mind I am a huge Targa fan, I grew up with two of them in my garage.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Party-vi 01/13/2014 at 17:34

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Same.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Party-vi 01/13/2014 at 17:34

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I'd have a C7...

Party-vi > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 17:35

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You Corvette guys have the weirdest fetishes...

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:35

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Yes, it is really freakin' sexy.

Way better than the older ones with the steeper angle on the back.

And really... 88lbs isn't that bad for all that wrap-around glass, and the b-pillar hoop fixed permanently in place, and all the servos to make the corners fold and stow, and all of that.

Not much less complex than a power folding soft top, and the soft top has much less rear glass. I wouldn't be surprised if the front section of the targa roof uses some of the same structure as the front part of the cabrio roof.

But I wonder if the 991 C4S Coupe is weighed with the steel fixed roof, the steel sliding sunroof, or the glass sliding moonroof option.

That is the only conundrum for me... regular coupe style with the sliding glass option, or the targa...

I wonder if one can open the rear glass section by itself, to stow things in the back seat and roof stowage area in a pinch, if the targa roof is still up, or if the rear section only opens as part of the roof stowing and deploying process.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Party-vi 01/13/2014 at 17:36

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NO.

NO.

NO.

NO.

NOPE.

NOPE.

NOPE.

NOPE.

NOPE.

#freewilly

Textured Soy Protein > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:37

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A lot of the extra weight in convertible versions of cars that started out with roofs comes from reinforcing the chassis to compensate for the lack of a roof.

For point of reference, a 2014 Miata with manual cloth roof weighs 2511 lbs, and the power hardtop weighs 2593 lbs.

Party-vi > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 17:37

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Porsche vehicles aren't only for engineers anymore. The purists can have the coupe 4S and the money guys will get the Targa.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:37

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Right as you may be, the unfortunate reality is that:

a. Your average buyer doesn't care about weight

b. Your average buyer is unlikely to want to fold up his own top and put it in the trunk in 2014. In 1984, he absolutely would. But in 2014 we're accustomed to a level of automation and sophistication in automobiles that dictates the presence of things like an automatic top. The buyer of an '84 Targa simply isn't the same buyer of a '14 Targa, and even when he is, his expectations have been shifted.

Dunnik > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:37

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NoahthePorscheGuy > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 17:38

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does the c7 come with a removable top like the c6?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Party-vi 01/13/2014 at 17:38

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The money guys will get the turbo cabriolet, and a Cayenne Turbo S

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:39

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Yup. The Z06 will, as well.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/13/2014 at 17:39

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unless the buyer of the 2014 Targa is buying it because he has a 71 and a 88 Targa.

TheBaron2112 > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:40

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Really, coupes will always be the most idea car. I don't have any desire for a floppy convertible or a heavier-than-it-needs-to-be Targa.

My future 911 will be a coupe, as will my future F-type.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/13/2014 at 17:40

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triple weird post

NoahthePorscheGuy > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 17:42

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Or hold out for the Turbo Targa. Mhmmmmm

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 17:55

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I'd venture to say that even a certain, perhaps even sizable, portion of those same buyers would accept the convenience offered today (perhaps even back then) if given the choice.

Victorious Secret > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/13/2014 at 18:09

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So does that leave the Targa for the idiots?

Victorious Secret > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/13/2014 at 18:11

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I have less a problem with the power mechanism than I do with the cloth top. That looks ugly to me.

Give me a fancy as fuck glass folding mechanism, and give it to me now.

If I am going to haul around more weight, I am going to take that weight with a glass top that lets me see the sky. Because its fancy. As fuck.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Victorious Secret 01/13/2014 at 18:18

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Don't disagree, but I wonder if that was a case of pandering to the purists, or if perhaps the weight penalty was too great for the great german calculators.

Vin > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 18:20

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I wish the Targa had a unique roof panel, because it looks like they just took the cloth from the cabrio. The orignal Targas had beautiful vinyl covered roofs which looked unique, and also were flat, not curved, giving the Targa a unique roof line.

It's just a roof panel. Have one fabricated - or do it yourself - when you buy it.

Victorious Secret > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/13/2014 at 18:21

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Bloody enthusiasts.

Of course, I'd say ditch the sports car BS and make a 911 that is a GT more than anything, but then the salesman would tell me to go look at a Panamera. Or leave.

He'd probably make me leave.

Vin > Party-vi 01/13/2014 at 18:24

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/game, set, and match

Stupidru > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/13/2014 at 22:47

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I've always found the Targas to be the best looking 911s. My dad has one (1986?) and ever since I first laid eyes on it, I fell in love

Wandered > Textured Soy Protein 01/14/2014 at 14:37

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So the answer is Miata?

Manuél Ferrari > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/14/2014 at 15:49

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Another thing that nobody is talking about (at least not that I have seen so far). The automated targa roof creates extra lines in the rear of the car:

Not only would a manually removable roof save weight and reduce complexity - the rear end of the car wouldn't be cut up.

One of the things I really don't like about the cabrio is how the cuts affect the appearance of the rear end of the car. Now the targa has the same thing.

Had the targa had a manual roof I seriously would have considered it if I bought another 911 one day. But the automated roof is a major turnoff to me and I would definitely stick with getting another coupe.

JohnPlayerSpecial > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/15/2014 at 01:26

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You'll probably find these roaming around Southern CA, nowhere near a racetrack. Weight doesn't matter.

JohnPlayerSpecial > Manuél Ferrari 01/15/2014 at 01:27

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But...but it looks so damn cool when it is retracting.

Manuél Ferrari > JohnPlayerSpecial 01/15/2014 at 01:30

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It does look pretty cool when it's retracting!

I'm just kind of confused by the niche it fills because it's so similar to the cabrio... I liked the idea of a light targa with a manual roof...

Mochimaster > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/18/2014 at 18:08

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I actually like this new targa.

dotter > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/23/2014 at 12:49

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now imagine if they would also get rid of that glass dome, look at those gifs that show the "roof" opening and closing, when the rear hatch lifts the line of the car looks awesome, and then that glass pimple is dropped on top again sigh....

PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/24/2014 at 13:56

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I thought of this when I saw an old 914 ad recently.

The top itself only weighs 7 pounds. S e v e n pounds. Wow.

NoahthePorscheGuy > PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) 01/24/2014 at 16:14

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FUCK THAT SHIT. I WANT 100lbs of ROBOTIC AWESOME

jk. I would kill for 7 pounds.