50 years of evolution. Over the decades Porsche has introduced lots of variants of the 911
such as the Speedster, Turbo and GT2
but today I hold the key of one of the most iconic models, the Targa.
The timeless shape of the 911 combined with the Targa roof system and today's technology
make the 991 Targa as one of the most desirable 911 I have seen since a long time.
It's my first road trip with a 911 and I'm very excited to do it with this model.
You might be wondering where am I going to test the Targa
but the thing is that with a car like this, the destination can be only one.
French Riviera, here I come!
Right, I leave behind me the magnificent Villa Fenaroli
with the flashy Principality of Monaco waiting for me just 400km away.
In this trip I want to find out how's this grand tourer like to drive
in terms of comfort, daily usability and obviously, the performance!
What I'm driving is the latest generation of the Targa
and maybe the first real successor since the 1992 964 Targa.
Since then the 993, 996 and 997 came in but they were nothing but a 911 with a panoramic glass roof.
The 991 Targa has a proper targa roof with a full automatic system that looks pretty amazing to watch in motion
however there's a little price to pay because this mechanism
makes the Targa 4S 90kg heavier compared to the Coupè.
It is such a lovely car to drive with the roof down,
the weather is so beautiful today.
I've driven over 800km in the past few days and
you can tell by my face that I've driven mostly with the roof down,
my face is burning!
The sun is pretty strong today, it would be crazy to drive 400km with the roof down.
It takes about 19 seconds the whole process and
you can do it just from stationary.
Ok, let's go!
Hey there is another targa, but that's a Corvette!
That's a good noise!
Probably my only fuel stop on my way to Monaco.
The fuel tank of the Targa carries about 69 litres or something
and the fuel consumption is rather good!
7th gear, 2000rpms, it does about 12km per litre,
that's pretty good for a sports car with 400hp!
Back on the road!
So, how's the Targa like to drive on a highway cruise?
Well, can you hear that?
That's the sound of silence!
I'm driving with the cruise control at 130kph and
what you can hear is just a little whisper of the wind
that I don't even think that you can hear it through the camera!
With the vales of the exhaust closed the Targa is really quiet to drive!
You can drive on long distances without make your ears bleed!
The ride on a highway cruise is very smooth and comfortable
and I think that the Targa is the perfect car that can be driven on a daily basis and in every season.
It has a 4WD system,
and by the way, the Targa is available only with a 4WD system, no RWD.
And it has also a boot with a pretty good capacity, two extra seats in the back,
I mean, what else can you ask for if you want to use a sports car on a daily basis?
The interior of the 991 Targa looks very good put together,
you can feel and see the quality.
I like the central console that separates the cockpit in two sections and
I like also the steering wheel too because it really gives a very proper feedback and
I like the fact that it's very clean, it doesn't have any buttons,
just the paddles behind.
Just like any 911 it has the typical 5 instrument bezel
and here on the right there's a small screen when you see several parameters
such as the pressure of the tires,
the temperature of the engine oil
and what else,
the navigation,
the music you're playing,
and you can see also the g-force
and also
how much power you're the car is delivering to the front and rear tires!
It's a pretty cool feature but I don't find it very useful, I mean,
you have to look at the road, not how much power you're delivering to the tires!
So, is it possible to cruise on the highway with the roof down?
And this is just 120kph but hey!
Here's the positive side, this is Liguria and it's plenty of tunnels!
Whenever I drive up to Monaco, this is my favourite part, the Ligurian Coast, it's so plenty of tunnels!
And doing it with the Targa, it's phenomenal!
I don't care about the wind noise, I wanna drive up to Monaco with the roof down!
So, a friend of mine with a Jaguar F-Type R has just joined me
on my way to Monaco, now this is epic!
My ears are bleeding!
So Monaco, finally here we are!
What a truly fantastic trip so far, the more I drive this car, the more I love it.
Bit cloudy today but yeah, let's take it for a drive around the city..
always in good company!
So, let's start a lap around the city of Monaco.
As you can see, the city is ready to host the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix.
They're talking about the cars, we have Sara with the GT3 behind and
everyone's looking!
So, how's it like to drive the Targa around the city?
Let me switch to the normal mode
which as I mentioned on the highway,
if you want this car can be really relaxing and quiet to drive. It feels like a normal car!
Just put in Drive mode with the automatic gear change.
In normal mode the throttle is lighter, as well as the steering wheel.
You can steer without much effort, as you can see.
Everyone's taking pictures!
Around Monaco it's not very hard to find supercars
and the 911 is very common to see here but I've noticed that
around the city the Targa really attracts a lot of attention, people love this car and I love it too, it looks fantastic!
I think it's a great reinterpretation of the very first Targa
and probably the best looking one, since the first made.
Oh yeah
when you're not driving in Sport or Sport Plus mode you have also the Start&Stop
which might sound like a blasphemy but if you want to use the car on a daily drive and
when you're also stuck in the traffic, it's very useful.
And now down to the famous Fairmont hairpin.
A lot more tourists and people that take pictures and look at us!
This car really attracts a lot of attention!
Ok so, on the right we have the famous Formula 1 tunnel!
Ok so..
I would have loved to make some noise in this tunnel but
the cop just gave me a warning!
Is it possible to make an acceleration? Ok!
Well, at least I tried!
I wish I could have pushed a little bit the Targa around the Monaco F1 circuit but hey,
let's take it for a drive outside the city!
So we're outside Monaco and we're about to drive up La Turbie!
It's a very beautiful road!
Let's go!
Second, first gear!
PDK gearbox is a very good gearbox!
The gear changing is immediate!
Wow!
The engine produces 400hp,
it doesn't give you the kick of a turbo
but the power delivery is very fluid and progressive and
above 5000rpms it really starts to push!
And it sound bloody amazing!
I'm driving also with the stability and traction control off but there's not a hint of powerslide!
The Targa is available just with a 4WD and it's a fantastic 4WD system!
It feels very neutral
and mostly,
it has so much grip and traction!
What a beautiful road, and what a beautiful car to drive here!
But yeah,
I think the Porsche Targa
is a complete sports car.
It has power, comfort and luxury.
You can use it on a daily drive
and cruise and when you want you just
engage the Sport Plus mode, find good roads and have fun!
It is so quick in the corners!
I mean, it has a 4WD system and it's heavier than the Coupè but you cannot really feel the extra weight.
It is really agile!
Oh no!
Yeah, the Porsche Targa has a good fuel economy but..
only when you drive slowly.
I need to fill up, and I don't even know where I am!
Finally!
I was really about to run out of fuel!
My salvation!
To my eyes, the Porsche 991 Targa is an instant classic.
Maybe the last naturally aspirated generation of the 911 and probably a future collector's car.
It feels very different from any 911 convertible,
it's a modern classic with a vintage flavour,
one of the best models that Porsche has ever done in my humble opinion.
After having experienced it for over 2800km I can only say positive things over its dynamic qualities.
It's not a car that I would trackday but driving it on the coast with the wind in my hair
makes me think that this is the right car that enhances in style the driving pleasure at low and high speed.
Well, it sounds like that I've fallen in love again, might be time to start saving..