The Porsche 911 Targa 4: Escape trough the air

I have always been passionate about Porsches from a young age. My parents even made me print a hoodie with the logo of the German manufacturer. Although I have driven a few Porsche vehicles and the 911 on the winter circuit, how happy I was to drive the Porsche 911 Targa 4 just recently, a great sports car who allowed me to get away from the city a bit.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4: Perfect for the beautiful days!

A phenomenon that we notice the moment we start the engine of a Porsche 911, especially in the convertible version, is the looks; we feel this love of the flagship model of the brand from Stuttgart, as much among men than in women, the latter being perhaps less demonstrative. You immediately feel the power of the 379 horsepower of the 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine. As soon as you turn the key, it’s rumbling. We are far from the silence of the most recent Porsche I had tested, the Taycan. It’s masterful.

This 911 model is undoubtedly the most elegant; it bears the name “Targa” thanks to its characteristic arch and its innovative roof concept, it is a timeless classic. Even though it retains the almost identical lines of the 1963 silhouette, it meets the highest safety requirements. It presents the characteristics of a legend: with aluminum rods, gills and the inscription “Targa ’Original. And since I was fortunate enough to drive the latter on a week of hot sunny days, I did neither one nor two to lower the roof of this sports car to make the most of it.

I have to say that I live in the city, and I appreciated the size of the 911 (which approaches 4.5 m), much smaller than the SUVs that I usually try; it is easy to park, and we feel that we are taking up less space. And the car with its lower threshold sticks to the road.

The ride is incredible; I have the impression of being in a Formula 1, so much I am embedded in the cockpit and have confidence in the vehicle. We are far from the higher SUVs. Here I am, just like on the electric racetracks of our youth, the car sticks to the ground. I have to say that I always remember the advice of my Porsche Ice Experience instructor when I get behind the wheel. No matter the brand, it helps to have a better drive.

I stay in automatic mode all the time. I have to say that I have never had any training in how the gears work on the steering wheel. I’m a little afraid of blundering when the vehicle isn’t mine, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen with a 911 from a car over $165,000.

 I was able to test the car while being careful. Have no fear; it was only for a few seconds to discover the limits of the vehicle. Highway 15 South is a real charm to slightly increase the speed of the 911, and no need to force; there is power, a speed of 140—150 km/h is easily reachable. But what a joy, it’s easy to imagine yourself on European roads where the limits are higher than in Canada and where it must be so good to see the 911 at its maximum capacity. Especially in the sun with the roof open.

A simple, but whimsical roof opening

Speaking of the roof, the simplicity of storage is disconcerting, and everything is automatic. The only tiny hitch is that you have to be entirely at a standstill to close it, not even 10 km/h, probably due to the presence of the rear engine. If downpours are forecast, you should consider this before heading out on the road.

Rear seat: For children only

If your friends are tall, don’t think of sitting them back, at least not with the roof, it will be painful for them, talk to my friend Michel Favuzzi who tried the experiment, with his 6 feet something, this n was not a good fit, at the front, however, no problem. The seat adjustments are perfect for all sizes, and we are comfortable. The rear seats are places for children or storage. Regarding the storage, there’s some under the hood, too. Just don’t forget that when you get home, the front trunk is unnatural to most of us. On the other hand, it is a feature that we are likely to see more and more with the number of electric vehicles on the market, which leads to the reduction of motor space.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4: For business on the road!

The sound emanating from the BOSE speakers is very melodic and easy to adjust, even when the roof is open. You will be able to hear either your telephone conversations or your music, which you can control, either with the integrated system of Porsche, Apple CarPlay or well Android auto. You can also recharge your device, but I recommend the USB cable since induction is much slower.

It was indeed a week filled with fun and visits from friends who are sports car enthusiasts who loved the vehicle and getting behind the wheel without actually driving it; that pleasure was only for me.

Moreover, you can find yourself behind the wheel of a Porsche by participating in the Porsche Ice Experience, which will be back in 2021 on the Mécaglisse circuit.

To learn more about the Porsche 911 Targa 4, it’s on the manufacturer’s website!

This article was originally published in the digital magazine Issue 8.