The other day, I happened to have the opportunity to experience the new Porsche 911 Targa 4 (992 model), and I would like to report on it.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 (992)

This time, I had the opportunity to test drive the latest 992 Targa 4. Needless to say, the Targa is neither a cabriolet nor a coupe.A bar corresponding to the B pillar, called targa bar, is located in the center of the car bodyand is located at , which increases rigidity and makes the model even more rigid and safer than the Cabriolet.

The model was originally developed to meet the safety standards for convertibles in the U.S. in the 1960s, and although the targa bar was temporarily lost from the 993 to the 997 generation, it was revived again from the 991 to the present.

The model we tested was the Targa 4, painted in paison green.The python green car was previously featured on this blog in a test drive article on the 992 Turbo S. The python green was very cool, and it looks great on the Targa body of this car. This color is much better looking in person than in pictures, so it would be better to see it in person.

The combination of the silver targa bar, black roof, and red interior is the best!It is. One wrong move and the color combination would have looked odd, but the owner's good taste is very informative.

Unlike the cabriolet, the targa bar cannot be opened or closed while driving, but can be opened or closed in 19 seconds.It is a very complicated and elaborate movement, and if you are a man who loves machines, you will be fascinated by it.

I was allowed to drive a 992 Targa 4.
Better ride than a cabriolet! pic.twitter.com/UGmXgwJi7H

- Hiro@Porsche came to my house (@boxster_gts) August 15, 2021

Porsche 911 Targa interior and exterior

The interior is a leather package, two-tone leather black/bordeaux red. If even the dashboard were made red, it would reflect on the windshield, so they decided to make it black there.

And the seats were equipped with Sport Seat Plus. As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, at least in the case of the 992, the optional Sports Seats Plus are definitely more comfortable than the regular sports seats. Of course, it depends on the individual body shape, so it is difficult to make a blanket statement.For my body type (about 177cm/74kg), the Sport Seat Plus fits my body better.

Specifically, the thickness of the seat cushion is particularly different. This alone seems to affect ride comfort, with the Sport Seat Plus being thicker. With regular sports seats, the seat surface is so thin that my buttocks hurt after long hours of driving, but this one seems to be fine.

If you are not aNext time I buy another 992 I will definitely get the Sport Seat Plus!I think.

On the other hand, the regular sports seat has a smaller side support, but a wider seat and backrest, so it would be more comfortable for larger people to sit comfortably. Therefore, I think that the Sports Seat Plus is better for slender people and the Sports Seat is better for larger people.

Looking at the exterior, the wheels are 20- and 21-inch Carrera Classic wheels.Personally, this is my favorite design, and it is the wheel that I was not sure whether to choose or not until the very end. I personally think that either these classic wheels or the Carrera Exclusive Design wheels would suit the Targa's design well.

The muffler comes with an optional sports exhaust, which is a two-piece muffler that is more centered.The shape near the rear hatch appears slightly thinner at the top and bottom than that of the Cabriolet, and from directly behind, the design looks almost identical to that of the Coupe.

What do you think when you test drive a Porsche 911 Targa?

The starting engine sound is a bit louder, almost as loud as my Cabriolet. By the way, this one is MY2021, and I later compared the muffler part with my Cabriolet's.I don't think there is a GPF attached apparently.

The start of the car is very smooth. It starts more gently than the Cabriolet, and while it does not have the overwhelmingly dense torque of the Turbo S, the feeling is very similar.

The ride is very comfortable at higher speeds. It is milder than a cabriolet or coupe. According to the owner.The Targa is said to have a suspension tuned for Targa.

Well, it certainly rides a little differently than the 911s I've driven.

And even though it has 20/21" wheels, it seems to run more moist and smooth than my 19/20" Cabriolet. With this ride quality, I don't think anyone would be the first to complain.

Going around some curves, there is definitely a sense of weight and mass from the Targa's large rear glass. It feels as if the center of gravity is slightly higher than the weight of the car as a whole.

Cabriolet is also heavy in weight, butSince the roof is covered, the center of gravity is very low and the car is more agile than a coupe in tight corners.I even think it is because I am used to it, but in my case, I think it is because I am used to it, so I feel it is too much.

However, that doesn't mean thatDoes it negatively affect cornering? If you ask me, it does not at all.It does not have any particular understeer or oversteer characteristics, nor is it difficult to drive at all. There is no understeer or oversteer, and the car is not difficult to drive at all. The car goes through the corners with great precision and a sense of security.

At least, there is no need to worry about the negatives of this Targa at all in the speed range of ordinary roads. If there is a negative effect, it may be obvious on circuits, such as the chicane at Suzuka or the Dunlop corner at Fuji, where you need to move agilely through tight corners, but only in such places.I don't think the "Mere Old Man" will understand.

When flowing in normal mode through a corner, the exhaust note seems a bit quieter than that of the Cabriolet. The owner, too.It's got a sport exhaust, but it's quiet."He mentioned that this may be due to the large glass opening system in the rear, which may also affect the sound insulation.

Once I've gotten used to driving, I put the car in Sport mode and give the Targa a bit of a whip. The sport exhaust flap opens and a gear or two lower is selected.As the RPMs increase and the accelerator pedal is stepped on, the sound is quite nice.It is not as "quiet" as the owner said it would be.

In terms of acceleration, it is a bit milder than the Cabriolet due to the fact that it is a Targa with two occupants, but perhaps the difference is only at a level that is barely noticeable if you ride alone.

When the accelerator is returned to theBobo-bo-bo!The sound of the "afterfire" and the afterfire sound is very brave. Compared to the stock exhaust on my Cabriolet, I think the biggest difference is the presence or absence of this production. When the stock exhaust is set to sport, the afterfire sound can be heard, but it is a bit lighter, "pop-pop-pop-pop," and not as distinct as this sound.

Incidentally, the sound during acceleration was about the same or slightly louder with the sport exhaust, and there was no clear difference in volume with or without the sport exhaust as there was in the 981 and 991.1 era.

When cornering in Sport mode, the difference in weight from the Cabriolet is even less noticeable.The engine mounts tighten and the entire body as a whole becomes more muscular. Acceleration response is sharp, and the 911 begins to respond as desired.

The tight uphill is the most obvious behavior, since the targa should be heavy in the back.Eighteen Corners and Ashiyari EssesI run up the But with my skills, I can't tell any difference. The car goes around every corner with a lot of effort, and the traction is very strong. There is not the slightest sense of uneasiness in the front end.

Then I remembered, "The Targa was a four wheel drive!And.

Perhaps the reason the Targa is four-wheel drive is to minimize the effect of this weight around the rear as much as possible. I think that by having the front also drive the car, the weight is also placed at the front to balance the front and rear, and the negatives are completely eliminated by skillful four-wheel torque control.

So, the car can be driven very comfortably and fast. And it does so without even the slightest awareness of the fact that it is a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Just finished a test drive of the Targa.

After the test drive, I was again impressed by the high performance and thoughtful control. The great thing about Porsche isIt's not just "we made a targa-top roof" or "we added a four-wheel drive system.The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.

I feel that the "balance" of the grade is very important, and that it is being seriously tuned and developed. It is no longer a mere addition of a "grade," but rather, I suspect that other manufacturers test and verify their products at the level of adding a "car model" to their lineup. The level of perfection is that high.

So the Targa offers the same elegant ride that its elegant appearance suggests, and at the same time, once the whip is cracked, it delivers uncompromising performance as a genuine 911.

I've thought long and hard about what kind of person I would recommend a 911 Targa to, and I've come to the conclusion that it's not only for those who expect the sporty driving experience of a 911, but also for those who are looking for aRecommended for those who want a more luxurious ride than the Carrera, and whose main use of the car is for city driving, dating, shopping, etc., rather than winding roads.I think it is such a car. I think it is such a car.