2007 Porsche 911 Targa 4S test drive

Welcome to the ultimate road Porsche, the 2007 911 Targa 4S. A 355 horsepower 3.8 liter 6-cylinder engine drives all four wheels through a 6-speed manual or 5-speed auto; my tester had the former. Active Suspension Management and Stability Management are included along with ABS and a host of braking assists which, with this much power, you will eventually appreciate. My Canadian test vehicle arrived at CDN$150,225 with options. US-bound Targa 4Ss start at $96,695 but adding options similar to my test car could almost match its sticker. EPA mileage:17/25 city/highway.

First Glance: Looking back to the original Targa

The Porsche Targa is my kind of car. No, I did not personally make that claim; it was said by Maggie, my ex-wife (and still good friend), back in 1967 when the Targa was introduced as a variant on the 911 coupe. Seeing me next to a chocolate brown example of Porsche's then-new semi-convertible, Maggie said, "Philip, you and that car belong together." Yeah, well, so did Maggie and me but I was too dumb to appreciate that. Nor did I ever get to own a Targa, having blown everything on racing an earlier model. Thanks to this test drive, I came to possess a 2007 Targa 4S -- bright red, not chocolate brown -- if only for a few days.

"My" 2007 Targa was beautiful, absurdly fast, and like most German cars, totally consumed with technology of the electronic kind. Yet it was Porsche-to-the-core with its rear-mounted, water-cooled, 6-cylinder boxer engine (link goes to photo) and instantly recognisable shape. Decades after that first Porsche experience I could slip into the cockpit and after a few moments was lapping Mosport again at class-winning speeds. Actually, I was lapping the Victoria airport perimeter roads at speeds that would get me arrested if the Royal Canadian Mounted Police happened to be watching which, thankfully, they weren't. Power came from a 355 hp 3.8 liter six with 6-speed manual, good enough for 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. All-wheel-drive and Porsche's stability management system would keep me out of trouble. So was I in love? No. Because this is 2007 and traffic conspired to make every drive a journey of frustration.

Continued below...

In the Driver's Seat: Great accommodations, but too much going on

Luxury rules in this interior, which nevertheless speaks of performance.

Photo © Philip Powell

No problem finding an ideal driving position with the multi-adjustable power seat and steering wheel. Secure in Porsche-land until faced with a multitude of buttons, knobs, switches: 55 on the console alone and that's before calling up the information screen. As if sheer numbers were not enough, they're too indistinct to be safely operated without stopping and parking first. The instrument panel is equally busy though one does appreciate having a tach front-and-center and one does understand that your, uh, typical reactionary sports car driver is impressed by gauges, even if they're difficult to be read at a glance. (Modern airplanes use a "glass cockpit" where information is called up on big video screens as needed; the auto world should do the same.)

Driver comfort is another world altogether, hence I noted the heated seats, all-round visibility, built-in stopwatch for rallying, rain-sensing wipers, self-dimming mirrors, heated washer nozzles, folding rear-seat backrests with storage shelf, HomeLink programmable garage door opener, Park Assist System, built-in cellphone and hey!... wait a minute, is this a sports car or a Cayenne SUV? On the other hand the Targa's sliding glass roof is a delight, providing a convertible's open-air benefits with less backdraft. The rear glass pops up for easy access to the two kiddie-seats or, more likely, additional storage. With 380 watts and nine speakers the sound system's powerful enough to drown out a passing Harley.

On the Road: Yep, it's a proper Porsche

Acceleration, with that 358 hp engine and close-ratio 6-speed, is of the wham-in-the-back type, something drivers usually don't feel but passengers do. Traveling solo, I felt it. Twice when approaching the roundabout there were no vehicles with priority. Heel-and-toe shifting 6-5-4-3-2, up and over the curbs like Lewis Hamilton, making full use of the Targa's all-wheel-drive but not so extreme as to require the aid of Porsche's Stability Management System, I drove the Targa 4S the way it was intended to be driven. Had I required additional performance I could have hit the "Sport" button and gained 20 push-to-pass horsepower plus a rock-hard suspension change. The problem was to drive this car gently, for the clutch, brakes, throttle, and gearbox require considerable finesse.

Journey's End: Longing for the simple life

This photo reveals what makes the Porsche Targa a Targa. A glass roof slides back -- a long way back -- to turn a coupe into a semi-convertible. More glass behind, easily popped-up for storage access. My favorite feature.

Photo © Philip Powell

It is technologically brilliant (how do they cram all that stuff into a small package?), still beautiful (although the original 911 looks more sveltle without those massive haunches), and it changes direction quicker than a dragonfly. But this Porsche is, in spite of its performance, better suited to long journeys where the driver can pull into Lay-By's (UK) or Rest Stops (US and Canada) to communicate via Cell or download the SAT location before proceeding. In other words, the 911 Targa 4S is a Grand Tourer, a car meant for driving long distances at high speeds. Sadly, because of contemporary traffic (more cars, same roads) the GT concept is redundant. I do love the 911 Targa 4S for its styling, am thrilled with its performance but, bottom-line... just give me the simple life. -- Philip Powell

Next page: Pros, cons, who should buy it, and specs