Some people believe their possessions are what give them self-worth. However, they are forced to deal with the truth once those things are taken from them. Take a guy named Jack, for instance. After working hard and graduating from college, he lands a job with a local law firm. Because of his instant success rate, he begins to make a hefty salary, which allows him to buy a luxurious condominium, along with a Mercedes Benz. One day when he is getting into his car, he spots a girl from high school that he used to have a crush on. She becomes startled at first, but after a few moments she recognizes him. Looking surprised she lets out a soft chuckle. After they exchanged contact information, he got into his vehicle and drove home feeling a sense of pride. On the way home, as he was driving down his street, out of nowhere someone backed into him causing significant damage. When he finally got home after everything with the other driver was settled, all of the confidence he had before began to fade away. After finally getting up enough nerve, he called his date to let her know what happened. They both laughed as their conversation went on for the next hour.
The standard Targa 4 doesn't have the low-end punch of the S model, but spinning the engine around the tachometer still delivers brisk acceleration. Porsche quotes a curb weight of 3,395 pounds, 242 pounds heavier than the Carrera 4 Coupe (but only 88 pounds heavier than the Carrera 4 Cabriolet), making this the heaviest of the three bodystyles. The standard Targa 4 doesn't have the low-end punch of the S model, but still delivers brisk acceleration. Few cars are as enjoyable to drive as today's Porsche 911, as the rear-engine sports car obeys steering, braking and acceleration commands almost telepathically. The engineers worked to keep the Targa's additional mass low in the chassis, with meticulous attention paid to selecting lightweight materials, so handling isn't compromised. Engineering a Targa roof for a late-model vehicle, with a low drag coefficient, is more difficult than it was in the 1960s when steeply angled windshields blew the air far over the cabin.
Plus, the "jump" (the distance between the windshield surround and Targa hoop) is much greater, which contributes to the problem. Buffeting is inevitable, but to reduce some of the turbulent air, engineers have placed a manually adjustable two-position wind blocker at the top of the windshield header. Its raised position is most effective to reduce airflow, but it's also the loudest, as it places the small plastic wing directly into the slipstream. Keep it in its default low setting for best results. There is a noticeable amount of wind hitting the bright silver hoop and spilling into the cabin at speeds above 50 mph. To accommodate its slightly heavier curb weight, Porsche has retuned the Targa's front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension. But instead of matching the damping of the Coupe and Cabriolet, the Targa has been calibrated for a slightly more compliant ride to suit its role as an all-season grand tourer.
The roads in Southern Italy would earn no better than a C- grade, as the surfaces under the Porsche's wide Pirelli PZeros (the optional tires were sized 245/35ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear) were broken and rutted more often than not. Regardless, the Targa's ride was surprisingly comfortable. The optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, left in its softest setting, proved enough to keep the wheels from impacting harshly over even the roughest sections. After fielding countless questions about body rigidity, Porsche's engineers confided that the Targa is about 10 percent stiffer than the Cabriolet model upon which it is based (the Coupe is reportedly twice as rigid as the Cabriolet). Officials also say that the rigidity is the same with or without the Targa panel in place - it's not a structural part of the chassis, which improves suspension tuning. It seems no orientation with an open-roof car is complete unless Mother Nature is allowed to test its weatherproofing. As huge raindrops fell from the clouds, a quick detour to the side of the road had the Targa's roof secured back in place and the coupe sealed tight from the elements.
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