Finally, Sudbury’s appalling road conditions, combined with the 19-inch wheels, managed to coax a few squeaks and rattles from some of the interior panels, and mainly, that all-glass Targa lid. Well within acceptable limits, these.
Still, I’d suggest skipping a 911 model with the sportier ‘S’ designation and up-sized wheels if you live in a locale with rough roads, as the ride quality can suffer drastically.
The important Porsche stuff remained untouched. The 3.8L flat-six specified as the centrepiece of the Targa 4S’s performance fires up eagerly, clicks and clacks at idle with every ounce of flat-six charm a 911 owner would expect, and sings the glorious song of internal combustion while pulling hard to beyond 7,400 RPM. This magnificent engine floods the cabin with that resonant, echoing wail it’s famous for at any prod of the throttle.
The clutch bit hard during quick shifts, but had now worn in a little – making it a touch more forgiving in traffic. And, in said traffic, the tester turned heads in my Northern Ontario locale like few other machines on this side of a six-digit price tag.
Brakes bit hard from an initial press, there was no sign of pulling or alignment-related issues, and in all, the performance of the tester proved as responsive and drama-free as I’d remember when new.
Over a week at the wheel, I got to thinking about how well the Targa was set up for touring and lengthy trips. The clever roof, for instance, gives a nearly convertible level of access to the wind and sun and air around you—but without chewing up cargo space in the rear of the 911’s cabin. The 911 Targa models also get a glass hatchback – making it easy to load a few small bags into the rear window shelf area, behind the back seats.
The front-mounted trunk (which some call a ‘frunk’) is adequate in size for a few larger bags, and the tester’s AWD system would help make quick work of wintery conditions as needed. Plus, with the well broken-in engine putting away premium unleaded at a rate of about 9 L/100km during highway cruising at a good clip, said trip wouldn’t require frequent stops for gasoline replenishment.
   2010 Porsche 911 Targa 4S CPO. Click image to enlarge |
Then, there’s the everyday-friendly operation. You can see out of a 911. They’re easy to park, have plenty of room for your things, and aren’t typically uncomfortable to drive.
An older, mobility-challenged friend of mine owns an older 911 (2002, Carrera 4). She insisted I tell readers that the 911 is a sports car that’s easy to enter and exit if you have trouble getting around. She drives hers daily and is happy with it, despite lighting right up upon seeing my tester.
End of the day, my tester was ready to drive off of the lot and have its Porsche magic enjoyed – on a long road trip or otherwise. Sometime after leaving my custody, a Porsche rep will sell this thing to some lucky person who can enjoy it for more than a week. And that person will be driving a machine that feels, by and large, like it did when it rolled out of the factory a few years earlier.
That person won’t have to book an appointment with a mechanic for an inspection, transport the car around, order tires, schedule maintenance, order a CarProof report or worry that they may have missed something, either.
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With a CPO Porsche, it’s all about confidence, peace of mind, and access to a no-nonsense ownership experience. You’re covered, here – and left with nothing to do but hop in and drive off.
2010 Porsche 911 Targa 4S
Price as Tested: $92,500
Options: Self-dimming mirrors, heated steering wheel, dynamic cornering lights, Bluetooth, Sport Chrono Package Plus, Navigation, Universal Audio Interface, illuminated door sills, Comfort seats
Competitors:
2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
2010 Audi R8
2010 Jaguar XK
