  2010 Porsche 911 Targa 4S CPO. Click image to enlarge |
Review by Justin Pritchard, photos by Chris Koski
Freshly inspected, fussed over and touched-up by the Porsche Certified Pre Owned (CPO) program, your writer’s tested 2010 911 Carrera Targa 4S was looking good. Slick tire shine, polished glass and freshly cleaned silver paint were all gleaming, and with about 25,000 kilometres on its dial, the tester would accompany me back up north for a few days.
The boss handed me this unusual assignment for a story that would delve into the world of used Porsche ownership. I was to report on the factory-approved program, through which Porsche refurbishes used models, up to eight-years old, back to as close to original condition as possible.
Then, I was to drive one of said models for a week, and see how the efforts of the CPO program translated to the driving experience.
The CPO program has numerous benefits for anyone after a new-to-them 911 (or Cayman or Boxster or Cayenne or Panamera). Models purchased from the CPO program have a two-thumbs-up from Porsche mechanics, body men, and technicians that the model in question has been refurbished back as close to its original condition as possible.
The point of the CPO program, in a nutshell, is to add new-Porsche confidence, peace of mind and protection to a used-Porsche purchase. Benefits include higher resale value, tremendous confidence, and even warranty coverage and roadside assistance. Read more about it here.
Many used car shoppers in the market for a few-year-old Porsche seek out the CPO cars actively – meaning a faster sell down the line when it comes time to upgrade.
I wondered what the tester’s former owner had upgraded to. Maybe some kids came into the picture, and he went with a Cayenne or Panamera. Or maybe, the 385-horsepower punch of his Targa 4S somehow got boring for him, and he went with a Turbo.
Rolling on optional “Turbo II” wheels from the same year, I figured this machine was likely bought by someone with a fondness for long-distance travel – as it was also fitted with a self-dimming rearview, climate controlled seats and adaptive xenon headlamps. All of these features, to varying degrees, make long trips more laid-back and comfortable.
   2010 Porsche 911 Targa 4S CPO. Click image to enlarge |
As tested price when new? About $143,000 with the slew of add-on features. Asking price today? About $90,000, with 25,000 kilometres on the dial. Very compelling value, in a way – and especially considering how closely the tester felt like a new 911 from this generation.
In the context of this story, it should be noted that your correspondent is extensively familiar with two things: test-drives of new Porsche models, and used vehicle buying advice.
So I approached this used German rocket-sled in the shoes of a smart used-car shopper. Walk around the body, looking for signs of damage or repair.
I spotted a few teensy flecks of touched-up paint, perhaps covering rock chips that’d I’d bet the average shopper wouldn’t even notice.
Tires? Brand new – or close to it. Targa top? Fully functional, and just as interesting to watch tuck in and slide away as I’d thought. I’d never seen a Targa roof before in real life.
A glance around the cabin for signs of wear or use revealed little: a small chip on the windshield and a tiny scuff, probably caused by the former driver’s ring, on the shifter.
The previous three years and 25,000 kilometres of use showed themselves in a few small ways.
First? The controls. All of the buttons and dials and levers and switches operated with less resistance, now that they’d been used several thousand times and become broken in.
The bushings attached to the shifter assembly had also broken in, replacing the tight, stiff feel of the brand new 911 gear lever with a delightfully playful, quick one. The new car smell had vacated the premises, which is nice if you don’t like the new car smell.
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
