Why no rwd Targa?

[Sub]

Why dont they make the targa in a 2wd version? Thats the car I really want.

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[David9962000]

Marketing probably.

[adias]

The current Targas are 4WD because PAG considers that Targas are bought by customers who never track them, rarely if at all drive spiritedly and value safety above all - this is straight from their PR manuals.

[Vegas]

I wonder if the Targa design requires a widebody?

[adias]

Originally Posted by Vegas

I wonder if the Targa design requires a widebody?

No such requirement. The same roof-design 996 Targa was narrow-body. It's all marketing. The Targa became the softest, least sportier 911.

[p0rsch3]

How about making a GT2 with a targa top

[nucjd]

That makes sense adias. I test drove a Targa before I picked up my 2S. I definitely noticed a big difference between the two. It was not a completely fair comparison as Targa was 2004 (996 model) but the torque and suspension set up difference was obvious.

[Broker404]

Originally Posted by adias

The current Targas are 4WD because PAG considers that Targas are bought by customers who never track them, rarely if at all drive spiritedly and value safety above all - this is straight from their PR manuals.

I don't understand this logic...

Why do they make convertibles in all variations then?

and there are many sports cars that are not considered watered-down because of their T-tops/targa top, but just about any convertible version of a sports car is considered watered-down.

[Dadio]

Originally Posted by adias

The current Targas are 4WD because PAG considers that Targas are bought by customers who never track them, rarely if at all drive spiritedly and value safety above all - this is straight from their PR manuals.

So based on that what do they say about most modern Turbo models ? I thought they were all Wheel Drive also ? Or is it the glass top the merits the " no tracking or spirited driving " disclaimer ?

[keninirvine]

I would guess that PAG assumed that buyers of Targas are less concerned about racing and are willing to pay a premium for the Targa features. Given that, they likely felt that they'd also be willing to pay the premium for AWD as well. Given the small number of Targas sold, it likely didn't make sense to offer them in both AWD and RWD, so they picked the one that made sense for them.

At the risk of sounding defensive, I think the many comments people make about the Targa's excess weight are somewhat exaggerated in the real world of driving. The weight of the glass top is no more significant than other contributors to the gross vehicle weight, such as power seats, heavy wheels, overweight driver, etc etc. Again, I suspect that driving skills make more difference than the difference in vehicle weight, and that a good driver in a Targa4S could give many drivers of C2S coupes a serious run for their money on the track.

[Broker404]

I can't imagine it wouldn't cost a whole lot more to make both RWD and AWD models, since it seems like the targa parts would have nothing to do with the drivetrain and they already do the same with every other model. And if there's not a whole lot of demand, just don't make a lot.

Another thing... They make a Targa 4S, which seems to contradict PAG's statement about buyers not being interested in the performance.

I think simply having the option, even if not many people buy it, is nice to have and adds to the car's appeal overall.

[keninirvine]

Originally Posted by Broker404

I can't imagine it wouldn't cost a whole lot more to make both RWD and AWD models, since it seems like the targa parts would have nothing to do with the drivetrain and they already do the same with every other model. And if there's not a whole lot of demand, just don't make a lot.

Another thing... They make a Targa 4S, which seems to contradict PAG's statement about buyers not being interested in the performance.

I think simply having the option, even if not many people buy it, is nice to have and adds to the car's appeal overall.

I agree that it would be nice to have the option, as when I bought mine I didn't really want AWD. And I agree that the targa design has no impact on the drive train. But the Targa sales volume is a fraction of all the other styles for which AWD and RWD is offered, so making 2 Targa versions of a small overall number of vehicles would present more production and inventory challenges for PAG.