^^ what? No Pics?!

 

Well, it is a rare 911 version, as everyone has noted. Opening up the search to 997.1 would give you more options, but might not satisfy you in the long run. I simply added a good, inexpensive MP3 option, TranzitBlu, to my 997.1. Works great. Now I have a up-to-date music option in my 997.1 Targa 4S. Everything else is great. I don't even mind the older NAV version in the car. It works fine.

 

You need to decide what is most important to you.... make a list of your desired options/features in a sorted list, the most important one on top, and rank in descending importance.

Now draw a line under the point at which you wont buy the car.. how many options/features will you give up and still buy the car.

So where on that list are:
Price difference to some published reference (say KBB, Edmonds, % off of new sticker)?
Targa body (pano roof, rear hatch) ?
4S vs 4 engine?
Time until you have a car in your possession (in months )?

Now think about what you really want. If you really want a Targa, then wait for the Targa to come along, or save up to buy the Targa you want built to your specs.

You may find you should not focus on the aspects of the car you are currently focusing on. Or you may find that you should pay a bit more (because demand exceeds supply) or just need to wait a lot longer.

 

I've never driven a Targa from the modern era. I've heard that the weight of the panoramic roof raises the center of gravity, which affects handling. Is this a tangible difference, or more theoretical? They're certainly great looking cars, especially the wide body iterations. Their rarity makes them inherently more interesting.

Have you experienced the full panoramic view? Is it what one might expect, or more limited? My last three cars were convertibles, but now that I have a coupe, I find that I rarely even pop the sunroof now. The open air just isn't as important anymore, as there are some many other sensory stimuli driving these wonderful cars.

My advice, FWIW, is as others have stated-- think about what's really important to you, and not necessarily what you think is important now. My first must-have mod was going to be to upgrade the pcm. I now realize I enjoy being unavailable on my phone, and I mainly listen to NPR these days. I've used my nav once in the past 1.5 years. What I thought was important really isn't anymore.

Another big factor is the value of actually having the car, vs searching for months. Those months could be better spent being thrown back into your seat, listening to the sweet sound of the boxer engine unwinding, feeling the grip through turns, executing a perfect shift, and doing all of other things that feed our Porsche cravings.

Either way, good luck. As hard as you are looking, whatever you find is bound to be a winner (as will you).

 

Price is somewhat of a factor, but not much. My real issue with price is I don't want to pay someone extra because they are in love with their car and overvaluing it compared to similar vehicles. The hard part right now is even finding one in the right spec with a color combo I like. Most important things to me are T4S with manual, CPO warranty, sports chrono, and full leather. After that are the colors. Sport adaptive seats, Bose, steering wheel style, and wheel/rim style are nice to haves, but lower on my priority list.

True statement. I've bought other cars that turned out to be a different spec and even color combo that I was initially looking for. Ended up not looking back even once and could not have been happier with my purchase. In hindsight, waiting around or paying a premium for the exact configuration I wanted initially would have been a waste. I'm beginning to seriously relax my wish list because I would rather be enjoying a 90% solution than waiting on the 100% solution for another six months.

I've got my eye on a couple, it's just that they are on the other side of the country and have to find the time to go take a look.

 

They are rare, my wife searched for the right T4S for over two years. One popped up out of state on a Saturday morning and we were on a plane later that afternoon. She was set on this car and wasn't interested in anything else. Worth the effort to find the right one.

This one popped up locally right after we bought hers (looks like you are in CO, too). It looks like a sweet car, I would have considered it if the garage wasn't full already. But it is an '07:

http://www.redtarga4s.com/

 

Hey,

not sure if you're still looking but I just saw one in the classifieds of the new Panorama magazine. Page 141: 2009 T4S 6sp, 31k miles, blk/blk $63.5k with lots of options.
I am not the seller but happen to live in the same town as the seller, so in case you need someone to have a look at the car, ping me.

 

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/4799659175.html

 

Wow! That is a beautiful Targa. Good find, but it's a pdk, which OP does not want.

 

Ha! I was obsessed with buying a C4S black/tan convertible for the longest time. Plenty of those around but I was looking to get it for a steal. Test drove a few on the highway and they confirmed my love was genuine. Then one summer day the perfect car AND price showed up. I left work immediately to test drive the car in the city. The hot burning sun beating down on my head and neck in slow traffic killed my love immediately. "Why would anyone drive a #*%king convertible?" I asked myself.

I then switched love interest to the targa 4S. I sat in a friend's T4S one evening while he drove and the beautiful stars in the sky and panoramic view were captivating. My genuine love for the T4S was confirmed that night. Alas it was to be a one night stand because soon after I test drove a T4S on a sunny day and I realized that the sun was still beating down on my head and neck and the damn glass was not exactly stopping that from happening.

These car love, so genuine yet so fleeting.

I then checked out the C4S. roof closed, A/C blasting on my head....Heaven. With a cool head, and neck, I whipped out my checkbook and swept the C4S up in my arms. Actually I was the one in the C4S arms (seat) but it doesn't matter who was carrying who, we were in love. The forever kinda love.

A couple of a days ago I flirted with a newer model C4S. I was really tempted. You see, I have always loved the 911s with the big ***. No narrow body car for me. You know how the lyric goes, my anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun. This new C4S's backside looked firmer than my older model's and the engine noise was stirring up something inside of me I couldn't control. Unfortunately the consummation never happened.
I returned to my love. She totally forgave me and gave me a drive that left my heart beating. C4S coupe, I'll love you forever.

 

Slowday, great story, brought a smile to my face (especially since I have to work on Christmas Eve until the end of the day...)

 

^^ finish him!

When they deleted the spammer above, it made it look like I was talkin' bout Scoper - but there was a spammer above this post, I swear. haha

 

Exactly why I got a 997.1

 

Thanks all. I've found a potential car, but like the last time I am out of town. Hopefully it will be available when I get back.

 

I've had both! 997.1 Targa 4S and now '11 C4S. Love them both but if I had to live with one for a long time, no doubt I would pick my '11 C4S w/PDK. The C4S is tighter and handles better than the Targa. I've never missed the larger sunroof on the C4S.

But in the end, you can't go wrong with either choice. Good luck!