Used 2012 Porsche 911 Targa 4 Coupe Review & Ratings

You may have heard of the Porsche 911. A sporty icon if there ever was one, the 911 coupe (pronounced "nine-eleven") has continued to set the standard for luxury coupe design since its first appearance in 1963. This year, there are over twenty Porsche 911 variants, including Cabriolet (convertible) and coupe models. Though many might argue that this year's 911 line looks remarkably like the 911 models that came before it, any true Porsche enthusiast will know that it's necessary for the 911 to go through small, sure evolutions over its lifetime to retain its world-class design. In addition to its iconic style, the Porsche 911 has also been very successful in racing circles.

One of the versions of the Porsche 911 available for the 2012 model year is the Porsche 911 Targa 4 coupe. The Targa version of the Porsche 911 was first introduced in 1967. Targa means "shield" in Italian, and it was introduced as a "stop-gap" model. The original Targa featured a stainless steel roll bar and took its name from the Targa Florio sports car road race in Sicily Italy, due to Porsche's great success in the race (seven victories from 1956-1967 when the Targa was introduced). The first Targas were equipped with a removable plastic rear window (fixed glass in later versions) and a removable roof panel.

Today, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 coupe is equipped with both a glass hatch and roof. This roof can be opened at any speed. Due to the fact that the roof is fairly heavy, the Targa's suspension has been differentiated from the Porsche 911 Carrera models. The "4" in the Targa's name denotes a new feature for this model- an all-wheel-drivetrain. Targa 4 models are slightly slower than the standard Porsche 911 Carrera models, due to their heavier roofs and AWD function.

Don't get us wrong though. After review, we can confidently say that the Targa 4 coupe is still a powerful and quick machine. It achieves a top track speed of 177 mph and a zero-to-sixty time of five seconds due to its 3.6-liter H6 engine, which achieves 345 horsepower. And, starting at $93,500, the Targa 4 is far from the most expensive Porsche 911 model. Overall, the Targa 4 comes with enough power to keep us happy, a reasonable price, and excellent safety features. Technology and comfort features are also plentiful- though many coveted additional features can add up quickly.