Used 2019 Porsche 911 Targa for sale 

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The 2019 Porsche 911 Targa 4 strikes an excellent bend between convertible and coupe, and if the price isn’t too much of a worry, this variant provides the most raw of driving pleasures with its dynamics, engine, and manual transmission

You’re probably dying to find out already. A twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter boxer inline-six sits in the engine bay of the 2019 911 Targa, and its 370 horses really make the convertible feel alive. The mid range surge packs quite a lot. Fifteen minutes with the pedals and you already know this car isn’t optimised for economy in any way whatsoever. The transmission feels shorter than it is at times due to the way it zips through the gears or climbs revs, in the PDK and 7-speed manual gearboxes respectively. Moreover, the twin turbo setup is efficient enough to make the engine yearn for a higher gear, as the 331 lb-ft of torque is really felt almost throughout the rev range - for those of you who love downshifting, best get a good feel of the car first. 

The 911 Targa is simply put, a brilliant car to drive. However, rivals such as the F-Type R Convertible and Chevy Corvette Grand Sport house mammoth sized V8s under their hoods, displacing 5.0L and 6.2L in that order. To add to the doubts concerning the 911 Targa 4S pricing, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 makes excellent use of hybrid technology to produce a maximum of 429 horsepower from an inline-six that displaces the same amount of fuel as that of the 911 Targa.

There is a wild fluctuation of the vehicles across the table, but the engine figures don’t really tell the same story as the prices. Most evidently, the 911 Targa exhibits the lowest horsepower and torque figures at the highest prices. The Jaguar produces the highest maximum horsepower in the table at 550 horsepower, followed by the AMG, putting the naturally aspirated Chevy in second place. The Corvette Grand Sport does deserve a special shoutout for its natural aspiration and manual combo, which could make it quite the thrill to drive. The F-Type leads the way in terms of twisting force as well, but surprisingly enough, the naturally aspirated engine produces a fatter amount of torque - 465 lb-ft , in comparison to powertrains that utilise turbo(s) and electrical boost. Clearly, the 911 Targa loses out on paper to its most direct rivals in terms of price or mechanical hardware. While this does paint a bad picture for the Stuttgart based motorsport legend, the reputation is most definitely upheld by this year's model, as you will come to find out through the real performance figures and handling review. Of course, a test drive would be the best option.

Acceleration

Porsche ensured that the 2019 911 Targa puts every bit of its horsepower to maximum effect, reflected in the 4.1 second 0 to 60 in the 911 Targa 4S. Unfortunately but obviously, the manual transmission variant, the Targa 4, completes the same sprint in 4.5 seconds. With these figures, the 2019 911 Targa 4 finds itself out of the contention for top spot almost instantly. 

Chevrolet have done exceptionally well to produce a manual transmission that can be used to keep up with the likes of an automatic that has access to more horsepower, as seen in the Grand Sport matching the F-Type R Convertible’s 3.7 second sprint to 60. The Mercedes-Benz E 53 AMG does the same just two tenths of a second quicker than the Targa, at 4.3 seconds. Here a small realisation might creep in through the fact that none of the vehicles in the comparison can quite justify their horsepower superiority in their acceleration figures. 

Ride and Handling 

Here is where the 911 Targa just blows the competition out of the water entirely. One of the most flat handling chassis in the world serves as the main ingredient for sublime corner entry and exit. The handling characteristics and driving dynamics make twisties feel like video games. With AWD available, you can expect some snappy quick maneuvers. The manual transmission is absolutely unbeatable when it comes to handling that power well, but remains a tricky one to use due to the rapid rev climbing. 

It isn’t all smiles with the 2019 911 Targa 4 though. The steering could definitely do with a little more accuracy and feel to it, as both seem damped in order to achieve a bit of an odd balance. Moreover, there is one glaring error that Porsche needs to realise and fix instantly, which is an awkward judder from the Targa which finds a way to creep into the smoothness of the handling only at higher speeds. The source of this instability seems to be aerodynamic, and it doesn’t deter handling but does become apparent due to the ride characteristics. 

Braking

The AWD of the Targa makes for a predictable drive, and the 13 inch brake discs around all four wheels make the whole experience equally balanced. Porsche Ceramic Coated Brakes allow for aggressive track runs, but the stock option brakes also shed speed almost just as well, with a strong bite and no discernible fade. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to test the 60 to 0 distance of the 2019 Porsche 911 Targa 4 Convertible.

The Chevy shows off its strong American roots in the beefy nature of all its mechanical components. It houses the largest front and rear discs in its segment, tying for the former with the E 53 Convertible. It still manages to stop from sixty miles an hour in just a 100 feet; 2 feet shy of the heavier Jaguar F-Type R Convertible. The Mercedes-AMG completes the same feat in 115 feet, which does match the competition, but does the trick for a car of its nature

As for fuel economy, none of these vehicles seem to be interested in it. Therefore, if you are interested in low costs per mile, don’t let the inline-six engines and hybrid technologies fool you. The Mercedes-Benz does make use of its electric backup to achieve decent figures, but neither of the four engines are built to hold revs stable. The naturally aspirated V8 in the Chevy does well to offer the kind of economy it does on highways, but the city efficiency is almost as poor as that of the Jaguar, at 16 mpg vs 15 mpg respectively. 

I must start with something I always say, which is that the Germans know their seats. The leather upholstered seats strike the perfect balance between comfort and sportiness, holding you in place just perfectly enough for a slightly relaxed posture when you like it. The front seats are pretty much the only place you’d like to be in a Porsche, and the same follows for the 2019 911 Targa. Rivals are more luxurious and/or opulent, as exhibited in their cabin design and ride quality as well.

The Mercedes-AMG does have a strong sporty stride in its movements, while the Jaguar opts to forcibly ensure comfort during spirited driving. However, both vehicles teeter towards providing comfort in the face of performance. The Chevrolet shows the real reasons for its cost in the interiors, due to their unimpressive feel when compared to immediate rivals. Their cockpit is designed in a bold, sharp style.

We did not get a chance to measure the interiors of the Porsche 911 Targa of model year 2019, and it is quite tough to find reliable figures of the interiors of a Porsche, owing to the fact that they do optimise a lot over practicality and cabin space in all their cars, and even more so for their coupes and convertibles. 

The Mercedes-AMG E 53 Convertible offers the most headroom in the front seats, and a surprisingly decent amount of room in its rear row of seating. The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport seems like a very usable car, while the Jaguar does just about enough to match the levels of room provided by competitors.

Infotainment

The infotainment is spearheaded by a 7 inch touchscreen that is easy to use, but doesn’t even begin to compare with systems like iDrive from BMW, due to the ease of use experienced when driving. Touchscreens essentially killed using the infotainment on the go. There are controls on the steering wheel which make it significantly easier, but the most important knob on that steering wheel is easily the drive mode selector and one would find it tough to look past that. 

Key features of the infotainment system offered in the 2019 911 Targa are

• Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM
• 4G/LTE telephone module
• Wireless internet access
• Porsche Car Connect
• Porsche Connect Plus
• Online navigation
• Premium Bose Audio System

Cargo Space

You can’t really ask for much when it comes to cargo space and a convertible. The two seem almost incompatible, and while some manufacturers do their best to provide as much as they can, Porsche recognises this as a problem and has clearly decided to look the other way. Offering 4.0 cubic feet of storage space, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 finds itself hindered by the very roof of its identity.

The Chevrolet and Benz offer good amounts of space for a convertible, while the Jaguar offers only 7.3 cubic feet. Convertibles are impractical cars, but you could always not torture people in the back seat and use them as cargo spaces instead, as they were meant to be used. 

The 2019 Porsche 911 is classified in the Minicompact category. Thus you know what to expect in terms of exterior measurements as well. The proportions are cute enough for some rude moves on the streets, but obviously we condemn such acts. On the track, teh dimensions could in fact be a boon during overtakes.

Design and Styling

The Targa body is reminiscent of a time that induces only nostalgia. A relic from the era of lesser restrictions, the anti roll bar is positioned to create the best kind of convertible for its versatility. It might look funny to some with the top down, but the Targa body allows for more visibility than other outgoing 911 models. With wraparound windows and a futuristic shape defining the tail lights, the 2019 911 Targa looks eye-watering from some angles, although the GTS variant would be the better looking option, due to its blend of inner and outer beauty.

It’s safe to say that Porsche isn’t exactly big on safety, considering their cars are built for speed and there isn't much that they can do for you once you’re past 120 miles an hour. It would still be unfair to say that they completely disregard safety, as seen in the build quality and integrity of their products. The key safety features of the 2019 911 Targa include:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) 
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Traction Control
• Airbags
• Parking aid
• Anti-theft alarm system
• Rearview camera
• Fixed Targa anti-roll bar

Porsche 911 Targa 4 vs. Jaguar F-Type Convertible 

The Jaguar F-Type Convertible can be seen as a confused being of great capability, or a sophisticated machine only capable of speeds when it needs to. Whichever way you look at it, the performance of the convertible can’t be questioned after a point, due to its iconic 5.0L V8. 

As for a direct comparison with the 911 Targa, they belong to different worlds of the automobile scene. However, from a strict perspective of price, the Jag does offer a lot more than the Porsche, and it would be only apt to pick it over the Targa for the sheer difference in quality and not to mention luxury.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 vs. Mercedes-AMG E 53 Convertible

Mercedes-Benz hails from the same country as Porsche, and their roots stem from essentially the same ideals. We can classify the German automobile as a kind of its own, due to the meticulous attention to detail and design in engineering that they exhibit.

That being said, both of these cars serve a different purpose, but are capable of similar feats due to their engines and being quite similar too. 

The choice between these two cars boils down to the primary objective of buying the vehicle. As a track weapon/ occasional tourer, the 911 Targa does impress many, but the Benz obviously shows its supremacy when it comes to the latter, but could not even hope to match the skill and handling of the 911 Targa.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 vs. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

The Corvette Grand Sport is an astounding vehicle that uses brawn to get past most of the engineering brain requirements. It still is a well-engineered piece of machinery, but fails to meet the refinement levels of the competition, but it does so at a much lower price.

If you are looking for just a manual transmission and a very enjoyable driving experience on proper streets, the Corvette could just keep you on your toes the entire time.

The 2019 911 Targa Convertible is a beautiful amalgamation of old-school and modern success that Porsche has achieved, in terms of both panache and performance. Offering better visibility and a more weather friendly roof at the cost of cargo area, the Targa 4 is one of the most cost-effective methods to getting the driving thrills that one would expect of such a machine. It may not be the fastest 911 out there, but it definitely carries tantamount quality when it comes to the experience from behind the wheel