YES IT'S A TARGA!

Of course we wanted to use a 993 C2 Coupe for this comparison. Stands to reason doesn't it? But such is the way with these things two candidates fell by the wayside at the 11th hour so we were on the blower to friend of 911&PW, Paul Stephens. ‘Paul’, we begged, ‘we need a 993 C2 Coupe, tomorrow...’ Paul reeled off a long list of 993s in stock and about to come in. In short he had everything but a Coupe. ‘Got a Targa. It's manual,’ he said. My inner Porsche snob recoiled at the thought. ‘Horrible, creaky, leaky things. And who needs a glass roof?’ And those are the prejudices of aman who's never even driven a 993 Targa before. However, roof apparatus and a bit of added weight aside, it ticked the boxes.

So, ready for themoment of revelation, the clatter of the penny dropping? Maybe I'm just getting old, but I loved it. With the glass roof in place, the Targa was as snug, firmand rattle free as any other 993. Slid back it created a genuine open air experience, but without the racket that accompanies the current 991 Targa. You can really hear the wonderful flatsix howl, too. And to top it all, this 62,000-mile 993 was a good 'un and perfectly representative as to how a 993 should drive.

Sure, it's not £11k like our 996, but that's themarket for you. However, it's for sale with Paul at £56,000, which in 993 terms is spot-on.