993 Targa buying and Maintenance tips

“It sounds obvious, but check the roof,” says

Tom Wood of Paul Stephens. “The wind deflector should pop up, and the glass should glide back. Replacing the motor and mechanism is a pretty involved job – and certainly won’t be cheap.” The glass itself is robust but, in rare cases, may have been chipped or cracked by a falling object. Stress fractures aren’t unknown on cars modified with stiffer suspension and larger wheels.

Rust is top of Autofarm founder Josh Sadler’s Targa checklist. “Look for corrosion around the roof mounts,” he advises. “It’s a real pain to sort out. If you’re shopping around, it’s easier to walk away and find another one.” Indeed, the 993’s body is zinc galvanised, so rust is often an indication of poor repairs. Also check under the front bumper, wheel arches and sills, and around the rear bumper fixing points.

Targas are generally watertight, but it’s worth looking for condensation – caused by perished rubber seals – around the frameless side windows. While you’re there, listen for clicking door hinges: these can crack, possibly because the door is swung open too hard, and require welding to fix.

Under the engine lid, inspect the flat-six carefully for oil leaks. The paperwork should show evidence of oil changes every 12,000 miles or 12 months, along with plentiful stamps from a Porsche specialist or OPC. Check for blue smoke from the exhaust on start-up, too.

Parts availability for the 993 is good, although the Targa’s standard two-piece wheels may be trickier to find. As with any 911, originality is key to value, and low-mileage cars attract a big premium. “The 911 Targa is back in fashion, but still offers good value versus a coupe,” explains Tom. “And, as the last air-cooled 911, any well-cared-for 993 makes for a good investment.”