June 2017

The reason I started this blog was a certain comment from my husband. At that time, we had a 970 Panamera Edition at home, and every time I drove it, I was so impressed by how wonderful it was that I kept sending emails to my husband at work about “just how amazing the Panamera is.” (I had no one else to share this with…)

One day, I got this reply from him:

Yeah, I get it. It’s that kind of car. If you like the Panamera that much, why don’t you just start a blog about it? lol

“No way, who’d be interested? (-_-)(Sounds like Yanagibson)”

…That’s what I thought, but at the time, one of my goals was “to buy a Panamera GTS with my own money someday,” so I decided, “Well, maybe I’ll just write like I’m talking to myself,” and started this blog casually. That was June 2017.

A Luxurious Miscalculation…

Later, in October 2017, we decided to replace the 970 Panamera Edition with a 971 Panamera. Initially, we talked about “maybe just the 4S, 4E Hybrid, or even the standard model…” But right after placing the order, there was a big twist when my husband said,

“Alright then. If it’s come to this, let’s just go all the way to the Turbo (￣ー￣)!”

and he made up his mind lol. The Panamera Turbo came home with us. After driving the Panamera Turbo and being amazed by its brilliance, I gradually started to question something within myself.

Having driven the Panamera and then the Panamera Turbo, and still aiming to buy the Panamera GTS myself… does that really make sense…?

Well, it’s not that it doesn’t make sense, but when I drove the 970 Panamera Edition, I thought “If this is already so amazing, how incredible must the Panamera GTS be!?” and that’s why I wanted to buy the GTS myself. But this was a luxurious miscalculation… because before that, I had already discovered the even higher-level Turbo…

Panamera GTS Launch!

And just recently, the Panamera GTS was announced.

Comparing the specs of the Panamera GTS and the Panamera Turbo, here’s what it looks like:

	GTS	Turbo
Engine	4-liter V8 engine	4-liter V8 engine
Power output	338 kW (460 hp)	404 kW (550 hp)
Max torque	620 Nm	770 Nm
Top speed	292 km/h	306 km/h
0-100 km/h acceleration (Sports Chrono standard)	4.1 seconds	3.6 seconds

*Source: Panamera turbo models

…So, no need to buy the GTS… (-_-)

Of course, I think the Panamera GTS is amazing too, and it must have its own unique charm. If I test drive it, I might think “I want it!” But now that I know the Panamera Turbo, I don’t think I’d feel that “mind-blowing fresh surprise.”

That said, I still want to achieve my goal of “buying a Porsche myself,” so recently I went back to zero and imagined freely without budget constraints what I would want now. After thinking it through, I arrived at… “the 911 Targa.”

The History of the Targa and Why I Want It

The Targa is a 911 variant that debuted at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show. Unlike the 911 Cabriolet, it features a semi-convertible body style.

*Image source: The Most Luxurious Porsche 911: Test Driving the Targa

The current 991 Targa is a modern reinterpretation that almost perfectly captures the original Targa’s spirit, and it looks very cool.

By the way, I didn’t know much about why the Targa was created, but apparently it was because “in the 1970s, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) banned convertibles with large open roofs for occupant safety in rollovers(They said they would ban it, but in the end, maybe they didn’t?),” which triggered the Targa’s release.

At that time, North America was a huge market for open sports cars, so the 911 Targa was introduced as a solution to this regulation. Structurally, the Targa’s “remaining roof section acts as a roll bar to protect occupants even if the car rolls over with the roof open,” allowing it to meet DOT safety requirements.
*Article source: The Iconic Open Car: The Charm of the Porsche 911 Targa

Wow, I had no idea there was such a background! (；ﾟДﾟ)

…That was a long introduction, but why did I,

• as a woman,
• not very confident in my driving skills,
• yet still wanting to enjoy driving,

come to the conclusion that I want a 911 Targa? Here are my reasons. (I wonder if anyone’s interested in this…)

1 Because the Roof Opens

Before the Boxster GTS came to our home, I thought “It’s embarrassing to drive a convertible.” When I saw convertibles in town, they caught my eye because they’re rare, and I couldn’t help but look at not just the car but also who was driving.

Usually, it’s “stylish gentlemen or ladies wearing sunglasses” behind the wheel, but I’m not a stylish lady who looks good in sunglasses, and like my husband, I don’t like attracting attention or standing out, so I never wanted to drive one myself.

However, when I actually opened the Boxster’s roof and drove on winding roads and the Royu Driveway, the feeling was incredible… Feeling the seasons, becoming one with the wind while driving is an experience a sunroof can never provide. That’s why if I were to buy a car myself, I’d want one with an opening roof.

2 Because It’s All-Wheel Drive

I think modern 911s, even though they’re rear-engine, have more than enough stability. When I test drove a 991, I thought “Wow, this is so much fun! Have I gotten better at driving!?” It was no problem on mountain roads or anywhere else. But since I often drive on highways and sometimes in heavy rain, I prefer a car with higher stability that lets me drive safely without worrying about my skills. (That WET mode introduced in the 992 sounds interesting, though.)

Sure, the Targa is heavier, which might be a downside for a sports car where weight reduction is key, but even the massive Panamera weighing over 2 tons drives sportily, so the Targa should be totally fine lol.

3 The Aluminum Targa Bar

This design seems to have mixed opinions, but I like the Targa bar’s design. I think it looks cool as an accent. Also, although the aluminum Targa bar was discontinued in the 993, 996, and 997 models, it was revived in the 991, which makes me think Porsche considers “this design the true hallmark of the Targa.”

4 Because You Rarely See Them in Town

If you want AWD and an open roof, some might say “Why not just get a 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet instead of a Targa?” But the reason I like the Targa is because “you hardly ever see one in town.” In fact, I’ve only seen a Targa driving around town once or twice.

I prefer cars that aren’t seen everywhere rather than ones that are common (which is also why I like the Panamera more than the S-Class), so in that sense, the Targa is super rare and very appealing.

Because it’s so rare, it apparently doesn’t come into dealerships very often either. Our Porsche dealer’s Mr. H said, “Targas are allocated far less than even the GT3!”

Wow, that few… (；ﾟДﾟ))

I Want a Targa!

So, for now, the one I want to buy myself is a “bright red body with a black roof Targa.” (Maybe not great for long tours with the kids though.)

I imagine, “How stylish and cool would the 992 Targa design be when it comes out?”

But a bright red Targa would really stand out (*_*)!

I’m not sure if I want to stand out or not, but whatever the case, I’ll do my best to achieve this goal!

*Image source: [Test Drive] The New Porsche 911 Targa “Has It All”