Porsche 911 Targa 4S review with Tiff Needell | evo REVIEWS 

You don't buy 911 Targa because you want explicit performance. You buy it because how awesome it looks. When I was a kid I always loved old 911 Targas with this aluminium top. And when I saw that Porsche returned to it with this new design, I jizzed my pants. This Porsche from design perspective is like 3 different cars - coupe, cabrio, hardtop... plus that something more... an X factor. And that makes it quite a deal.

Really great review! Tiff doesn't do too many videos anymore but I really miss his reviews, they're always some of my favorites. Please more reviews from Mr. Needell!

Let's be honest, if you're buying the Targa, you're buying it because of the style and design of the targa roof, and not for the open air performance. Otherwise, you would have gone for the 911 Cabriolet.

Sir Needell is a gem! Thank you EVO!

Tiff Needell!!! We missed you sir. Please come back more often!

Hats off to Porsche. They have a clue: They offer a stick shift manual and an old school Targa roof in a new iteration. I was starting to loose hope with all of the dumb PDK/paddle 911s. And the red car here is gorgeous. I love it. Tiff's British bias and nit-picky passive/aggressive whinging aside, I think this is an awesome car.

Uncle Tiff is just the best

Tiff Needell is the best. we need him in the evo battles, again!

TIFF Needell was the very first motoring journalist that exuded the passion for cars as I do at a young age. He has and still is number 1 in my book. He just LOVES DRIVING and that's what we all enjoy at the end of the day. Thanks EVO for bringing him into what was already my favorite motoring magazine/youtube team in EVO. Well Done

Great to see Tiff in this vid. I love how the new Targa looks, but think it's a 911 aimed strictly at those who care not a fig for how a car drives and are primarily concerned with how it looks (or makes them look). Perhaps all 911s are like that these days given that so many of them are automatics, but this one surely rules the clueless roost. Don't know why such a complex roof mechanism is necessary given the weight penalties (albeit it looks pretty cool in operation) and I don't know why it only comes in 4 wheel drive. I do know that the manual 991 Targa that Tiff drove is likely to be the rarest Porsche in existence.

Finally...a proper, old-school Tiff Needell car review that doesn't pander to an audience with zero attention span. Thanks for finally bringing back thoughtful commentary with clips that last more than half a second each. Of course, if he returned to his 1990s car review style (e.g. his review of the original Acura NSX), that would be even better.

Tiff is the biggest blessing to automotive journalism.

Tiff is one of the best

Great video Tiff. You tell us the positive and negative as it is. That is all we want. The plus is how you make us understand the feeling of car, something only a true driver can. Thanks.

Just watched this review again,an excellent one from our favourite ex-race car driver-now-hoonigan Tiff Needell ! It's hard to not love a work done by him

Too bad I wasn't invited to this driving event. Outstanding car and Tiff is my favourite reviewer !

Tiff is the best!

Tiff's delivery is and always will be legendary! :)

"aston martin v8 roadster. now that's a proper man's car" as he heel and toes into a corner like a SIR. I love Tiff! :D

Fantastic review! Nice to see Tiff doing proper reviews instead of those silly ones from fifth gear where he has 3 minutes to tell something about the car.. Awesome! Would like to see more of Tiff's reviews on EVO

This is honestly the only Porsche I could spend my own money on!

You just can't beat a review done by Tiff! More please!

Nicely done Tiff- thank you ! I personally get it why a person would want a Targa. I think it great that Porsche has chosen to still offer such a model. I love the sound of that special exhaust !

I was more excited to see Tiff than the car. That guy is class

I thoroughly enjoy your reviews Tiff, such enthusiasm! I have been watching you since I was a young boy in the 90s and I'm still a huge fan today!

how nice it is to have Tiff doing a review again !!

Brilliant review by Tiff, aimed at those who enjoy driving and have a level of knowledge above non car enthusiasts. Also shows his understanding of the dynamics of the car.. Well done

The rear windshield reminds me of an AMC pacer. I mean that as a compliment, both the 991 Targa and pacer are funky/cool.

Let's be honest, if you took a Targa, you want fresh air, not ultimate performance, so, the 4WD is a good choices: open road for summer, 4wd for winter, enough power and grip to enjoy very very quick driving and a unique design.....

Boy do I get happy when I see a car review done with a proper manual transmission. 7MT FTW !! Not in favour of the AWD or the PDK. Saps the fun and connection out of a car as great as the 911. Beautiful targa model, saw it at the Detroit Auto Show and was a showstopper. Love the way they did the targa top with that fancy roll bar thing.

Love seeing this guy again

This is one of the best reviews I saw in a really long time. More Tiff please !

Tiff did an awesome job with this review. I like him better solo than on fifth gear,

I have the turbo S and the targa 4s. both awesome machines and driver's cars, but there is something incredibly organically visceral about the targa 4s...natural aspiration and an engine that is working for a living, giving its all and making sure you can hear how committed it is to the task at hand.

Hmm it is too heavy and that roof mechanism should work while driving - but just today I saw one in black and subjective yes, but it looked really really good. Tiff is right about a RWD version of it - That would make sense to where most of these Targa´s will be sold. Even here in Germany people opting for a Targa will properly mostly use it in the summertime. IMO red is not the color for this model, it needs a more expensive expression to play with the Targa Metal Panel, From black over Metal Browns and Metal Grey´s and some of the toned down Blues - You do not buy this car with pure speed and agility in mind as first priorities - It´s just as much a luxury and sporty leisure statement made for where the sun is shining. I like the 991 Series in General - 911 have become more elegant than ever (not including the classics for their own beauty of time) and this Targa is perhaps the most beautiful of them all. Would I want´one, No not me, I would take a sports monster, a GT3, Turbo or GTS - But the Black Targa I Saw today on the roads of Berlin got my head turning twice and I was wondering why since it´s was "just" a 911 and we have pretty many of those in Berlin.

Clicked because of Tiff. Nothing more.

Great video, Tiff! Excellent highlights and thoughtful criticisms. Keep up the good work.

The Targa is just the most beautiful car out there. So who cares if it weights 100kg more.

My dad has one and it is the smoothest driving car I have ever been in

Fantastic review! Always love to hear what Tiff has to say.

Awesome having Tiff back. GJ EVO

Fantastic review. Really tells about the car and how it drives in almost every way...unlike most car reviews

I sort of kinda quite a lot hate the way this looks. In my opinion the 911 only looks good in hardtop form. Other than that- awesome review Tiff, always love your reviews. So many automotive journalists are too afraid to say anything negative about a car- its refreshing to hear an honest opinion.

That Targa roof pillar makes the car look so much more special than a usual 911. I think this one is the one that'll hold it's own longest. It's the best looking.

Good to see tiff after a while. The masters opinions is highly valued by me. Thanks evo.

I would LOVE TO SEE the raw onboard shot from behind the driver. About 15 mins of ONLY raw onboard shots would really be awesome for the more enthusiast/nerdy group of watchers

Does anyone enjoy his job more than Tiff Needell? The joy is contagious.

Tiff Needell + Italian roads + Tiff opinion about cars = perfect video. Pease keep doind it!!!!

Great stuff Tiff. I like how this is a more in-depth and somber view into a review than when its a Fifth Gear product. It doesnt feel "rushed" like the TV ones do. Hope to see more like this! :)

I'm so glad to see a beautiful 911 Targa with a manual. Way too many are PDK. Also clicked because of the credibility and personality of Tiff. Thanks.

Nice to see a real capable driver informing us about cars.

I almost fell out of my chair. He reviews a 911 targa and recommends an Aston Martin V8 roadster!

F Type V8 for me. I'd get it just for the noise and the looks.

People who buy Targas aren’t buying a Porsche for the ultimate Porsche performance experience. They buy the Targa because it’s one of the most elegant, beautiful and enjoyable open top cars on the road. 911’s are glorious, but among them ... the Targa stands out as a pure beauty.

Always loved the Targas... they have a little extra, special charm to it.

tiff is awesome, he knows just what car-enthusiasts want to hear and boy can he drive too!!

My opinion is WELCOME BACK MR. TIFF!!! Thank you for the revue.

Tiff is a man with much presenting and driving experience, and you can tell. Excellent review - doesn't just focus on performance.

Always enjoy Tiff car videos, he is a proper manual gearbox driver. really talented driver and explains everything well.

Great review tiff, loads of detail on the different elements of the car!! This is especially relevant for those that don't know or have forgotten about Porsches and the way they do things. Ignore the haters.

There's a whole loyal fan base for the Targa, this is something that will not disappoint regardless of the review.

Great to see Tiff on RU-vid. With him and Chris Harris, my car video needs are sorted.

I just realized, I miss Tiff Needel's reviews. He's still with 5th gear right? :D

Please tell me Tiff will be on EVO a bit more often.

I like Tiff. But this isn't his best review. Apart from the fact that he hasn't been able to shed the snake skin of his typical British bias, testing a four wheel drive Porsche under sunny, dry conditions is err...rather daft. Instead of worrying the whole time about the extra weight, he should have tested the car under typical wet, slippery conditions. Then he would have appreciated that extra 60 kilograms of weight. I think the Targa 4S gives you best of both worlds: Sunny & dry roads, as well as wet, slippery roads- depending on the weather of the day, of course. And would you really feel the extra 190 kg extra weight, while you're touring on a British road? The Targa is a tourer, not a track car per se. And on a philosophical note, Mr Tiff ( Mr Tough?): What exactly constitutes a "proper man's car"???

Tiff is one of the best reviewers on RU-vid

80% of driving is with top up. After 5 years with a cabrio I went Targa because it's the best of both worlds; quieter with top up but when stowed totally like a cabrio. Yes, a fraction perf loss but 4WD makes for Boxter-like stickiness.

Love Tiff. I've been missing that guy since Fifth Gear went MIA. Glad he's back on the scene.

The Targa 4S is my new fav 911...

Tiff is a Legend! So glad to see him here on Evo!

Something about that Targa top that just pops! Probably my favourite model in the Porsche lineup! Oh and this was a AWESOME review!

More videos from Tiff please, a proper drivers review!

It's really gorgeous it's easily the best-looking Porsche ever made !!!

Tiff great to have you back, my friend!

Nice video from Tiff, he's not done much for Evo recently, would be good to see him on the weekly track battle too.

Just drove a 2015 4S Targa this past weekend for possible purchase. The wind noise is horrible. There is also resonating at times. Was very disappointed. Didn't mind the price, it just wasn't the car I thought it would be. Current ride is Porsche number 7, a 2013 Cab S

Don't like the new targa system, it's basically the same as cabrio only with that rear glass. It's pretty, true, but technically the same. Looks nice, I have to give them that. Great video btw

Tiff might be one of the original hoonigans. He complains about extra weight and AWD cause he wants a light RWD car he can slide around. If you don't know him then look up his career info on wiki and watch some now old 5th Gear episodes.

certainly a different flavor of review from EVO than we are used to, you can tell he has had time presenting on TV, but unlike top gear he still got the geeky car details down such as chassis dynamics which is why i love EVO in the first place. EVO is just the best even if Harry and Chris arent here anymore.

Nice car! Really like the way Tiff reviews his cars...

That targa bar reminds me of the first gen Rx-7's had as an option... even though they weren't true targas. gotta love it!

Awesome review. I'm sold. Always loved the targa. First one was a 1973 911E white, tan plaid cloth. Cookie cutter wheels. I miss that car!

Love the targa. It is just more special than the cabrio.

You know it's gonna be a good vid when Tiff stars

The red color with black rims is so perfect. Looks like the old ones

Tuff Noodles is the best.

Although not as fast as the coupe, I would still go for this one, I love the looks.

Tiff Needell. The worlds best car journalist, Ex-F1 driver, genius drifter and an all round lovely bloke. Watch out Chris Harris!

Tiff reviewing for EVO?

I have to admit, Tiff! Even if I'm German and should love the Porsche... but none of the modern beetles can match the Astons personality and looks! BTW, I absolutely prefer the reviews on real roads (especially the italian mountain roads) because this is where I spend time with my cars and not on the racetrack. The manufacturers should have the real driving conditions in mind rather than just topping the Nürburg-Ring lap times every year. Hope to see and read a lot more from you!

Tiff Needell does brilliant reviews.

Love Tiff. So knowledgable and what a driver!

WE NEED MORE TIFF NEEDELL AND CHRIS HARRIS.

One thing you have to think about that this roof design the first iteration. Porsche isn't going to perfect it and then release the design. The car would have to cost even more if they did that. As time goes on they will make it lighter, and will be able to make it open whilst driving. Hats off to Porsche for doing something original rather than doing the same idea over and over again.

Manual gearbox?! I thought Porsche got rid of them! Faith in Porsche restored

The Brits are always biased. The P1 always gets better ratings than the 918 even when they themselves get the 918 round a track quicker in their comparos.

Tiff we miss You ! :(

Car reviewer royalty. More of Tiff please.

enjoyable reviews as always, Tiff!

I will watch Tiff drive anything, anytime.