SUSPENSION
The oldest 991 Targa is fast approaching its eleventh birthday, meaning many suspension components may be in need of renewal, depending on mileage and the way in which the car has been driven by its previous owners. Thankfully, replacement 991 suspension equipment is readily available, either direct through Porsche or on the aftermarket.
An independent inspection should return results outlining the condition of bushes, ball joints, drop links and even the engine mounts, which you may have heard referred to as PADM, which stands for Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts, essentially self-levelling engine mounts to limit movement from the flat-six in corners, thereby producing a smoother ride.
On your test drive, listen out for knocks or bumps when driving over undulations or speed humps. Urgent renewal of supporting suspension componentry, including shock absorber top mounts, may even be felt through the steering wheel. Don't ignore this feedback.
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) was standard equipment on the Targa 4S, but optional on the Targa 4. In short, PASM delivers a Normal driving mode for comfort driving, and a Sport mode best suited to totally flat surfaces, such as a race circuit. The latter really is too harsh for the road, especially in the UK, which is why we recommend activating Sport mode, but separately disabling PASM, giving you the best of both worlds: additional sportiness without your fillings falling out.
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) was an option. Designed to reduce body roll in cornering, the system commanded more than two grand when new. Though it's nice to have a long list of individual equipment on a Porsche, we don't consider PDCC a deal breaker. Unless you're throwing your 991 into fast bends at a race track, the difference between having PDCC and no PDCC is minimal.