Photos: Porsche 911 Targa 4S

The magnesium framed, cloth-covered roof now folds at the touch of a button and stows below the rear glass, behind the passengers, in 19 seconds.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

To get it there, the entire rear glass and deck of the 911 pops up and tilts back. Two arms attached to the roof section then guide it up and over the “Targa bar” and into a compartment behind the tiny rear seats.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

It’s complicated work for a simple result. It can be done only when the car is stationary, unlike many convertibles that will fold their roofs at low speeds.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanically, the Targa 4 and 4S are identical to their 911 counterparts. (The 4 denotes all-wheel-drive, in Porsche-speak.)  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Our 4S tester came with the 3.8-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine that makes 400 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

When driven hard, the $147,000 sapphire blue metallic Targa 4S we tested still had some of the chassis flex that plagues a regular convertible. So don’t buy this model thinking that you’re getting coupe-like rigidity or a discount over a 911 convertible.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)