Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
The 1983 Porsche Carrera Cabriolet offered the same platform from a Carrera, but with an open-top convertible bodywork. It cut some points from the handling but added some to the pleasure of cruising.
A sports-car remains a sports-car even if the roof is cut and the result is a heavier, and not so stiff car as its coupe-version. For some, the open-top driving experience worth much more than the seconds they could cut in a trip from A to B. After all, there are speed limits, right? So, just enjoying a drive time with the top down might worth more than getting two seconds faster in a race, especially if you are not driving the car on the track.
The convertible was heavier than the coupe and it didn't have the same rigidity of its sibling. But the experience in driving the car with the top down and hear that flat-six in the back was considered a unique experience. The car's shape was almost the same with the roof up as the coupe-version. The plastic window in the back was a good solution for that era. An additional stop-light was mounted above the engine lid when it became mandatory due to safety regulations. The soft-top was manually operated.
Inside, the cockpit featured sport seats in the front and two smaller ones in the back, which were hard to use. The five-dials instrument cluster offered information regarding the oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel level, tachometer in the middle, the speedometer, and, on the right, an analog clock. The ventilation controls were placed at the same level as the steering wheel and the stereo.
The 3.2-liter engine was introduced by Porsche in 1984 and it was offered in two power outputs for the cabriolet version, with 218 hp and 231 hp.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.2 5MT (218 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | H6 |
Displacement: | 3164 cm3 |
Power: | 160 KW @ 5900 RPM 218 HP @ 5900 RPM 215 BHP @ 5900 RPM |
Torque: | 196 lb-ft @ 4800 RPM 265 Nm @ 4800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 149 mph (240 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.3 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 VR15 || 215/60 VR15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.9 in (4290 mm) |
Width: | 65 in (1651 mm) |
Height: | 52 in (1321 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 54/54.3 in (1,372/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 89.4 in (2271 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 4.7 in (119 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 7.1 cuFT (201 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2667.6 lbs (1210 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3373.1 lbs (1530 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 21.8 mpg US (10.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 259.4 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 3.2 5MT (231 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | H6 |
Displacement: | 3164 cm3 |
Power: | 170 KW @ 5900 RPM 231 HP @ 5900 RPM 228 BHP @ 5900 RPM |
Torque: | 210 lb-ft @ 4800 RPM 284 Nm @ 4800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 152 mph (245 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 185/70 VR15 || 215/60 VR15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 168.9 in (4290 mm) |
Width: | 65 in (1651 mm) |
Height: | 52 in (1321 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 54/54.3 in (1,372/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 89.4 in (2271 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 4.7 in (119 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 7.1 cuFT (201 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2778 lbs (1260 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3373 lbs (1530 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 233.4 g/km |