I think the new Targa is stunning. Definitely a dream car.
http://rcd.typepad.com/personal/porsche_997_targa_4_sky_big_02full_at_tekapo.jpg
Which generation of Corvette would this be referring to? Because everything you’ve said is basically backwards(not unlike a 911). The modern Corvette (C5/C6) are essentially mid engined cars, mid-engine being defined as having the engine located between the axles. Both the Corvette and the Miata would be much less “barbell” in nature than the 911, where the engine is in fact located outside the wheelbase. The C6 Corvette is also smaller than the 911 (4435mm vs 4461mm) and the base model Corvette Coupe weights about the same as the 997 S.
Sorry, my bad. I’ve got a C4 and a C5, and you’re right, the C5’s engine is farther back,and the transaxle helps contribute to better weight distribution nearer the CG of the car. The C6 is also a bit shorter. I just didn’t think it through. (dija happen to catch my username, perhaps?)
It is based on direct experience from going from a C4 Corvette to a Miata, back-to-back…but my C4’s nearly 20 years old now, I need to update my references. 
WOW! I don’t know which is more beautiful? The car or the scene?
My boss’ boss has a midnight blue Targa 4S. It’s very lovely.
sigh You’re almost as perfect as James May.
They know their shit when it comes to economics as much as engineering. They recently put the share price of Volkswagen up to something like $1000 a share, from $200. Made a killing and completely took the folk for whom this is a living by surprise.
I like the look of the really early Porsche 911s. They seem quite delicate and nimble, nothing brutesque about them at all.
I am biased, but I think the 993S series widebody has the best aesthetic. They took styling clues from the 959 and created the most curvaceous 911 ever. There is something about the flattened bug look of that extremely exaggerated tail end.
Somewhere in the 90’s, technology went off the charts and it’s hard to pinpoint when ‘spartan character’ eroded enough or overlapped successfully enough with modern safety/comfort features.
It’s not a 911 issue exclusively. Something about late 1980’s through Mid-1990’s makes me think the right one is in that stretch somewhere. I’m thinking 1993. But that’s me.
While there’s never been any variation of 911 I didn’t love, the first time I saw the 993 Turbo I think I actually uttered an audible gasp. Remended me of when Shelby got his hands on a 'Tang and made something that could take desire to an altogether new level.
In every generation of 911s since the 70s there have been stripped-out track day models, though; the 70s RS and RSR, the 80s CS and RS, and the 90s CS, GT2 and GT3.