I have a question about the top... - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Houston C4S · 03-12-2007, 03:00 PM

Boxsters and Boxsterettes,

Regarding the top -- it seems like there are lots of cables
and stretchy things down in there. Does leaving the top
down (or up) place added strain on these components?

In other words, is the top mechanism under more stress
up or down?

Asked still another way, if you are not going to drive it
for a while and the top is down, should you just go on
and leave it down? Or is it better to put it up, then put
it back down later -- which operates the motors, gears,
etc. two more cycles.

Assume garage parking in a safe place and a cockpit
cover keeping dust and bugs out.

And, while on that topic, how many times can the top
be operated before it bites the dust?

Thank you for your time and attention.

All the best,

- Mark

Perfectlap · 03-12-2007, 03:03 PM

I have a solution for you, have a couple lying around.
but I wouldn't sore the car with the top down, you'll mark up the canvas.

Ronzi · 03-12-2007, 03:07 PM

I don't know about the stresses and strains, but I always put the top up when I park it, and certainly when it's in storage.
For one thing, I think it minimizes the fold marks in the top to store it with the top up, plus keeping dust out of the interior. I use a dust cover on it, too.

03-12-2007, 03:13 PM

Don't forget, hardtop owners drive with their tops "down" for several months during the winters. And Jeph uses a hardtop most of the year.

Mark, send Jeph a PM and ask the question again.

Peter Serbanica · 03-13-2007, 03:34 AM

Its best to leave top up as much as possible.

HIFI · 03-13-2007, 05:52 AM

I was also just wondering about this... so, I guess the concensus is that it is more harmful to leave the top down for long periods than it is to run the motor the additional times required to open and close daily?

986 Girl · 03-13-2007, 06:21 AM

If you are worried about putting the top up and down each day, then you probably shouldn't have a convertible.

Yes, it's wear and tear on the motor, but it's built for that... you aren't putting unnecessary or unique strain on it by actually using it.

MartinJ · 03-13-2007, 08:24 AM

Don't worry about it. If I arrive at my garage with the top down it stays down, if I arrive with it up, it stays up.

Just drive and enjoy.

BTW the weather here in NorCal is great - Top down today!

SD987 · 03-13-2007, 09:36 AM

The 987 top (and perhaps 986) is prone to developing pressure circles with the top down for long periods of time. This is particularly true when the top is put down damp (a no-no per the manual).

The 987 top design is derived from the 996 turbo cabriolet with motors strong enough to raise or lower the top when moving at up to 60 mph (even though it's limited for liability reasons to below 31). If it can do that, then it can certainly handle the rigors of conventional usage. I'd also believe that like any other motor, it benefits from being put to use rather than neglect.

teacher · 08-02-2008, 07:16 PM

I watched a video recently about the convertible testing on a Boxster. It was reported that within testing the convertible is raised and lowered 40,000 times to assuage the motor quality. This is impressive to me, yet still, I can see a 1969 Chevelle convertible go up and down as well, without the dreaded markings. Are the Boxsters just wound too tight or is this a structural deficit? Seriously, you can buy a Camaro convertible, or many others, and not have this top problem. Not to knock Porsche, I love my car, but sometimes I wonder...