painting hartop
 

I just picked up a lapis blue hardtop for dirt cheap for my guards red 98. it actually doesn't look too bad with the two colors. i'm currently debating having it painted red to match the car or possibly painting it flat black.... if i went flat black i would also paint the windshield surround. what do you guys think? should i paint it to match the car or go flat black?

I vote flat black without painting the windshield surround. Cheap, easy, should look cool, and you don't have to worry about the red not exactly matching. I plan to do the same on my silver 986 if I can find a decently priced top.

I vote for painting it red. I think it will look better in the long run.

(Also, you misspelled hardtop! ;) )

Another vote for painting it black. Plus paint the mirrors black too... I'm not sure about the flat black look though. I think a glossy black would match the red's gloss better and make the car look more classy.

Bump for Black Top with Black side-view mirrors !!

How much was "dirt cheap"?

I vote for same color as your car. That's the only color combo I would not tire of in the long run.

I had a red hard top on my white Miata. I eventually swapped with a guy who had a white hard top on his red Miata. You can read the story here:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/342258/6

It's a matter of taste, but I think that a hard top that matches the body color is the best look for a Boxster. Remember, most of the year you will be driving with the contrasting soft top, so the sleek coupe-like appearance of the car with the hard top installed is a nice change of pace. It is like having two different cars.

Paint the car black and the hardtop red....

black top, gloss.

then get some vinyl to do the windshield surround. that way you can go back to OEM.

FWIW, not sure about the newer s2k, but the older ones all used vinyl to make the windshield surrounds black.

well, i started off with flat black but it never quite looked right so its being painted guards red today.... and i picked it up for a grand.