Glass window top for '97 to '02 Boxsters

[larez2]

What's the difference between German Canvas and Sonnendeck Canvas? The Sonnendeck Canvas top w/ glass window is $820 vs. $960 for German Canvas top w/ glass window. At these prices getting one of these tops vs. getting another plastic window top installed seems a moot point IMO, go with the glass!
http://www.gahh.com/

Like Shortbus said the glass window looks a lot smaller than the OEM plasitic, so the blind spots are going to be bigger with the top up. The looks sort of reminds me of the new 350z convertibles. Guess that means you gotta drop the top more

I'm with dbb and his points about the plastic window - especially how it is annoying to always have to do the chop. That reason alone is enough for me to seriously consider this upgrade even though my existing top + window are still in good condition. I'd drop the top more if i didn't have to get out of the car and do the chop.

Can't wait to hear how the install goes and how you like it (for those of you doing this upgrade). I'm especially interested with someone doing it themselves, but it sounds like this is a job best left to a speciality installer who does installs like this for a living.

Thanks,
Larez2

[CA_Boxster]

I had mine done today. It'll run about $2k total with the glass window top at a good installer (good = good rep for quality and someone that stands behind the work). The regular top (same quality aftermarket - not OEM) runs about $1700 for the same installation. A cheaper shop can probably knock a couple hundred $ off each install, but I chose a good installer. My understanding is that the installation process is the same. Personally, I wouldn't take off a good plastic window top just to get a glass window, but if you do need to replace your top for any reason, I see no reason not to get the glass. I had a tear in my plastic window. It was very small and not growing - actually livable - I got out the krazy glue to ensure that the seam didn't crack and put a little clear tape on the plastic so water would stop leaking in and that worked fine for the full 6 month rainy season and I had no new problems with the top. However, that coupled with the fact that the previous owner beat up the top a little and my grey canvas was no longer the same color it initially was prompted me to be ready for a deal on a new one. The emergence of the glass got me motivated. I went for a black top this time.

I like the way it looks. No different than the OEM top in shape, and the same material as OEM. The window is smaller and sits lower - the best way I can describe it is to compare it to the old speedsters. It's not that drastic, but it does have sort of that look. Keep in mind that the plastic window covers almost the whole back of the top - it's pretty big. The glass is smaller and the fact that it's on a slant decreases the viewing angle, but I wouldn't consider it a reason to pass on the glass. I used to be able to see the top of the plastic at the top of my rear view mirror and the bottom at the bottom of the mirror (did you ever notice that the shape of the mirror follows the shape of the plastic rear window so all you see is a clear view?) - now I've lost the top and bottom fifths of that view. The window sits lower because the top folds at the top of the glass and the glass lays flat in the boot, bottom of the glass toward the rear of the car. The glass height is about size of the folded top in the boot, as a point of reference.

The only negative I can think of is that if the glass ever breaks a whole top replacement might be required. I guess someone could try to sew in plastic as a cheaper fix, but new glass can't be installed (that was also the case with my last convertible with a glass window and I believe it's true of all tops).

By the way - it looks to me like these things are going to be everywhere very soon. We've been waiting because we saw the one in the UK, but I think this style will be available all over the place in a month. You're going to start seeing these on the road.