rear window is torn :( - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Overdrive · 04-25-2011, 01:38 PM

Hey, everyone. Over this weekend I took the vehicle out for a spin, no issues of note, but the next day (which clearly brought rain) I came back home to find this hole in my top's rear window.

I'd left the car uncovered from the night before because I usually give it a little time to cool off before putting the cover back on, but it got late and I left it uncovered, figuring I'd take care of it the next day. Thankfully it didn't end up letting in more than a few visible drops of water, and for now I've placed a folded bath towel over the spot and put the cover back on, but I'm going to duct tape it tonight to make sure nothing else gets in there.

Now I'm pretty positive the hole wasn't there before I went out for my ride because I'm sure I would've been hearing some wind and highway noise. The temperature was a bit low that night, went down to the 40s, and I did not drop the top at all during the drive for that reason because I know the plastic gets very tight at low temps. Does anyone think this is something that could have occured form the plastic being stressed due to the temperature and/or the pressure that occurs when closing the doors, or does it look like someone cut my window? Has anyone seen or had something like this happen before?

I guess it's a good excuse to get a GAHH top with a glass window now, but it's still disappointing with the nicer weather finally starting to come around after a crappy winter...and I wasn't exactly looking to buy a new top or fix/replace my somewhat cloudy window so soon.

gschotland · 04-25-2011, 02:48 PM

If your top's in otherwise good shape (from what little your photo shows it appears to be) consider replacing the rear window only. This is far less costly than replacing the entire top. Lots of posts on this topic. Do a search.

Overdrive · 04-25-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gschotland

If your top's in otherwise good shape (from what little your photo shows it appears to be) consider replacing the rear window only. This is far less costly than replacing the entire top. Lots of posts on this topic. Do a search.

Thanks, gschotland. Do you know if people have put glass into their original tops that came with plastic? The top does have some wear at some points, you can kind of make some out in the picture above where there's some darkness in the top (bottom left quadrant of the image). These areas where the top folds show some very light abrasion to the material, but nothing that would warrant replacement. I just figured unless there's a way to put in a heated glass window I'd end up having to go for a new top with one in it. I don't really want to replace it with plastic again, as I'm still suspicious that someone was a jerk and cut it.

urban_legend · 04-25-2011, 05:24 PM

You can get the vinyl replaced for about $300 or so. But if your top is the original from a '97 then I think you are about do for a new top with a glass window.

Overdrive · 04-25-2011, 05:53 PM

Thanks guys, the top is the original one, and prior to me buying the car it sat in a lot for 5 years on the lot of the dealer, exposed to the elements, the impeccable aim of birds, etc., but I can definitely say the top could look a lot worse than it does. I started looking into threads where members talked about switching over to a later model year top from the same generation when they started using glass, so I may look into this as an alternative that won't cost me engine access.

EDIT: And I agree, urban, it could be paranoia, but the more I look at it the more I feel it's not a tear.

Jake D · 04-25-2011, 05:29 PM

There have been some recent threads on having a new piece of vinyl sewn in. I am currently going through the process as mine cracked while I was changing out the air filter. I don't have the $ to spend on a GAHH top and my top is still in good enough shape. I peeled the canvas off in probably 45 mins by myself and its at an upholstery shop. I'm going to go with tinted vinyl also to make it blend in with the rest of my car. Think it's like $100 to have it sewn in. Total cost with everything is going to be around $150

986_inquiry · 02-27-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake D

There have been some recent threads on having a new piece of vinyl sewn in. I am currently going through the process as mine cracked while I was changing out the air filter. I don't have the $ to spend on a GAHH top and my top is still in good enough shape. I peeled the canvas off in probably 45 mins by myself and its at an upholstery shop. I'm going to go with tinted vinyl also to make it blend in with the rest of my car. Think it's like $100 to have it sewn in. Total cost with everything is going to be around $150

I'm facing the same problem, plastic rear window is detaching from the fabric top.

You had the entire plastic rear window replaced for $150 installed? How did you manage that? I could see finding someone as low as $100 for install from a independent installer, but the plastic was only $50?

nieuwhzn · 02-27-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 986_inquiry

I'm facing the same problem, plastic rear window is detaching from the fabric top.

You had the entire plastic rear window replaced for $150 installed? How did you manage that? I could see finding someone as low as $100 for install from a independent installer, but the plastic was only $50?

Kal Glas 40 Gauge Vinyl Window Material 29" x 68"

tuanle16 · 04-25-2011, 06:23 PM

od...that looks like a "cut" to me. mine is worn in the same area, but completely different looking. not sharp like yours.

and to answer your question about glass window...you can not replace the plastic with glass unless you change out the top. i am thinking of doing the same thing.

perhaps, you got a good thing going though. if it was cut, then you can claim vandalism from your insurance company and have them replace the top for you.

WhipE350 · 04-25-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overdrive

... but it's still disappointing with the nicer weather finally starting to come around after a crappy winter...and I wasn't exactly looking to buy a new top or fix/replace my somewhat cloudy window so soon.

Nice weather means top down, right? Tape it until you decide what to do, the top will be down most of the time anyway.

Going out on a limb here but it's possible the temp dropped very quickly and the rapid shrinking caused the crack

jgama25 · 04-26-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipE350

Nice weather means top down, right? Tape it until you decide what to do, the top will be down most of the time anyway. :

I'm in the same boat as you are OD and I agree with Whip. I'm a new boxster owner as well and really don't have the $$$ to replace my top yet. Duct tape is keeping the water out for now. I figue that with the warmer months coming it'll give me some time to save $$$ for the top.

jcb986 · 04-26-2011, 12:27 PM

There is a guy in either NY or NJ that will remove and replace window for around $450. Search the forum and you may find someone who's used him.

gschotland · 04-26-2011, 02:44 PM

The shop I used for my top is Stan's Auto Top, 43 Center St., Chatham, NJ, (973) 635-3443. The owner Pete (not Stan) told me has customers coming from as far away as DC and Boston. Cost was around $500. Well worth it IMO. You're probably looking at $1500 (labor & top) for a high quality top w/glass window such as a GAHH. I believe Stan's is a certified installer for GAHH.

Your 1st top lasted 14 yrs. Chances are good the replacement window vinyl will last as long as the car, or at least your tenure with the car. There will be no shortage of things to spend money on, particularly on a '97. A new top isn't a waste, it's just not a necessity. Think need versus want.

tuanle16 · 04-26-2011, 02:59 PM

from what i've gathered by speaking to multiple installers, the labor is the same whether you fix the vinyl window or install a new top. either way, they have to remove it, and put it back on. so most installer have recommended just getting a new one.

i looked at autotopsdirect.com. seems to have good rep and cheapest prices. new top about $600 with glass window.

now i have also run across this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270741161017&ssPageName=ADME:X:SCO:MOTORS:1123

not sure if this is "too good to be true". glass top for only $370? thoughts anyone?

rock88hard · 05-13-2011, 10:23 AM

I witnessed my crack and it looks just like this. So not necessarily a cut. I just duct taped mine and rarely used it without the top down. However I have needed to put it up and down a couple times and it has since cracked again. So be prepared....

I was told my an upholster guy that the plastic window was already replaced and that you can only replace the window once before needing a new top.

So, my Boxster is now only used on Sunny days. Good Luck!

Ohhh and I used Clear Duct Tape, on the outside and inside, and it does keep the water out and is lasting a pretty long time so far for the times that I do get caught or need it in the rain. Although I don't feel like the classyist guy if driving around with a duct-taped Porsche (but the most thrifty!)

fatmike · 05-13-2011, 11:12 AM

Well...it happens to all of them. You're lucky your plastic window lasted as long as it did.

I am very happy with the GAHH top. The glass is a huge improvement. I like the acoustic material as well.

I didn't think the effort and chances of success warranted replacing just the plastic when I did mine.

Good luck.

Overdrive · 06-10-2011, 04:42 AM

Hey all, been away for a time and wanted to throw an update on here. So here's the situation I'm looking at right now:

My plan is to let a co-worker of mine (completely by chance an upholsterer by trade) take a stab at stitching in a new window. I'm thinking I'll unbolt the frame from the car if he decides he wants to try and do it without full top removal. I'll be buying some 40 gauge, or thicker if I can find it, vinyl and let him go to work. He's quite the perfectionist and very anal retentive about things, especially when it comes to cars, which I'll consider a good thing in this case.

Now, the way I see it, if he gives this a shot and it does not go well, then I'll be getting a new acoustic top with glass, so since this is the route I was palnning on taking anyways, I figure what have I got to lose by letting him potentially save me about $1500 until I can comfortably afford a glassed top?

wawa · 06-10-2011, 05:49 AM

The difference in price between GAHH top and autotopdirect has been told in this post but no one has comment on why there is that big of a difference between them? Any comments or user story? They both seem to have good quality material and good warranty.

thanks
wawa

Overdrive · 06-10-2011, 06:41 AM

I'm not sure that there's a difference other than the fact that you're buying directly from the supplier...? Someone else with more knowledge would have to enlighten us.

I know that the exact same GAHH top was quoted to me as being $1080 from the shop I went to, with about $700-800 in labor, so I'd be looking at a good $1800 to buy from them and have them install it.

Now on GAHH's site, the same top is under $1000 before shipping, and on autotopsdirect, altogether with shipping it comes out to about $630. I did notice that there's a 5 year warranty for the bonding on the window, so I don't know if that's the difference versus the supposed lifetime warranty on the top from GAHH, but I honestly can't see a difference between the two and their design, so I really think it is the same part.