Convertible Top, to glass or not to glass - Page 2 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ketsa · 11-29-2011, 10:32 AM

I bought this one few weeks ago:

Porsche Boxster BAS BLACK MOHAIR Glass Window Hood upgrade 1997-03 | eBay

Quality seems to be really good and I'm hoping that I manage to finish my installation during next week. Not a hard DIY job, but not a nice one...

Overdrive · 11-29-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbrown2009

630 shipped for a new top with glass window? defroster cable included. details below, is this good quality?

1997-2002 Porsche Boxster Convertible Top

PORSCHE BOXSTER, 1997-2002 TOP, GERMAN A5 ACOUSTIC, GLASS WINDOW, BLACK
[Vehicle Year:2001]

I believe this is the Robbins top, and if so I would personally give it a good quality rating. Are you planning a DIY or getting a professional installation?

Jbocio · 11-29-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbrown2009

630 shipped for a new top with glass window? defroster cable included. details below, is this good quality?

1997-2002 Porsche Boxster Convertible Top

PORSCHE BOXSTER, 1997-2002 TOP, GERMAN A5 ACOUSTIC, GLASS WINDOW, BLACK
[Vehicle Year:2001]

I am close to getting a top as well. But I'm wondering about the difference between the A5.

And the Twillfast RPC > 1997-2002 Porsche Boxster Convertible Top
Is it a $100 difference in terms of quality, durability, noise reduction.

lbrown2009 · 11-29-2011, 08:15 PM

im going the DIY route with the help of 1 friend

Overdrive · 11-30-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbocio

I am close to getting a top as well. But I'm wondering about the difference between the A5.

And the Twillfast RPC > 1997-2002 Porsche Boxster Convertible Top
Is it a $100 difference in terms of quality, durability, noise reduction.

I'd say it's most likely materials, since they even say right there that it's a lower cost substitute for A5. Maybe it doesn't reduce as much noise as the A5, as well. See if there's a breakdown of the components of an A5 material as well so you can compare the two directly.

lbrown2009, you'll be saving yourself a good amount of money doing it yourself. Just be sure to take your time and have plenty of patience, and do plenty of reading up on the job.

Overdrive · 11-14-2011, 08:04 AM

Sasha, I was in your shoes (as I'm sure you know) not too long ago this past Spring/Summer. Here's what I think of the glass top I got from Robbins:

I never got the opportunity to put the top in service position prior to my original top's window cracking, so I can't complain about the engine access. I was still able to change my air filter and MAF with little contortion involved on my part.

I can see where visibility would be an issue for those of average and above average height. I'm not tall (at least I don't feel I am at 5' 7"), and I have my seat lowered to its lowest point, so for me I didn't lose much visibility, and when the top is down obviously it's a non-issue. I do find myself ducking my head a little bit sometimes if I want to look farther (back) down the road, but I can just as easily use a side view mirror to see that far back and have been developing that habit more. My old top's window was foggy, so at best I saw glowing orbs and general vehicle shapes in my mirror with the top up, and forget seeing anything but droplets if there was condensation on it or it was raining, so even if the glass is smaller, to me a clear view out the back (that's easy to clean) was welcome. Also, my sister, who has a '99 and is about 5'3", can see perfectly out the glass window on my car, so she does not have an issue with it at all and wants to get a glass top to replace her plastic when the time comes.

Defroster = WIN...and it plugs right into the OEM connection. Just make sure that whoever does the job for you routes the wiring in such a way that it does not get pinched, trapped, or pulled on by the top when it is in motion or when you have to go about accessing the engine bay. It can have a lot of extra slack.

My true preference would have been to sew in a new window (not as easy as it seems, especially if you live in a place where the weather can be bad, you want to be sure your top is sealed), or drop in the top and roof frame of an 03 or 04 glass-windowed car, but to go that route I would have also have to change microswitches and there was some more internal work involved. The later model OEM top would have been ideal, but I needed a rather immediate solution, and the Robbins glass replacement became it, especially when the insurance got involved.

As a last note, yes the top will not close or open as easily at first, but if you can leave the car out in some warm sun for a few days and cycle the top a few times it should stretch itself out fairly quickly and pretty much operate like it used to.

One warning with the Robbins version of the top: there are these two little straps, and I'll have to try and supply a picture of them. They're small elastic straps that get pinned into a part of the top frame. Their purpose is to try to eliminate the top not dropping into the seal channels like it's supposed to. These straps may take a while to stretch out...they were very tightly stretched when I got mine done, and they're held in with these sort of cheap plastic fasteners, but your results may vary. Just keep an eye on them, and check that the top is in the channels when you put it back up. I always had to do this with my original top so I was already in the habit, and with the new top it has only come out of the channel once.

My opinion, if there is someone local to you with a glass window replacement, check it out and see what you think of it. I recommend it, but I also feel you should weigh all of your options and make the best choice for yourself. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me, and I will also try to put those pictures up of that strap in another reply to this thread.

sasha055 · 11-14-2011, 09:41 AM

Thanks everyone for the good information!

I called the shop this morning and ordered a GAHH glass top, it should be here next week.

I'll post my review of "how to live with smaller window" after it gets installed.

Thanks
Sasha

Perfectlap · 11-14-2011, 10:01 AM

what's the total damage? These figures seem to vary greatly by location.

John99Boxster · 11-14-2011, 01:48 PM

Sasha...my 2 cents.....Glass is nice. No visibility problems.

John99Boxster · 11-14-2011, 01:53 PM

Forgive me if I am "Hijacking" your thread but the issue of a rear defroster caught my attention. I bought the car used and the window has the "male" connectors on it but I can not find the wiring with the female receptacles .

Anyone know where I should look or tell me how to create the connection?

Overdrive · 11-14-2011, 01:58 PM

I believe it's in the vicinity of the bottom of the driver's side roll hoop toward the outside (closer to the door). It's a small rectangular cutout in that area where the connector plugs in. The male end should plug right into that receptacle.

Overdrive · 11-14-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Chris, Who does this? I've hear references about the "chop" for years but have neither seen it done, nor done it. I'm on my 4th Porsche and second Boxster (3 of 4 have been convertibles) and I've never contemplated or performed any manual manipulation when lowering my top at a stop light or in the garage. Where does this come from?

people who don't want that wrinkle/crease/pinch that can happen in the central portion of their top's rear window. It happens to pretty much every top's plastic window, so they chop the plastic so that it has a completely smooth curve to it for the remainder of the top cycling. The colder the weather is, the longer it takes for this crease/wrinkle to work itself back out. Some don't care, some do. I believe it's more important for situations where the top is in the lowered position for a prolonged period of time, such as when people use a hardtop. Since that tends to happen in places where the weather is colder, there's more strain put on the vinyl when it isn't stored nice and flat.

If I ever dropped the top on the street I didn't bother chopping, but if I was in a lot or my own driveway, I did hop out and do the chop more often than not.

MileHighBoxster · 11-14-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overdrive

people who don't want that wrinkle/crease/pinch that can happen in the central portion of their top's rear window. It happens to pretty much every top's plastic window, so they chop the plastic so that it has a completely smooth curve to it for the remainder of the top cycling. The colder the weather is, the longer it takes for this crease/wrinkle to work itself back out. Some don't care, some do. I believe it's more important for situations where the top is in the lowered position for a prolonged period of time, such as when people use a hardtop. Since that tends to happen in places where the weather is colder, there's more strain put on the vinyl when it isn't stored nice and flat.

If I ever dropped the top on the street I didn't bother chopping, but if I was in a lot or my own driveway, I did hop out and do the chop more often than not.

Thanks Overdrive. I guess I don't drop my top when it's cool or cold and rarely leave it down, except in the garage when it's pretty warm out.

Perfectlap · 11-14-2011, 03:01 PM

^ keeping the top lowered for a prolonged period is bad for the canvas as well, you'll get thos weird wear marks that don't seem to go away. and like the plastic window, if its not properly cleaned/coditioned the damage is all the worse.

MN 986 · 11-15-2011, 04:55 AM

The 03/04 tops are not easy to find, but with more people converting their cars to track cars they are coming up more often. I found my 04 OEM top on Ebay for $900 this Spring and it was nearly perfect. Then I was able to sell my 02 top with a fairly new/replaced plastic window for $550, so for me it cost $350 (plus $100 shipping) to make the swap. When I had my last plastic window replaced it cost $600, so the upgrade was a pretty easy decision.
The glass window is definitely smaller. I think it looks better/updated from the outside, and since the top is usually down it doesn't affect my view driving.

As for the chop, I didn't always do it because when it was warm enough the window would fold nicely. When it was cooler (I live in MN) I always did it because I still remember the sound of my original plastic window cracking.

Earn · 11-15-2011, 07:21 AM

Glass!!! I love mine and wouldn't go back. The window is a little smaller but not that bad. It seems like the glass will last a lot longer and you don't have to worry about cracking and creasing.

Jbocio · 11-15-2011, 09:22 AM

My 2002 Boxster has been leaking from a small rip in the plastic window as well. After reading these comments, just decided to put in a claim and hopefully they will do the same and help me with a new top. Thanks for this post Sasha!

nieuwhzn · 11-15-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbocio

My 2002 Boxster has been leaking from a small rip in the plastic window as well. After reading these comments, just decided to put in a claim and hopefully they will do the same and help me with a new top. Thanks for this post Sasha!

Keep us updated please.

If it works out for you then I'll call my insurance too.

Jbocio · 11-19-2011, 10:50 AM

Ok, so it did not work. The man kept trying to convince me by categorizing it as "wear and tear" even though online, there was a "weather" category that had windstorm and thunderstorm stated. When in reality these florida storms have caused the hole to open up more and more with water leaking into my car. But I guess that's these insurance agents jobs, they get paid to, at all costs, try to avoid writing checks to their loyal $2K a year paying customers.

I have Progressive by the way.

Perfectlap · 11-15-2011, 09:20 AM

I tried contacting a local wrecker for the top after I heard of an 03 getting totaled by the insurance but they refused to give out the information for the third party actually parting out the car. I ask them to simply forward my information to the 3rd party but they refused to do this as well. They couldn't be bothered. Like I was asking for somethign unholy. I was obviously dealing with employees...
You should see how little they sell these mostly front end wrecks. As little as $3K. Sell the top and you're 1/3 of the way home. Just pull parts off as you need them.