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

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.

Perfectlap · 11-14-2011, 03:02 PM

Does every Boxster in SoCal look this well kept?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

I put an OEM 2003 top on my '01. IMHO, there is no comparison. The glass window is well worth the upgrade.

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.

MileHighBoxster · 11-14-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Does every Boxster in SoCal look this well kept?

Every Boxster SHOULD look this well kept.

Overdrive · 11-14-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileHighBoxster

Every Boxster SHOULD look this well kept.

Amen...caught myself drooling at that image every time.

sasha055 · 11-14-2011, 06:45 PM

Total price is 1525$, but I had to shop around.

The insurance shop quoted 1200$ just to sew in new plastic window, I told my insurance agent that it's rip-off.. and found a new shop.
Insurance had no problems with the new quote.

Thanks
Sasha

Chuck W. · 11-14-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Does every Boxster in SoCal look this well kept?

Thanks for the kind words. I do enjoy waxing my cars (& the garage floor!)

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.

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.

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!

Perfectlap · 11-15-2011, 01:53 PM

^ that's cool that you guys actually use your insurance.

I pay my insurance in hopes of never having to use my insurance so that if I ever have an accident I will pay out of pocket so that I won't have to use my insurance so I can have a low premium on insurance I will never use.

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.

lbrown2009 · 11-29-2011, 09:00 AM

i have a 2001 with a nice crack in the platic window as of last week

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

I put an OEM 2003 top on my '01. IMHO, there is no comparison. The glass window is well worth the upgrade.

kabel · 11-29-2011, 09:08 AM

one very minor consideration with the plastic versus glass window top came from the perspective of one of my mechanics. They prefer the plastic window because is gives them better access to the car in maintenance mode versus a glass wind top.

lbrown2009 · 11-29-2011, 09:25 AM

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]

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.