New top - would you do plastic or glass window?
 

I've read the various threads on this, and since my plastic window is cracking, I decided to soon get a new top. (The Gahh types)

I was going to just replace the window, but I think I want to do the whole top because it's only a few hundred more and worth it for me.

Now the main question: Should I get a new top with a plastic window, or the glass window?

Glass window: Won't crack and probably easier to clean, but smaller visibility and trouble getting into the engine bay

Plastic window: More OEM look, more visibility, and no issue with the engine bay, plus it's cheaper. I guess it will eventually crack, but I bet you can get a good number of years out of it.

Is the top with plastic basically like the OEM one in the way it folds and allows access to the engine?

I'm replacing my top in 2 weeks I'm definitely going with a glass top-simply because the glass window does not need the babysitting the plastic one does, and I personally like the look of the smaller window and it also can be tinted to keep the sun off your neck

And I must admit as funny as it sounds I am cursed with extremely fair Irish skin and I have the world record for fastest sunburn, due to this the top of my boxster has never been down in the 9 months I have owned it-but I love the look of the car so much I had to have it-I actually had a thought of removing the convertible top and going full time hardtop but it would be very hard to sell that way!

Go for the glass....
 

it makes the car look so much nicer. The visibility is not a factor IMO....I have not had to do any engine work since I replaced the top but it is going to be more of a challenge to access the engine from above. I used to think the small rear window was kind of ugly before I actually got one on my car, but now I think it makes the car look kind of "gangsterish:D with the small window and I like it.

Glass for sure! It improves the look of the car, as well as the ease of putting the top down. I find myself putting the top down way more often now that I don't have to get out and "chop" the plastic as it opens.

I have a perfectly good top with the plastic replaced already (not a good job since they didn't entirely remove the original, but still ...) and am planning to buy the glass version. For one reason ... rear defroster. :)

Although, I will admit I already put in a rear view camera to aid in the visibility issue - only while backing up.

I did one of the early swaps to a new top with glass window back when they first came out and I had a 2000 Boxster. No brainer - go for the glass. You won't notice the visibility change after a week. It's not enough to have a negative impact.

I found that running the A/C on warm air was enough to defog the rear window in my case (don't deal with much frost where I live but I imagine that more heat and more air with the A/C could work on that as well). The interior of the car is small enough that just taking moisture out of the air helps. If you do want a defroster then look into whether your car was pre-wired for it from the factory as at some point I believe they started doing that in order for customers to attach the removable hardtop and hook up a defroster. If it was then you can get a kit that allows the glass on a GAHH top to be hooked up.

My info's old at this point but GAHH tops used to have the defroster lines on all the windows by default and it was just a case of whether you used them or not.

As far as engine accessibility, how much worse does it get with the glass top?
If anybody can share a picture of the top with the engine compartment opened, that would be much appreciated.
Thks

Glass hands down. Best mod in 7 years. I haven't needed to get to the engine yet but even if I have to hire union Lilliputions to change my air filter it's still worth it. No brainer.

I replaced the top on my 2002 S with glass that has a defroster. I also like the fact that the glass is less likely to crack in cold weather when you let the top down. Getting into the engine compartment is a bit more limited, but you can tie up the top and glass window with a cinching cord to hold the window up and out of the way. I did not find that to be a problem when working in the engine compartment.

Plastic here guys. OEM look, no engine access issues were my biggest decision makers.

I guess that it also depends on your parking situation. Mine is always garaged, so no need for defrost and also no issues with yellowing yet. I prefer the larger visibility as well, since the blind spot on these is already bad enough...not to mention engine access.

However, if the Box were my daily driver and parked outside a lot, I could definitely see the advantages of glass.

I am going with the glass upgrade - picked up the top from forum member Bisimoto today. I open my top almost daily and I figure that the more bending the plastic does, the sooner its going to crack again.

I am planning on doing the plastic oem look. I prefer the plastic look because the glass model looks like there is 1 more cross member/bar on the top.

And for the inexpensive aftermarket top prices (costs about the same to sew in a new plastic window) and the longevity of 5-7 years if maintained properly, then doing this every 5-7 years will not cost too much and is not too much of a hassle.

Anyone have some good pictures of both the glass and plastic windows with replacement tops like gahh?

Gahh does
http://www.gahh.com/images/images_extra/3121G-UltraMaxxWindow-Large.jpg

I bought a 2003 top from LA Porsche Dismantler (great people) then paid a tech to install it in 2009. It was a plug and play swap and one of the best mods I have done;

BEFORE;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/P1070300.jpg

AFTER;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/P1070350.jpg

Plastic. It is a larger rear window giving you more rear visibility. Also, it does not frost up in extremely cold weather like it does on glass.

Glass! Use isn't temperature dependent. Won't crack in colder weather if not warmed up. Won't crack if stored down all day or over night and top is brought back up. Won't yellow. If your lucky you can get one with a defroster.

For me it would be a TOTAL NO-BRAINER...........Glass. While not that big of a deal, I found getting out and chopping the top a PITA. Never could get over how Porsche could put a plastic window in a $60k car.

Personally I'd stick with plastic if that's what the roof came with originally. Overall I prefer the look of the 2003+ glass roofs over the ones like the GAHH roof since the window is larger (and the roof designed for it).

Use of the glass tops on the 1997-2002 frames is really personal preference, some like it and some don't. You could retrofit the 2003-2004 roof on there instead (which is what I would do if going from plastic to glass).

Glass, because it reacts more kindly to repeated temperature change and is stronger. Though Plastic is lighter, if you're trying to shed every last milligram for some reason.

Funny thing is I believe the F360 spyders have plastic rear windows, and those are $200k cars brand new. That was just the technology available at that time considering a 986 Boxster is really a 97 car developed a few years before that.

you have to be VERY careful clearing snow/ice from the plastic top. My rear window was spotless for the first 10 years. I left the car outside one weekend and the snow came down. Then the temps dropped. The next day I went down to dig out. I cleared the snow off the top with one of those snow brushes. it was all sliding off the car in long pieces. cool I thought no need to apply pressure. well the next day I noticed a tiny horizontal gash in the plastic, just the surface, it didn't penetrate all the way. But as time went by it did go all the way through and it gradually went from a 1/8" tear into this t-shaped puncture.

My 1968 442 Convertible had a glass rear window.

I changed my plastic to glass and I like it. I don't have to hop out of the car to "chop" the window when putting the top down. It is a pain to get to the engine bay to change air filter.

2000S with GAAH Glass Top
 

I went with the GAAH glass top on my 2000S. It takes a few days to get use to the smaller window but has had a minor effect on my viewing. Cleaner looking too.:dance:

Oh...my bad!

Although I do marvel at what options American cars had in the 60's, 70's (think Cadillacs, Lincolns). They were definitely AHEAD of their time.:cheers:

I went with glass this past spring and absolutely love it!!!!
The top goes down without any issues and looks a lot better in my opinion.
I will say that it does make accessing the engine a little more difficult as there is less room, but its not that bad. I've accessed the engine a few times to change out the cold air intake without any issues. You will need a cable or rope to hold up the glass and be very careful not to break the glass against the roll bar. With the plastic window it would fold in half where as with the glass window it gets blocked by the roll bar when you try to "fold" the fabric to access the engine.
As far as visibility is concerned I do not notice any difference. Yes it is smaller, but you get used to it quickly.
All in all I highly Recommend it!!!!
Hope this helps.

Here is a picture of my baby!!!

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...che/photo1.jpg

It is a personal preference, but the aftermarket ones just don’t look right to me. I think shopping around for an OEM 2003 or 2004 top would be a better way to go. Albeit, the price will be a tad higher and it will be harder to source than an aftermarket one.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...che/photo1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/P1070350.jpg

I'd highly recommend a top with glass. I think the aftermarket ones look pretty good, but I was lucky enough to find a complete OEM top/frame from a 2004 that was being converted to a track car. Following instructions from this forum, I was able to swap the assemblies easily myself. If you can find one at a decent price, I think it is the best option, and it keeps (03-04) OEM engine access.

1mm Plastic
 

My top was fine and I am sure it would have lasted a few years more. I just wasn't thinking one cold day and it cracked when I folded it down. Its a 2002 Boxster S, the fabric is in excellent condition. What I am going to do is stitch another plastic top in. I am going to do this over the winter ( they seem very long in the UK) I take my car off the road at the end of December. To me the shape of the roof is better with the plastic. I will post how I get on, I am doing it by hand.

I say get a glass top. I did, and I enjoy it. Yes, rear visibility is affected, but at least I have a clear view out back and not a hazed over foggy view of the things behind me. The shorter you are the less you're affected by the glass height, and when the top is down it's a non-issue. As I understand it the majority of folks on this forum put their tops down at every opportunity, so if you're anything like that you'll be fine. If you really need to look that far back down the road when the top's up, you just have to dip your head a little bit or use your sideview mirrors. I like having the defroster, because unlike someone claimed earlier, I would get frost and condensation on my plastic, even on the inside.

As for engine bay access, I've never known regular engine bay access. The first time I ever went back there and opened everything up was only after I'd had the new top put on, so what I have to work with is what I'm used to. I was able to change my air filter pretty easily, and also my MAF, though that was admittedly more difficult. I doubt I would have fared much better with the clearance I'd get from the plastic, though.

I say glassed top, whether you choose to get an aftermarket or track down an 03/04 frame and top to retrofit.

No Problem Brother.....:cheers: In their day they may have been something but having restored a few muscle cars........."ahead of their time" is a term that Currently is far from the tongue lol....."thick steel and Fenders" is the best I can come up with...........:cheers:

Glass 100%

i went with a GAHH top and love it. i like the slight change in the profile and shape of the car that it brings as well as the more "aggressive" look. of course no longer dealing with the plastic is reward enough.

as for the lowered visibility behind you, it's something you get used to quickly. you can still see behind you, but you no longer see into the cabs of pickup trucks. that's about it.

side-by-side comparison
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358271134.jpg

Finding the OEM glass top and frame
 

from the 03-04 models would be nice but I would have a problem paying the premium required for the later model top/frame and installing a potentially 8-10 year old convertible top when I could get a brand new one for much less.

I went with Robbins w/glass, against the wishes of my indy mechanic. Robbins tops do however come with a "service strap" cord to hold it up and out of the way for engine access. Visibility is reduced considerably, but a hidden benefit is it blocks headlight glare in your rear view mirror when trucks ride your ass! Defroster works great, you should already have the connection for plug and play.
All in all I prefer it to cracked and foggy plastic.

See if your insurance will cover it.

What about when at a yield sign, and you have to look back over your shoulder to see oncoming cars? Sometimes the angle the car is at doesn't allow use of the side mirrors, and you have to look back. Does the glass top obstruct too much of this view?

How much is too much? I'd say it does obstruct your rear view to a degree (maybe 10%?), but it doesn't bother me. Like others have said, you can tell the difference at first but then you get used to it.