Rear (plastic) window split -- above temp thresh outside.

[nautiquelfe]

Technically the advice I have may not be "legal". Im not sure either way but, try calling the insurance adjuster and tell him your back window is cracked and you were'nt present when it happened. Take it to the Porsche dealership for a quote and fax it to the insurance company. They'll subtract the deductable and mail you a check for the differance. With your check buy a top from ebay plastic($400 +/-) or glass($700 +/-) have a descent shop install the top (approx $350-400). So your total will range from $750-$1100. I think the Porsche quote will be somewhere in the $2000 range, i've never checked. It may sound a bit petty but it might be an option for you. I guess it depends how flexible your ins. company is. Another option is to just have another plastic window sewn in for a reasonable price. If you have a local auto upholsterer stop by and ask them for a qoute. The labor is pretty much the same as the full install plus i'd say $50 for plastic. It just so happens my top cracked much the same way. I'll have a new glass top installed sometime before spring. I am a little worried about my premium going up if I file a claim on it. I will just pay out of pocket. Good luck w/ what ever route you take.

[Jeph]

Plastic windows crack. It's happened to a lot of us. Just like light bulbs burning out -even if being operated in appropriate conditions, it happens. With that said, I think it would be a waste of your time to (try to) talk Porsche or a dealership.

Insurance

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. My insurance covered it (and in my case, it was the insurance company's decision on whether a new plastic window needed to be stitched in or the entire top replaced.) The scenario you described is different from mine in that I got out of my car in the midst of lowering the top and did "the chop." Had I not done that, it would have been considered a mechanical problem, thus not covered. If your brother had been driving and threw a rod or something, insurance wouldn't even consider covering that because it's a mechanical problem -a problem occurring during normal operation.

Give your insurance company a call. You say they're wonderful, they may be able to work with you.

Getting it fixed

New Plastic Window - The most affordable fix is replacing the plastic window. I've received quotes ranging from $500 to $800 in my neck of the woods. This will depend on the condition of the top's stitching around the window. (I've been told that it requires a special machine that melts and bonds.)

New Glass Top - A glass window requires an entirely new top. I've never explored that option because I find the window looks disproportionately small.

New Top - If the plastic can't be replaced, a new top you shall need. I've received quotes from $1650 (installed) from independent shops to the ballpark of $3k from dealerships.

Hardtop - This was the route I went. My hardtop cost $2145 shipped from the dealership (Brandywine in PA). I keep my hardtop on most of the time for the following reasons:

1. Ironically, I'm not really a convertible guy (girls dig it though). I get sunburned fairly quickly (everyone loves a redhead).
2. Winter and summer both have temperatures not conducive for convertible cruising where I live.
3. I love the way it looks. Kinda seems like a whole different car to me.

Health

Your health is more important any piece of plastic -it's more important than any Porsche. You know that. Don't sweat the car. If it's not in the cards to fix the top right now, so be it. Can I assume that since you've had it stored for 3 months that you have another vehicle to drive? The Boxster is still drivable and still looks great with the top down.

I hope this information helps you out bryant. If you have any other questions, post away or feel free to PM me.

[BadBoyS]

Sorry to hear anbout the rear window. Im up north in ohio had the same thing happen to me in the end of December. I got the car for xmas. I also had the car in a heated garage ~50 deg when I was showing a friend the new ride the window cracked on the way down. There is a great thread just search convertible tops. The GAAH top seems nice and has a lot of good feed back. The thread mentions a discount that the top installer is SUPPOSED to give you when ordering from GAAH. Seems the two Official GAAH dealers up here just mark up the top to get the difference in the discount. I called both before I had this information, then went back to them and they quoted me the same price for the top (after the discount). NICE Even better one is the dealer was cheaper than the top place on install. So I a going to order from CabrioWorld and have the dealer install the top and have the brakes bleed at the same time (they discount the job if other work is being done). I'd be real careful with the insurance stuff there good at knowing what to look for. At least on mine the way the crease is theres no doubt it was just the top it self. Also checked having the window replaced with plastic (can be done non porsche plastic window(they dont make a replacement) cost is only a few hundred bucks less then total replacement (from what I've found) and you still have to deal with the plastic window) If your weathers anything like ours the glass window is the best bet!!!

$ 3400.00 new top installed at dealer (porsche top plastic window)
$ 1200.00 new top (after market) (dealer installed) Glass window
$ 1485.00 new top (after market)( top place 1) Glass window
$ 1450.00 new top (after market) top place 2 Glass window

Yeah I know the dealer is cheaper !!!wth TheY must want by business and there going to get it.... Good luck.... :dance:

[bryant]

Lest anyone misunderstand, I was completely joking about the "someone slashed my window" quip. Basically, when I asked how to approach my insurance company, I just wasn't sure what was important to tell them, and what wasn't. Figured some here had to have experienced this, so wanted to ask. Just don't want people thinking this is a thread about defrauding USAA. Were that my goal, I'd have been loathe to post here with my last name as the username, the name of my insurance company, and my city and state in the postbit.

That said, thanks a bunch for the info. It's been helpful. I'm calling USAA now. Our home was struck by lightning a few years ago, and a good 80% of the electronics within were completely destroyed. USAA was amazing through the whole thing, even went above and beyond a few places. I hope they'll be as good here, and I'm sure they'll be fair, at the very least.

The one upside to my health issues is we're not in a gigantic rush to get this fixed, as I can't drive the car right now. So that's working in our favor, at least.

Thanks all.

bryant, most importantly, I hope you get well soon!

[docdyh]

I am another Ohioan who chopped his window to a nice crack. It is 51 degrees today. Unseasonably warm for mid-winter, so I dropped the top, did the top, to hear the horrible crack. So my question is this;

1) I don't suppose top replacement is a warranty item..I am still under warranty.

2) I know this question has been covered extensively in this forum, but there is still no clear answer to me atleast..the question of engine access with the glass top. Is there a definatively answer...

I hate that plastic window..my only criticism of the car.....

docdyh

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

I feel for both you guys... But, for others, a little caution may be in order so you can avoid this happening to you. Even if the Temp rises, Plastic also dries out making it more Temperature sensitive with regard to it's Elasticity and more prone to cracking in general.

There are a number of things you can do to try and prevent this. Easiest is simply to idle the Car until it's warm and let the Engine Heat warm up the window. You can use a Hair Dryer for a couple minutes to heat it up, or just put a Heat or Flood Lamp over it for 10-20 minutes (not too close to the Paint!). Also, store the Car with the Top Up if possible. If folding a Cold Top, try taking a towel and wetting it, then heat it in a Microwave for a couple minutes, then lay it over the window (using Tongs, Gloves or something to keep from getting Scalded) and let the Heat soak into the Plastic.

All a pain, I know, but maybe less so than dealing with a cracked window. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

[BadBoyS]

Originally Posted by docdyh

I am another Ohioan who chopped his window to a nice crack. It is 51 degrees today. Unseasonably warm for mid-winter, so I dropped the top, did the top, to hear the horrible crack. So my question is this;

1) I don't suppose top replacement is a warranty item..I am still under warranty.

2) I know this question has been covered extensively in this forum, but there is still no clear answer to me atleast..the question of engine access with the glass top. Is there a definatively answer...

I hate that plastic window..my only criticism of the car.....

docdyh

I don't believe it is covered in the Factory warranty mines out but I did ask the dealer if it was covered anyway and they said no(if it where in warranty). If you have a after market warranty you might have a better chance although most times in my experience those warrantys only cover drive train . You might have gotten a premium warranty you will have to check. I really tossed around the plastic window, glass window debate again search the thread under convertible top. My research finds the glass after market window hinders very little if any service space. If there is a problem the top can be unhooked and moved out of the way easily. I'm going with glass due to our weather conditions and also want to spend my time driving the car not chopping and blow drying the plastic window. (no offence MN i have learned alot from reading your posts just my opinion) best of luck Stoddard is the dealer that gave me the decent price.

[docdyh]

Thanks for the info BadboyS..hey I take mine to stoddard too. What price did they quoate your for top replacment? and where did you buy your glass top?

docdyh