So what is your rule for leaving the top down unattended?

[Calliedog]

Always doing the Boxster Chop!

mach schnell - I'm still crying. Funny!!!

[70Sixter]

Lotta concensus on this, I think. Red clip, quick trip.

And I live in Mayberry-by-the-Sea with a very low crime rate.

[RandallNeighbour]

You all are forgetting something important.

I was in a convenience store, top down, red clip on, and watching the car the whole time.

Paid for my purchase, walked out, and someone had spit gum into the floorboard of the driver's side on my brand new floor mat!

Could have been worse I guess. They could have been aiming for the leather or stereo or whatever and missed.

New rule: Top up if I'm not in the car driving it, or it's in my garage with the door closed (cat problems in the neighborhood).

Keeping the top up while it's outside is also good to keep your interior from getting hard and crusty.

[bxstr-lvr]

I have an 05 and I leave my top down all the time - what is the little red clip a few of you have mentioned.?

[bigislandboxster]

In Hawaii I didn't worry too much about having to put the top up unless I knew I would be away for many hours at a time.....Here in the Illinois suburbs, I wouldn't leave my top down unless I was running into a quickie mart and I could see the car when I go in....Better safe than sorry I say.....

[bhduxbury]

unless it might rain or i'm parked under a tree or it's "sketchy," top down, windows up -- i worry more about door dings, and park accordingly (in order: as far away as possible, to the far right, then wider spaces, then next to slimmer, sportier cars [at 1.2 occupants per car average, odds are you will get dinged on your passenger side -- the driver to your right]).

i'm sure there are holes in my theory -- when the first ding or diet coke rolls on my interior i'll adapt.

[AUDIOGUY]

Around town, the top stays down unless I go into a Mall or something. Definately top up if it is too hot. Black leather and interior is not happy baking in the sun all day. I love going to a restraunt where we can eat outdoors and see the car on a warm summers night. I like to hear the comments from people how it is a perfect evening for "that car"!

Of course good judgement prevails... if your gut tells you to put the top up... follow your instinct. If someone wants to steal the car or parts, ther isnt too much one can do.

[tonyg]

I NEVER leave my car unattended with the top down - I learned the hard way! In a matter of minutes my K40 was "removed" from my glove compartment along with my mobile phone charger (ha, ha, they thought the coiled cord belonged to the K40 which was hard wired). All this with my "red clip" in place..........

[tonyg]

Originally Posted by bxstr-lvr

I have an 05 and I leave my top down all the time - what is the little red clip a few of you have mentioned.?

The "little red clip" clips into the latch when the top is down and "fools" the car's alarm system into thinking that the top up so that the interior alarm is able to be armed when the top is down. It's available through your Porsche parts department.

[mach schnell]

don't the 987 models have a redesign that makes the alarm fxn when the top is down, therefore, bypassing the need for the red clip?

[luxury1]

Originally Posted by bxstr-lvr

I have an 05 and I leave my top down all the time - what is the little red clip a few of you have mentioned.?

I am new to this also. Is the red clip code for activated alarm?

[mquillen]

It seems that there are some options available on lesser roadsters to prevent encroachment, or at least punish it.

http://www.mx5.co.nz/attitude/video/MX5icecream320_200bps.wmv
http://www.mx5.co.nz/attitude/video/mx5club320_100bps.wmv