" Permanent " soft top removal

[crooster]

I can't quite follow the motivation for doing this. If you are just leaving the roof down all the time, the wear and tear should be pretty minimal. And at least then you do have the roof if caught out in a sudden rain, or when you want to lock the car up outside.

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by crooster

I can't quite follow the motivation for doing this. If you are just leaving the roof down all the time, the wear and tear should be pretty minimal. And at least then you do have the roof if caught out in a sudden rain, or when you want to lock the car up outside.

+1. Why ? Just leave the top down!

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by crooster

I can't quite follow the motivation for doing this. If you are just leaving the roof down all the time, the wear and tear should be pretty minimal. And at least then you do have the roof if caught out in a sudden rain, or when you want to lock the car up outside.

Lighter weight, Sometimes its just easier to remove weight to get a better horsepower to weight figure.

Too bad you don't live down south I have a project set of humps that were bolted to a autocross car. I've been debating on selling

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by healthservices

Lighter weight, Sometimes its just easier to remove weight to get a better horsepower to weight figure.

Too bad you don't live down south I have a project set of humps that were bolted to a autocross car. I've been debating on selling

I'm aware it would make the car lighter, but how much lighter than removing the top, then adding back the weight of the speed humps? Is he going to remove the spare tire? At any rate he's not going to race the car. Seems like a lot of work for questionable benefit. Oh well, whatever blows your hair back .

[flaps10]

Removing weight can have amazing results. Back in college when I was hopping up a VW bug I stripped off bumpers, running boards and all the seats but mine. The car accelerated better, cornered better and stopped better. Those last two results never come when you just boost horsepower.

Incidentally it is something Porsche exploits from time to time

With airplane design there is a saying "Sweat the ounces and the pounds take care of themselves".

I've pondered something similar, but more extensive to my car. The A/C system is hideously heavy and the condensers block airflow to the radiator (they certainly don't help, other than possibly serving as expensive stone guards).

Toss the A/C system for probably 40+ pounds, then remove: Old sound insulation, the top, the stereo and speakers.

Install lightweight exhaust, wheels and tires, smaller battery, lightweight seats.

Basically RS the crap out of it. You could call it, oh I don't know: A sports car. If I want civilized I'll climb in the Touareg.

[RMD]

Originally Posted by crooster

I can't quite follow the motivation for doing this. If you are just leaving the roof down all the time, the wear and tear should be pretty minimal. And at least then you do have the roof if caught out in a sudden rain, or when you want to lock the car up outside.

The car , a 2000 Boxster S has never seen rain or the threat of it in 16 years and 25,000 total miles and I have not driven the car once with the top up in years .....I dont live in an area that gets pop up thunder storms out of nowhere like you have .

I have already lightened the car by 109 lbs and this would take off another easy 50 lbs...plus since I weigh only 120 lbs ...the drive will feel even nimbler

In worst case scenario, I have a severe weather car cover but have never unwrapped it.

I have not driven it anywhere except to stop for lunch in a remote scenic destination where my eye is on it , for years, so it has never been locked with the top put up..just windows up and the red clip in place to activate motion...but the interior is stripped of any items in door pockets or console , has front console delete , no speakers or radio, no screens or rear shelf, etc...so there is nothing to even " grab and run " ! It hasnt even been driven at night so the xenon bulbs are like new , lol.

Will remove AC soon...another 40 lbs, as I have only turned that on once a year the past 15 years to keep the compressor from seizing up ...no need for it here where I live when avg summer temp is 75-80 and no humidity and zero commute style stop and go driving ... It is mostly used to zip winding coastal roads between my home and the Pacific Coast minutes away

I have 5 cars ...this is just an OCD " cleverness " project to please no one but myself , as this is the last new " analog " sports car I will ever be able to buy ... It has e -throttle and ABS ..that's it ...the rest is up to me .

The car looks newer than new per the same sales guy who sold it to me way back when . I have much newer " heavy " digital sports cars full of computer chips managing scores of " driving hero " solenoids etc in the garage that come and go.

[mikefocke]

Why add the Humps weight if you are lightening the car? Won't the Clamshell cover the gap made by the top removal?

[RMD]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Won't the Clamshell cover the gap made by the top removal?

Uhh..per my follow up post above , I am ditching the plan to use theft prone humps for a simple flat custom made cover .

You must have a special one -off " superextended " clamshell as mine is like the usual soft top -exposing one like in this stock pic , where the gap - actually more like a deep well -would be sans the soft top .

http://rennlist.com/forums/attachments/vehicle-marketplace/708668d1362437435-2000-porsche-boxster-s-6sp-74k-triple-row-ims-replacement-img_0929.jpg

[ilikeching]

Originally Posted by RMD

.

Will remove AC soon...another 40 lbs, as I have only turned that on once a year the past 15 years to keep the compressor from seizing up ...no need for it here where I live when avg summer temp is 75-80 and no humidity and zero commute style stop and go driving ... It is mostly used to zip winding coastal roads between my home and the Pacific Coast minutes away

Can you do a full writeup about removal, pics or vid, interested, I don't need AC too.....