Ragtop quote
 

I was quoted $1750 for new rag top (german oem) with glass, installed w/warranty.
Local guy been doing upholstery/tops since 1980. Seems like a decent price? any thoughts? Do it myself and save money? (99 Boxster base)

That sounds a little steep. Some of the Southern California forum members have had this done for $1000. I guess it depends on your zip code's supply of competent labor.
It's definitely DIY but will take you a few weekends. Wayne Dempsey's 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster lists step by step. You could film your own DIY, burn to CD and sell it on eBay and Amazon for $20. You'd make back the cost of your top!

In the Chicago land area I've been quoted anywhere from $2,000 to $2,600 for a GAHH black top with a glass window....... then I called a few places across the sate line in Wisconsin (near Milwaukee) and got prices for the same top and glass of $1,500 installed.

Pays to shop around and go a bit further from major metro areas to get a better price.

After watching a video on You Tube of a guy replacing his top.....there's no way I would attempt it myself...ever! Even the pros who have done it numerous times take 6-8 hours to do the job....AND they will warranty the work and the (GAHH) product.

A guy with another Boxster pulled into a coin-operated car wash I was at a few years back. He had just done his top himself. He said it took a long time but said "it was easy, definitely now that I know how to do it". He even offered to do my top. I think if you've done many Porsche tops as an installer you know when to ask for a bigger fee than the guy coming in with the Miata or MR2, which is not that much different and they get charged $500 instead of $1500. $2,000 and higher seems like "dealership pricing".

Those are crazy prices! I paid $450 for a top from the UK. Excellent quality. It's been on for six years and still looks new - no sags or ripples at all.

I had a buddy help me and it took about 5 hours to take the old one off, making notes and taking lots of pictures along the way. Installing the new one took about 8 hours. Neither of us had ever done anything even remotely like this before.

A GAAH top with glass window installed for $1250 here in the Phoenix area.

I paid around $1150 for an ATD(same as GAHH) installed. I bought the top and brought it to the installer.

Wow.....might be worth it to drive to TX or AZ....... Chicago prices are insane! I know the GAHH top w/glass can be purchased for around $700. These Chicago shops are getting about $1,300 for labor. Nuts!

Use the money you save and make a vacation out of it.

Thanks but I'll wait till the polar shift happens...I'm sure it's nice in TX or AZ but I like the change of seasons! For me the best times to drive with the top down are fall, spring and even on nice days in the winter!

We have seasons. We just got rid of the bad one that makes driving your convertible car no fun, winter. :) That's when you need to visit. If we want snow and real seasons we just head north an hour and a half. It's all what your used to I guess. I grew up in SoCal so true seasons are a novelty to me.

Auto top
 

Whoa! I paid $537 or so At Auto Tops Direct for A% canvas top with glass window w/ defroster. $500 installed by local installer. Came out great.

Auto Tops
 

Sorry A"5" canvas