Hardtop quandary, yes quandary

[PaulE]

That second top is interesting. The first picture of the second top shows the center 3rd brake light which I interpret to mean the rear trunk can still be opened. But it also looks like that car is a 987. Then the last picture of that second top shows the back edge of the top covering the third brake light and the front edge of the rear trunk deck, and they've added a rear spoiler with an integrated 3rd brake light. And that car is a 986. So I'd want to be sure the rear trunk is still functional on a 986 with that second top.

As for whether installing any hard top is a one or two person job, I am of the opinion that it is always a 2 person job. That is the way I always install and remove my factory hard top. We do it by hand, as opposed to a hoist, but I would still be leery of doing it solo even with a hoist because I would hate to miss the spinlocks and have the pointy ends ding or scratch my car!

[boxxster]

Probably not the answer you're looking for but for what you want to use the top for (winter) I would recommend just getting a used OEM hardtop. Color wouldn't even have to match (black or grey would probably look ok on your red car, for instance).

Reason I say this is because not only would you save yourself a ton of time and money, but I would be leery of running an aftermarket top in the winter. Who knows how well its going to hold up to snow and ice? Is it going to fit and seal like OEM? In any case, I'd feel much better winter driving my car with a relatively cheap used top than one I just spent a ton of money on by the time its painted.

[JBauer]

Originally Posted by boxxster

Probably not the answer you're looking for but for what you want to use the top for (winter) I would recommend just getting a used OEM hardtop. Color wouldn't even have to match (black or grey would probably look ok on your red car, for instance).

Reason I say this is because not only would you save yourself a ton of time and money, but I would be leery of running an aftermarket top in the winter. Who knows how well its going to hold up to snow and ice? Is it going to fit and seal like OEM? In any case, I'd feel much better winter driving my car with a relatively cheap used top than one I just spent a ton of money on by the time its painted.

I wont drive it in the snow/Ice just on cold days. I don't like the looks of the factory top (no offense to anyone here that has one ) just my opinion

Makes a beautiful car look like a turtle

[That986]

Originally Posted by boxxster

Probably not the answer you're looking for but for what you want to use the top for (winter) I would recommend just getting a used OEM hardtop. Color wouldn't even have to match (black or grey would probably look ok on your red car, for instance).

Reason I say this is because not only would you save yourself a ton of time and money, but I would be leery of running an aftermarket top in the winter. Who knows how well its going to hold up to snow and ice? Is it going to fit and seal like OEM? In any case, I'd feel much better winter driving my car with a relatively cheap used top than one I just spent a ton of money on by the time its painted.

Got to agree, those others turn a good looking car into something foul.

If you're only driving on cold days then in all honesty the soft top will do you just fine. I drive mine all year round in the UK and I know it doesn't get as cold here but i've never been cold or yearned for a hard top.

[JBauer]

Originally Posted by PaulE

That second top is interesting. The first picture of the second top shows the center 3rd brake light which I interpret to mean the rear trunk can still be opened. But it also looks like that car is a 987. Then the last picture of that second top shows the back edge of the top covering the third brake light and the front edge of the rear trunk deck, and they've added a rear spoiler with an integrated 3rd brake light. And that car is a 986. So I'd want to be sure the rear trunk is still functional on a 986 with that second top.

As for whether installing any hard top is a one or two person job, I am of the opinion that it is always a 2 person job. That is the way I always install and remove my factory hard top. We do it by hand, as opposed to a hoist, but I would still be leery of doing it solo even with a hoist because I would hate to miss the spinlocks and have the pointy ends ding or scratch my car!

Good eyes!
It still uses factory trunk brake light so that pic with it in the spoiler is something I need to ask about.

[The Radium King]

Originally Posted by JBauer

Good eyes!
It still uses factory trunk brake light so that pic with it in the spoiler is something I need to ask about.

that's an aerokit rear trunk lid, hence no third brake light. there's lots of other shots of the dmoris top on 986 w third brake light (heck, just search this site for dmoris).

[JBauer]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

that's an aerokit rear trunk lid, hence no third brake light. there's lots of other shots of the dmoris top on 986 w third brake light (heck, just search this site for dmoris).

I know where the site is and I've talked to them. They say it uses the factory brake light. I'm just unfamiliar with the aerokit deck lid.That answers my question. Thanks.

[ymkmkrz]

Originally Posted by PaulE

That second top is interesting. The first picture of the second top shows the center 3rd brake light which I interpret to mean the rear trunk can still be opened. But it also looks like that car is a 987. Then the last picture of that second top shows the back edge of the top covering the third brake light and the front edge of the rear trunk deck, and they've added a rear spoiler with an integrated 3rd brake light. And that car is a 986. So I'd want to be sure the rear trunk is still functional on a 986 with that second top.

As for whether installing any hard top is a one or two person job, I am of the opinion that it is always a 2 person job. That is the way I always install and remove my factory hard top. We do it by hand, as opposed to a hoist, but I would still be leery of doing it solo even with a hoist because I would hate to miss the spinlocks and have the pointy ends ding or scratch my car!

I have had a pulley hoist system for years and never even come close to dropping the top. The pulley and rope make the weight pretty easy to handle. Once up i do add a safety Chain at the ceiling to the pulley so that if rope did break or someone unraveled it, the top would only drop an inch. I can have my hardtop off or on in less than 3 Minutes, unless I have to hook up the defroster, which I rarely do. There is no easy way to plug that thing in. The only other thing I did to the hoist system was to tape up the rings used to connect the straps attached to the top of the roof. Ita a no brainer but i didnt think about it until I scratched the top.



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