986 Hard Top owners

[BrokenLinkage]

I wound up leaving the hard top on my 01S most of the time, partly b/c without a garage & hard top lift its size (not wt) makes it a 2 person job to safely take on and off. And yes it is just one more minor PIA to deal with whenever accessing the engine for service.

There was a little squeak, readily addressed with gummiphledge on the seals. It is quieter than the soft top but seems not as quiet as a coupe. And the difference with the soft top was less dramatic than I expected, perhaps b/c the double layer softop is pretty quiet for a convertible.

The hardtop has other advantages. Namely it is easier to clean than the soft top, and does't collect fur from every neighborhood cat that comes within 10 feet or heaven forbid decided to sleep on it.

[Era Vulgaris]

I leave my hard top on probably 90% of the time. The only time it really comes off is if I have to do some work in the engine bay.
I think the car looks better, is nicer to drive in, and rear visibility is better with the hardtop. Also, my hard top is dark grey and my car is silver, so it gives the car a cool vintage two-tone look for me, like a 356 notchback.
And the best part really is that you don't have to worry about the rear drains (and all the associated worries of the immobilizer getting wet) with the hard top on if you get caught in a rainstorm, as the water just takes the drain path down the trunk body seams.