Finally had my hardtop painted body color - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

thenavarro · 02-09-2019, 06:25 PM

Have been working on improving the look of my 986 the last month or so. Just had the top painted body color. Coming along nicely so far. Have had the car (it is a 2001) since 2005 so always fun to make a change.

Here's some before and after pics of the hardtop

phook · 02-09-2019, 06:28 PM

If you don't mind me asking, what's the estimate to get a hard top repainted? I'm looking to get mine repainted sometime soon as well.

thenavarro · 02-09-2019, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phook

If you don't mind me asking, what's the estimate to get a hard top repainted? I'm looking to get mine repainted sometime soon as well.

It was part of a package deal. I paid $1,000 to have the entire front end repainted up to the doors, plus the windshield surround, the two mirrors, the clamshell cover and the hardtop. Was a cash only deal with the painter at the local autoplex. Looks pretty good. It's not a high end paint job but I'm extremely satisfied with it. He did the others a couple weeks ago and I finally ran the hard top by there as well.

KevinH1990 · 02-09-2019, 07:55 PM

Looks good. Is that seal grey? That is one of my favorite colors.

Have you considered painting the “bumperettes” to match the rest of the car? I had it done and I think painting them results in a clean look to the rear of the car.

NewArt · 02-10-2019, 05:01 AM

Arctic silver with seal grey top: sweet!

KevinH1990 · 02-10-2019, 07:31 AM

It's too bad you didn't get together and swap tops before thenavarro painted his top gray.

Back in my "Miata days" I had a red top on a white car and I saw a post on the Miata forum from another enthusiast with a white top on his red car. (We had both acquired the tops after we bought the cars used.) He wasn't too far away from me so we met up and swapped the tops.

The red on white had its appeal, but I think that the car looked better with a matching top.

jmitro · 02-10-2019, 07:45 AM

looks good; $1000 for all of that is a helluva deal. the paint supplies alone are at least half that much

Ottomotion · 02-10-2019, 07:05 PM

Just had mine done, too. Meridian Metallic...
Love the look with the hardtop.

Are those tabs for an RTS?

thenavarro · 02-10-2019, 08:41 PM

Otto, yes the tabs are for a roof transport system. I've only used it a couple of times and have moved since the last and don't even know where all the pieces and parts are anymore

thenavarro · 02-10-2019, 08:45 PM

KevinH, yes, it is seal grey. Might have to do that with the bumperettes.

That Miata trade is pretty cool.

rick3000 · 02-11-2019, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenavarro

Otto, yes the tabs are for a roof transport system. I've only used it a couple of times and have moved since the last and don't even know where all the pieces and parts are anymore

Top looks great!
You should try to keep the RTS together, some of the parts are not available by themselves.

Brian in Tucson · 02-14-2019, 03:44 PM

They all look great. Thanks for sharing.

Xpit77 · 02-15-2019, 11:37 AM

Mine was originaly red. Then silver. Now Balsamic.

CVLCPorsche · 02-20-2019, 09:35 AM

I thought about painting mine ZANZIBAR to match but decided I wanted the contrast, so I wrapped it black:

thenavarro · 02-22-2019, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVLCPorsche

I thought about painting mine ZANZIBAR to match but decided I wanted the contrast, so I wrapped it black:

That looks sweet

1PorscheBoxster986 · 06-04-2019, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottomotion

Just had mine done, too. Meridian Metallic...
Love the look with the hardtop.

Are those tabs for an RTS?

That's a very sharp looking color with matching hardtop Otto.

tonythetiger · 06-04-2019, 05:58 PM

Dude, that top looks great. Seal gray is such a nice color too, I bought a 2002 tip for my woman, forgoing others because of the color. I don’t drive in the winter and don’t like taking the tops off alone, but the look is nice. More important, how’s it running?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Javi Cooper · 09-30-2019, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

It's too bad you didn't get together and swap tops before thenavarro painted his top gray.

Back in my "Miata days" I had a red top on a white car and I saw a post on the Miata forum from another enthusiast with a white top on his red car. (We had both acquired the tops after we bought the cars used.) He wasn't too far away from me so we met up and swapped the tops.

The red on white had its appeal, but I think that the car looked better with a matching top.

I think I remember this. Didn't Miata Magazine write an article about it?

KevinH1990 · 10-02-2019, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javi Cooper

I think I remember this. Didn't Miata Magazine write an article about it?

If there was an article in Miata magazine I hope that someone will share a scan of article with me.

I posted these photos on Miata.net - You may remember them from there.

Javi Cooper · 01-07-2021, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

If there was an article in Miata magazine I hope that someone will share a scan of article with me.

I posted these photos on Miata.net - You may remember them from there.

Late reply, but better late than never...

I do remember seeing an article about this situation on print in the old Miata Magazine (which was part of Miata Club of America or Miata Owners Club, can't remember). I'm positive that it wasn't on the forums as this was during the early days of internet and AOL chat rooms when I had my Miata. Two guys met up through a classified post in that magazine and swapped hardtops. I don't remember what color the cars were. Maybe it was the other guy that sent the info to the magazine? It's hard to imagine that this same scenario happened more than once...