Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-23-2020, 09:44 AM   #1
Porschephile
 
Tomikaze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 321
986 smart top on ebay

Who’s the punk that just outbid me for this smart top!!!! Just kidding. These don’t come up very often. Guess I’ll do the free hack.

__________________
2004 Porsche Boxster S
Portland, Maine
Tomikaze is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2020, 10:48 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Cunningr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Spain
Posts: 985
Thats was a good price on it too
__________________
2000 Boxster S Ocean Blue Metalic
Cunningr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2020, 11:39 AM   #3
1998 Boxster Silver/Red
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 2,915
I did the free hack. Saved me $127.

Maybe someone can explain why a 2 minute effort (hack) otherwise costs $127 for the same relay and a couple of stickers.
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
Starter986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2020, 03:29 AM   #4
edc
550 Anniversary
 
edc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 747
Garage
The Smart top is one touch on the move up to 30mph. It will also auto stop if you mistakenly don't undo the catch properly. You can also resell for the same price.
edc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2020, 03:44 AM   #5
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Atlanta Area
Posts: 98
Garage
I was was one of those bidders. Haha. I stopped at 65 bucks though. I was amazed when it jumped to $127 in the last 30 seconds. Thats almost retail price. Lol. No way was I gonna pay that.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster Base - 2005 Volvo S60R AWD - 2003 Subaru Wrx Wagon - 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - 1992 Subaru Loyale Wagon w/4in Lift - 2004 Dodge Ram 2500
GLImages is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2020, 01:38 PM   #6
Multi-Boxer Driver
 
Deserion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 1,404
Garage
I had it favorited, was still $50 at that point. Never got around to bidding so I’m blameless.
__________________
-Chris
2004 Porsche Boxster 2.7
1991 Porsche 911 C2 Targa 3.6
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
Deserion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 12:37 AM   #7
There Is No Substitute.
 
rick3000's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
Garage
Did they stop making them, or was this below MSRP?
__________________
1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
rick3000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 09:22 AM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tx
Posts: 20
I was the seller and really loved the smartTOP.

The one touch operation was a nice convenience. The car was a daily driver and there were a number of times I got caught out by a rain shower and was glad that I could just set the top closing at a stop light etc without worrying about holding the switch as well as juggling the parking brake and stick-shift if the light changed.

It might not be the best solution for everyone, but it worked for me and I would have kept it if it was compatible with my 987.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick3000 View Post
Did they stop making them, or was this below MSRP?
Yes, I believe they stopped making them for the 986. I can't recall what I paid for it, but there is a newer model available for the 996 on the manufacturers website for $380.
Paul_B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 11:50 AM   #9
1998 Boxster Silver/Red
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 2,915
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_B View Post
I was the seller and really loved the smartTOP.

The one touch operation was a nice convenience. The car was a daily driver and there were a number of times I got caught out by a rain shower and was glad that I could just set the top closing at a stop light etc without worrying about holding the switch as well as juggling the parking brake and stick-shift if the light changed.

It might not be the best solution for everyone, but it worked for me and I would have kept it if it was compatible with my 987.


Yes, I believe they stopped making them for the 986. I can't recall what I paid for it, but there is a newer model available for the 996 on the manufacturers website for $380.
If PW invented it the price would have been <$100.

PT Barnum was right.
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
Starter986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 05:47 AM   #10
Registered User
 
mikesz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
Garage
I did the relay hack. No one drives the car but me and if I choose to ever sell I have a stock relay. Was easy and much cheaper.
__________________
99 Porsche Boxster
mikesz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 10:12 AM   #11
Will there be cake?
 
tonythetiger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: East Coast
Posts: 623
Garage
I converted to manual top, takes 5 seconds and never messes up. Really easy to get into service mode too
:+)
tonythetiger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 10:49 AM   #12
1998 Boxster Silver/Red
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 2,915
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonythetiger View Post
I converted to manual top, takes 5 seconds and never messes up. Really easy to get into service mode too
:+)
What about the clamshell... does it flop/flap around? Did you have to take any extra measures to secure it... down?

Thanks!
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
Starter986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2020, 01:36 PM   #13
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: New York City
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonythetiger View Post
I converted to manual top, takes 5 seconds and never messes up. Really easy to get into service mode too
:+)
If I actually get a 986, this is going to be my first mod

My 124 Spider has a manual top and I've had a complete stranger in another car exclaim "That's it?!" while putting my top up.

One hand motion, less than 5 seconds, and in a pinch I've put the top both up and down at 40 MPH

The ideal for me would be a way to have the clamshell powered, but the top manual
selaliadobor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2020, 02:33 PM   #14
Registered User
 
piper6909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: PA
Posts: 1,531
Quote:
Originally Posted by selaliadobor View Post
One hand motion, less than 5 seconds, and in a pinch I've put the top both up and down at 40 MPH

The ideal for me would be a way to have the clamshell powered, but the top manual
That'll be hard to do if you have the clear plexiglass panel between the rollbar humps.
piper6909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2020, 05:29 PM   #15
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: New York City
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by piper6909 View Post
That'll be hard to do if you have the clear plexiglass panel between the rollbar humps.
It's removable right? In the 124 community a lot of people remove the windbreaker anyways, in part because it makes the transition a little easier.

But then again, this is all musing until I actually sit in the car, going to see it Saturday and hopefully pick it up... if it's not falling apart too badly
selaliadobor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2020, 05:48 PM   #16
Registered User
 
piper6909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: PA
Posts: 1,531
Quote:
Originally Posted by selaliadobor View Post
It's removable right? In the 124 community a lot of people remove the windbreaker anyways, in part because it makes the transition a little easier.

But then again, this is all musing until I actually sit in the car, going to see it Saturday and hopefully pick it up... if it's not falling apart too badly
Yes, it's removable. I prefer to keep it on, though.

Good luck with purchase!
piper6909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2020, 11:51 PM   #17
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
How do you convert to a manual top?
Sounds like you could also shed some weight with this mod
Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2020, 07:30 PM   #18
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: West Mi
Posts: 164
The convertible top mechanism is not that complicated. When lubricated and adjusted it works like new. The parts if needed are not that expensive. These cars are not the general Lee. I think if you choose manual operation you loose a lot of value
MrBen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2020, 11:18 AM   #19
Registered User
 
pilut2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Peterborough Ontario Canada
Posts: 148
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by selaliadobor View Post

I converted to manual top, takes 5 seconds and never messes up. Really easy to get into service mode too
:+)

If I actually get a 986, this is going to be my first mod
I don't understand why anyone would do this unless the powered mechanism was totally shot and prohibitively expensive to repair. The powered top works beautifully and quickly, and is totally cool to watch- why mess with that?

__________________
1999 Boxster, Ocean Blue Metallic-grey top.
LN IMS dual row-, Ben's short shift kit
pilut2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page