Going rate for 986 Hardtop

[rick3000]

Hardtops seems to be $800-1400 these days, although some people try to get more, which can be worth it if it's the right color and local. I think I paid $750 for mine 12+ years ago with a storage cart and a some minor scratches on the roof. I drove 700 miles to pick it up, but Ocean Blue hardtops are very hard to find. I purchased and installed the spinlocks separately, I think they cost about $60.

It's been on my 986 90% of the time since then, I really prefer the hardtop, but I'm definitely an outlier.

[maxnine11]

I think I paid 1800 $CDN for mine (1300 $US)
It was local and in excellent condition.
Black when I bought it, now Meridian Metallic.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by rick3000

It's been on my 986 90% of the time since then, I really prefer the hardtop, but I'm definitely an outlier.

I'm curious why you didn't then, or don't now, buy a cayman instead?

Back in my miata days, the hardtop was really nice in the winter months! And surprisingly quiet.

[rick3000]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm curious why you didn't then, or don't now, buy a cayman instead?

Back in my miata days, the hardtop was really nice in the winter months! And surprisingly quiet.

Overtime I've come to really enjoy driving with the top down in the summer. But I didn't always have a garage to store the hardtop so it stayed on year round, and up until a year ago my 986 was a daily driver so I preferred the quieter hardtop. I also deal with snow half the year. I'm really happy with my 986, and it is now more of a weekend car now.

I actually had a brand new Cayman rental for a month after my 986 was rear ended several years ago and the shop dragged their feet with the repairs. I wasn't complaining, the insurance paid $150/day for the rental, and it was a fun car. But honestly, I never saw any appeal to buying a Cayman, it doesn't add anything over the Boxster, just less flexibility in terms of driving with the top down. I'm discounting the rigidity because I don't track my cars regularly, and I don't actually think a Cayman looks better than a Boxster with a hardtop. Just my opinion.