why a hard top in the winter? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

David_J · 03-07-2007, 02:08 PM

Some track events won't allow a car without a hardtop to participate. That is one of the reasons I got mine. I also like the looks of the hardtop. For those of us that have a pre-2003, having a glass back window with defroster is a plus. We get lots of rain during the winter time and I have used my rear defroster on a number of occasions. I just pulled mine off the other day when it was nice out. Now it's raining and I have the soft top up. The hardtop does not squeek like the soft top does. Since we will have rain for the next week or so, the hardtop is going back on. It's lightweight and only takes a minute to put on.

-David

tholyoak · 03-07-2007, 02:38 PM

The hardtop isn't a necessity, but if your car is a daily driver like mine, the hardtop is certainly nice in the winter. The main reason, a rear defroster.

The hardtop is nice for the previously mentioned sound deadening and keeping the salt stains off of the fabric but I think the rear defrost is the real reason for me. With 3.6L and over 325 hp you like to see who you just passed, even in the winter

Todd

porsche986spyder · 03-07-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_J

Some track events won't allow a car without a hardtop to participate. That is one of the reasons I got mine. I also like the looks of the hardtop. For those of us that have a pre-2003, having a glass back window with defroster is a plus. We get lots of rain during the winter time and I have used my rear defroster on a number of occasions. I just pulled mine off the other day when it was nice out. Now it's raining and I have the soft top up. The hardtop does not squeek like the soft top does. Since we will have rain for the next week or so, the hardtop is going back on. It's lightweight and only takes a minute to put on.

-David

Just wondering, how much do they weigh anyway? Can one person do it without any help if he is carefull?

David_J · 03-07-2007, 02:50 PM

They weigh about 50 lbs. Taking them off by yourself it not horrible, but can be done. I have done it several times. Getting it back on is a little easier with 2 people as you are laying it down, instead of pulling it off. You just have to be a little more careful when putting it back on not to drop it or scratch your car. I just ask my wife for a minute of her time and it's back on in no time. I've considered the hoists that they sell, but have not yet needed it.

-David

ddb · 03-07-2007, 03:52 PM

Perfectlap and DavidJ,

I didn't know you guys had hardtops. Any pics?

As a relatively new hardtop owner, I love it! It really does change the character of the car, and can be reversed very quickly which is great.

ddb

David_J · 03-07-2007, 05:52 PM

Here you go.

-David

Paul · 03-07-2007, 06:49 PM

Two reasons for me:

You can't scrape ice off of a plastic window. The defogger in the hardtop window works great.

I have no issue driving my car through a touchless car wash in the middle of the winter when I have the hardtop installed.

Thumper · 03-07-2007, 02:55 PM

They weigh around 80+ lbs.

When I bought my '01 (used), the salesman had the hardtop brought out at the last minute because the used car manager at the dealership had been storing it in his office and was glad to be rid of it. I had cut the deal thinking that it didn't come with a hardtop.

I drove around for the first couple of months with the hardtop on and actually enjoyed driving my boxster more with it on, than without it. But then came spring time and I took it off and for some reason have never put it back on. It doesn't get that cold here in Dallas, so I've never got around to putting it back on, 'cause if I do, I may leave it on for a while.

I like the looks of it, but it is a bit of a hassle taking it on and off without some assistance. I can pick it up and hang it on the wall by myself, but it's a precarious endeavor to say the least.

KevinH1990 · 03-07-2007, 03:36 PM

The hard top isn't a necessity, but it has its practical benefits as others have already noted.

If you can find a used one at a good price it will be like having two different cars - a roadster in the summer and a coupe in the winter - for less that $1000. If you find you aren't using it, the resale market for hard tops is pretty strong.

Personally, I like the look with the hard top on.

husker boxster · 03-07-2007, 02:49 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but I have never seen a Box with a HT in person. I'm assuming the cloth top is lowered so the HT can be put in place. For us poor souls who have plastic rear windows, doesn't the cold cause problems with a folded window? At the least I would think it puts a nasty curve / crease in the window and at worse cracks it? I'm sure this isn't an issue with those of you who live in warm weather all year long or only take your cars out in nice weather. But for those of us who live in the cold and drive our Boxsters everyday, sitting in the cold while we are making our livings can't be good for the rear window.

What say ye?