Need top advice - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Chills · 02-10-2007, 03:26 AM

I'm glad to hear that $1400 is a good deal for a glass windowed top. The only problem is that I'm getting married in October and I have to pay for the entire wedding out of my own bank account. I've got a decent chunk of the amount saved, but putting this top on will put a big dent in the savings.

I'm going to see if there's a way I can seal the crack without making the car look ghetto. Someone earlier mentioned silicone.

mookarma · 02-21-2007, 05:53 PM

I have cracked my window too! Has anybody got experience with the tops on ebay? They go for $400 for a top w/ plastic window but I'm not sure if there are any differences between that and the factory top?
Also, has anybody tried to install the top on their own after buying it? I figure it can't be too hard and that's probably what I'd like to do to save $400 in labor!!

velvet_jones · 02-21-2007, 09:07 PM

Cabrioworld has new GAHH tops w/ glass window for $499. That price is for indigo blue only. Thats the color mine has on it now. So I bought one. I get it on Friday. Can't wait. Every shop that I have talked to says 8-10 hours labor. I don't think it's something I would like to try to tackle on my own. Especialy since you have no guarantee that it's giong to be done correctly. Thats just my opinion though. I found a good shop that will install it for $650. To me it's worth it.

Peter Serbanica · 02-22-2007, 03:37 AM

thats a lot of money. it shouldn't take more than 4 hours. We get $410. labor here!!!!!

Chills · 02-22-2007, 04:22 AM

Okay, so here's what I did:

My fiance found some plastic/vinyl glue at Lowe's made by Loc-tite, and I glued the window together. Now before you start flaming poor Chills let me explain.

The crack is about 4 inches long and right along the fabric. I took a toothpick and used it to apply small amounts of glue along the inside of the crack and then put a small layer on top of the crack. I did two applications just to make sure, letting it dry and set a day between applications.

Amazingly enough it worked. The glue is holding. I washed the car on Tuesday and the crack didn't leak. It was so nice later that day that I put the top down, and the glue held. It didn't crack.

From the outside you can't see it unless you are looking for it, so it doesn't look trashy at all. Now mind you, this is a temporary fix. I will still get a new top with a glass window, but for now I can still drive around and not worry about the crack.

jmabasa · 02-23-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chills

Okay, so here's what I did:

My fiance found some plastic/vinyl glue at Lowe's made by Loc-tite, and I glued the window together. Now before you start flaming poor Chills let me explain.

The crack is about 4 inches long and right along the fabric. I took a toothpick and used it to apply small amounts of glue along the inside of the crack and then put a small layer on top of the crack. I did two applications just to make sure, letting it dry and set a day between applications.

Amazingly enough it worked. The glue is holding. I washed the car on Tuesday and the crack didn't leak. It was so nice later that day that I put the top down, and the glue held. It didn't crack.

From the outside you can't see it unless you are looking for it, so it doesn't look trashy at all. Now mind you, this is a temporary fix. I will still get a new top with a glass window, but for now I can still drive around and not worry about the crack.

Thanks for the info! At least now we know that there's a temporary fix that won't stick out like a sore thumb.

velvet_jones · 02-22-2007, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Serbanica

thats a lot of money. it shouldn't take more than 4 hours. We get $410. labor here!!!!!

Wow I wish I lived in NJ. Well, not really, but for installtion sake.

dcallas · 02-22-2007, 04:07 PM

I have the exact same tear in the same spot. It's not vandilism - it's a classic drop-the-top-with-no-karate-chop tear. I raised and lowered my top a few times before learning the necessity of the karate chop, and that's what happened. If you get a vertical crease in the window as the top is going down and the crease "rolls" to the side, that is how it tears.

I made an appointment today, actually, to get my GAHH installed. Fingers crossed.

Chills · 02-23-2007, 05:20 AM

I did the Boxster Chop when I put the top down, but it was probably a bit below freezing in my garage when I did it. I'm pretty sure that's how I got the tear. It really sucks because the top is in such good condition. It looks brand new.