Zeintop arrived. See it in Dayton OH Sat 5 Jan @ 10am

[Kirk]

Pat,

This is simply amazing that you would offer to show off your top now. I have been very interested in the Zeintec top and would love to see it on your car. I'm from Northern California and just happen to be visiting my folks for the holidays in Yellow Springs, OH, just 10 minutes from you. Unfortunately I've got to take my kids back to my ex in Indianapolis this Saturday morning though! So I'm going to miss you at Starbucks.

Would you be interested in maybe hooking up for dinner Saturday night or coffee Sunday morning? I'd buy you dinner/coffee if you'll bring the car to show off and we can chat about Boxsters.

Kirk

[eslai]

Looks really good, actually! If it didn't require you to remove your stock hatch and parts of the convertible top mechanism it'd be very interesting. As it stands, this ends up being a "conversion" rather than a "hard top" and that doesn't really interest me.

Also, their "Zeinvent" product really cheapens their company. Talk about ugly and cheesy!

http://www.zeintec-usa.com/Zeinvent.htm

[aparmex]

Originally Posted by eslai

Looks really good, actually! If it didn't require you to remove your stock hatch and parts of the convertible top mechanism it'd be very interesting. As it stands, this ends up being a "conversion" rather than a "hard top" and that doesn't really interest me.

Also, their "Zeinvent" product really cheapens their company. Talk about ugly and cheesy!

http://www.zeintec-usa.com/Zeinvent.htm

Well I just received zeintop annd zeinvent and let me tell you, the zeinvent may be controversial but I like very much how it looks !! it gives the car a more sport look, and the product is very well done, so I am happy with it !!!

[Gougoushu]

I'm getting ready to re-install my Zeintop for the winter, making a few adjustments or painting items that are hard to reach once it's installed. I bought the "986" numerals for it as well, mostly because of the photos on this thread, and plan to install them too. Thanks, Pat, for posting them.

I can confirm that once you have your adjustments right, the Zeintop is easily removeable [with one or two helpers]. The clamshell and trunklid are also very easy to remove and replace. The job is about 15 minutes plus whatever time it takes to put the unused parts into storage.

A few points that are omitted from most Zeintop discusssions:

(1) there is an adjustment screw [a big torx screw; I don't know the size] beside each spinlock on the car [the "female" part of the spinlock connectors], which appears to allow about 1/4" up-and-down adjustment for hardtops. I'm going to try these to help level up the front of the ZT with the car while it is mounted. This might be easier than dealing with shims, which require removing the top.

(2) you cannot access the top of the engine with the Zeintop fitted. In order to work on the engine, you must have helpers on hand, remove the top, and then have a place to set it down. Also probably you'll need a gargage to store the car and top [or at least use tarps] while you're doing engine work. Therefore, you must plan accordingly; I did all my maintenance items beforehand. One option is to remove the softtop [might help avoid damage to the plastic window from being folded up all winter], which allows engine access obstructed by the top's cross-member, but that leaves an unattractive and fragile cavity where the top would go.

There are other little issues with these tops, but don't get me wrong, I'm happy with it. To me, it doesn't look like a Cayman as much as an exotic, vintage Porsche, and looks even better in person than in photos. I'll skip the Zeinvents, because I like the stock 986 intakes better than the 987s.

[BeachBum]

I am also going to pick up my Box with the Zeintop installed either tomorrow or wednesday and am really excited as I ordered it in late May! I'll post some pics when I get it.

Greg

[Gougoushu]

Greg, please do -- it's always great to see some new ZT photos! Here are two of mine.

[Soggy Top]

Greg,

You recently wrote that you: “ordered it in late May’. Was the several month lag time due to Zeintec? I ask because I’m also here in WA and if I order one I don’t care to install it just before our nice weather rolls around if they're not in the ballpark w/ their 4 week lead time estimate.

Also, were there customs and/or other types of import fees in addition to the taxes and shipping? I’m at about my threshold of (monetary) pain just w/ the purchase, painting and shipping costs and want to know what I’m looking at for a grand total before I decide whether to order one. (I’ve asked Zeintec that question, but they haven’t addressed it, nor have I received a call back from Kari.)

Thanks, Patrick

[fatmike]

Can you post some pictures of your car with the top?

I like the concept a lot -- but I find the Zeintop web site to be difficult to navigate. My dial-up line (kidding) doesn't agree with the PDF where they have their pictures.

[rick3000]

For the most part I like the way the Zientop looks but the picture of it on the ZienVent page is disgusting looking.

[Pat S]

I'll try to get some pics as soon as I can wash it. I drove from VA to OH and it has been a messy week so its covered in dirt and salt right now.

For those more east than OH I actually live in Northern VA, so I'll try to set up another meeting later this month out there.

Pat

[Jeph]

$5000?


I will concede that this is the same angle in which the factory Boxster hard top looks less desirable.

I agree with the hard top vs. conversion comment. It really does seem like a minor feat to install that thing.

Check out the install instructions.
http://www.zeintec-usa.com/FAQ.htm#Q7
Remove the clam shell's 6 bolts, remove the trunk lid's 4 bolts, add 100 pound top, wire up the new brake light. The web site estimates it as a 2 hour job.

[ichiro75]

I just checked out the gallery section of the website. The more I look at it, the more I like it. It totally upgrades the look of a boxster. It is expensive but it is like getting a new car. Also, you'll probably be able to recover quite a bit of the cost when you sell it a few years later.

[rebeltown]

I like the looks but agree that the attachment is more than you would want to do every couple of days... Living in NJ I would find it a nice addition for the late Fall and late winter/early Spring driving season where I could leave it on for a few months at a time. I don't drive it in the winter with all the salt that is used here but will consider for the cold Fall and Spring months. I plan to keep the Boxster til I die so I'll get alot of use out of it. I'm tempted...

[saaber]

Originally Posted by rick3000

For the most part I like the way the Zientop looks but the picture of it on the ZienVent page is disgusting looking.

I totally agree. That vent is pure poser cheesiness.

I really like the looks of that top but I am concerned that it may look like posing. IMO as a more attractive alternative to factory hardtop for winter use it gets a A+ in terms of looks.

As a "i can't afford a cayman but want to fool everyone for year round use" is where it would get a F.

As a "I just like to customize my boxster with whatever I think looks good and other's opinions be damned" it gets an A.

I am really glad we have this option, that's for sure. I would have more respect for this company if I never saw that cheese vent.

[bartman]

Hi PAt,
I'll see you at 10.oo at the startbucks. Can't wait to see your Porsche !

Bart from Troy Ohio !

[Pat S]

Thanks to Bartman and Doug&Julie from pelican for coming out. Bartman has the black Boxster in the photos. Here are some photos from Doug's post on Pelican. I'll try to answer all the other questions as well when I get a chance.

Originally Posted by Doug&Julie

Hey I have some pics too! It was great to see Pat and to meet Bartman. It was quite chilly so most of the conversation was held inside the Starbucks, but we managed to walk around the Boxsters and get a good look at the top. Overall I'm very impressed. It's not quite "Porsche perfect", but it's a high quality top that looks great and works well.









Here are some comparo photos. I only wish I had my brother's Cayman S there for further comparison!







Finally...nice butt...

[Pat S]

More from Doug

Originally Posted by Doug&Julie

Hey wait a minute! I can do a photo-comparo...





Damn, now I wish I'd taken better photos of Pat's Boxster...