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

All,
I haven't been posting here much, but I have received the first zeintop on the east coast for my 01 986. I actually got the top about a month ago but due to work and the holidays I did not have much time to sit down and write about it.

To get to the point, it looks amazing and the US Zeintec rep is fantastic to work with. The quality of the top is extremely good and the paint match was perfect. I'm very happy with the product even though it is quite costly. I constantly have people comment on it and friends/coworkers keep asking me if I got a new car.

Product details: http://www.zeintec-usa.com/index.html

If you want to come check it out and are in the Southern OH area, I'll be at the following Starbucks on Sat 5 Jan. This location is near the Quaker Steak & Lube location in Dayton. I figure I'll show up about 10am and hang out for a while to let anyone who has been wanting to see one of these get a look.

3800 Colonel Glenn Highway
Fairborn, OH 45324
937-320-9258

Let me know if you are interested or have any questions. I'll post pics as soon as I take them. I'm not affiliated with zeintech in any way other than being a customer.

Pat

Wow! That looks amazing. The engineering looks spot on and design fits right in and even enhances the look of the 986. I like it sooo much more than the standard Porsche hardtop. If only I had $5000 to spend on it :(

I'm looking forward to seeing the pics!

I've been playing with the idea of a HT for mine (01), as I have a split in the screen near the stitching and a seems a waste to spend the cash on replacing the whole top just for that, especially when it's not really an issue in the summer, so was looking for a HT for the winter months.

I don't think the cost is too much of an issue when you compare it to the cost of the butt ugly OEM Porsche HT. :rolleyes:

How easy was it to fit?

I am interested to see some pictures. Also, the factory top is not ugly when they can be had for $900 vs. $5k. :cheers:

Also, wouldn't you say the Zientop is being a, "poser." ;)

Congratulations. I hope you enjoy your top. I'd love to see it in person, but you are a bit distant. (By the way, when did Ohio move to the East Coast? Did I miss a tectonic plate shift?)

Please keep us all posted regarding your experiences in every day use as well as with installation and removal.

From certain angles, the factory hard top is quite attractive. If price were not an issue, I would consider a Zeintop. For now, I'm pleased with the factory hard top. I don't want to sound like "sour grapes". Maybe I'll be able to pick up a used Zeintop in a few years.

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

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

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.

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

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

$5000?

http://www.zeintec-usa.com/EnlargedG...%20Zeintop.jpg
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.

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.

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...

Dirty pics from playing in the snow yesterday...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1199383329.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1199383371.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1199383393.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1199383417.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1199383439.jpg

Very nice.

Can you get an pictures of the inside? What does the transition from the headliner to painted section look like? How's the noise level?

Wow Pat, that looks absolutely amazing! I can't believe how well they pulled this off. Congrats!

I agree--I want to see interior shots. What does the headliner look like? And how's the NVH?

PAT - Also, can you tell us more about how practical the top is? How is visibility compared to the softtop (which isn't great).

Does the slope of the rear windsheild shed water? Does the top need a power rear window wiper? Did it get all dirty (reduced visibility) driving in the snow & salt?

How did the install go? Any worries about potential damage to your paint?

Rattles? Creaks? Windnoise?

Thanks again for the great pictures. These are the best pictures I've seen yet of the top. Congrats!

And if you're taking orders, show us a pic with the hatch open please.

And a babe! In a bikini!! Looking really cold!!!

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.

See you at Starbucks
 

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

Bart from Troy Ohio !

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.

More from Doug

Absolutely beautiful !!!

Nick

Great looking top.

Wow that looks great. Now i know what it looks like on a Boxster with my body color. I'd have to say it looks better than the Gaurds Red boxster with the top.

Is it hard to install or remove? cause i cant imagine all the work that would go into it just to have to get the top in service mode to change the air filter.

That's an excellent question. The air filter looks pretty well buried.

one word, 3 letters!


WOW!


Very nice :cheers:

One Question....
 

Is it very loud now in the cabin with this top? I mean it's gotta be ridiculously loud while driving now. :confused:

Q&A
 

Q&A
How's the noise level?
- Good, it's slightly quieter than having the soft top up. The cabin and trunk area remain separate so you don't get any additional mechanical noise.

So, can you tell us more about how practical the top is? How is visibility compared to the softtop (which isn't great)?
- Visibility is AWESOME with the side windows. No more worrying about blind spots when changing lanes. The view out the back is clear and the window is much larger than the soft top. However it is also lower so taller drivers can't see as far behind them.

Does the slope of the rear windsheild shed water? Does the top need a power rear window wiper? Did it get all dirty (reduced visibility) driving in the snow & salt?
- No, infact the whole top stays pretty clean especially when the spoiler is up. On my drive back to VA it rained and was messy the entire way. I had to clean my windshield a ton of time but back window never got dirty.

How did the install go?
- Install took me about 2 hours the first time. The 2 panels come off easy. The top ships in two parts, the main shell and the hatch. You put them on separate the first time, but they can stay together from that point on. If I needed to swap back it should take under and hour in the future.

Any worries about potential damage to your paint?
- None, it never touches factory paint in any place that the factory items don't.

Rattles? A few slight ones over large bumps, mostly from the back hatch
Creaks? Only when it is cold
Windnoise? None

Is it hard to install or remove? cause i cant imagine all the work that would go into it just to have to get the top in service mode to change the air filter.
- That is easy. (1) Open the back hatch, (2)disconnect two wire harnesses for third brake light and defroster. (3) open two side spinlocks and center front latch. (4) with two folks, lift the top off and walk it back. That's it. you are now at the point you would be if you had the top down. Really only adds 15 minutes of work off and on.

Now for the bad.
- The top has a lot of adjustment built into it. Almost too much. Although I spent only 2 hours installing it the first time, I took me another 3 or 4 to adjust everything to get it exact. Now that it is adjusted, everything is locked in place and even if it is removed and replaced, none of the adjustment will need to be done again.
- There are shims that are used to adjust the hight on each side. I found the ones they included to still be too thin and this stressed the spinlocks too much. I actually broke one, and repaired it so I made a few extra shims for my own use and all is well now.
- I could not get the driver front edge on mine to line up perfect. I had a 1/16" gap that created some wind noise over 60mph. To fix this I added some additional weather stripping between the top and the windshield.
- I still get some leaking from the top edge of the hatch. It may just need to be adjusted better.
- When the top arrived the back glass was only partly adhered.

And for the really good.
- Kari, the US distributer is FANTASTIC.
- When I ordered the top he knew I needed it by winter. Production delays caused the ship date to slip so he had it air freighted from South Africa to me at no charge!
- When I called him about the window, he started to ship me an extra window so I could have the current one removed and re-glued in. He was sending the spare just in case the one broke. He also was covering the cost of having it fixed. The original one came loose enough that I pulled it off before the new one shipped so I didn't actually need it.
- He has walked me through adjustments to make sure the product is perfectly fit.
- He is also working with the factory to fix all the issues I had.

Overall it is a great product that is supported by a fantastic distributor here in the states. It is pricey, but you get a lot for the money. I really like it and it makes the boxster a true year round car in my opinion. I also like the convenience of the hatch and to be honest, I'll probably just leave it on all the time.

Pat

Thanks for taking the time to give us your candid feedback. Great review. This is the best thread on this subject to date.

Your car looks great.




I notice you added the "986" on the back in the newer pictures. I like that too...

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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 !!! :D

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.

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

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

Why the lengthy delay? Customs fees?
 

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

I suggest having it air-shipped if the total cost of doing so is anywhere near $1000-1500. Even though I live right near the NY port, the handling costs were so huge that surface shipping cost about the same as air freight would have.
My costs were $1084 shipping, plus customs duty of $133.

Broken down as follows : vessel shipping:$342; then $742 of various crappe charges for getting it off the boat and to my shop only 30 miles away (just enjoy some of these fee names!): "import service charge" $55; messenger & courier service $45; "custom entry processing" $95 [broker]; customs bond [US customs]; "warehouse unloading fee" $270; delivery [trucker] $198; "field surcharge" $19.80; customs examination fees $19.47. None of this stuff was negotiable, and of course you don't want your precious top being kicked around by teamsters. :cool:

And of course with air freight there's not the protracted anxiety of 3 months of waiting for a $4000 item to arrive from Africa! :eek: :eek:

I'd love to see that blue one fully tinted. you could tint that rear window seciton, then tint the side windows..... would look great.

Gougoushu,

Thanks for detailed cost breakdown and advice below. Very helpful!