Top up or down for storage? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

St. Louis Boxster · 02-26-2005, 06:38 PM

Ya'll:

Durnig this winter I've been driving my Box on nice weather days, typically when I can put the top down. It seems like I've been able to take her out at least once a week. When I am garaging it during the bad weather intervals, am I hurting anything if I keep the top down? Keep in mind, the top is dry when I park it and it's in a garage.

Thanks guys!!

Ronzi · 02-26-2005, 06:56 PM

You didn't say whether it was a plastic window or a glass window top.
The only negative I can see to storing it with the top down is the possibility of a plastic rear window taking a "set" from the low temperature. I'm assuming your garage isn't heated, too.
I'm also assuming that the storage period wouldn't be extensive in any case, maybe a few days or a couple of weeks at the outside.
If it were an extended period, several weeks or months, I believe you would be better off to store it with the top up.

Adam · 02-26-2005, 06:57 PM

I don't believe you are going to hurt anything by doing that. More dust will accumilate inside the car but other than that you should be fine. I have the top up when I store mine for about 4mo and also cover it to protect from dust, but the rest of the year it usually sits in my garage with the top down.

St. Louis Boxster · 02-26-2005, 07:02 PM

It's a 2004, glass rear window. I also have a cover over it for the dust issue. In a previoous unlightened life I had a SAAB Turbo convertible that had issues with the top. I didn't want to take any chances with new Box.

Thanks for the replies

Ronzi · 02-26-2005, 07:13 PM

What kind of problems did you have with the SAAB top?
No reason to think Porsche tops would necessarily be immune to problems, particularly since most of the Boxsters and the SAAB convertibles are/were both made by the same outfit (Valmet) in Finland.

St. Louis Boxster · 02-26-2005, 07:22 PM

After a year or so.. I started to get "read thru" of the frame under the top through the top. It's like the top shrunk or something. You could see more easily the metal ribs spanning across the convertible top. You'd think the fabric on the top would be less stressed with the top down and the opposite would occur.

UKBXSTR · 02-27-2005, 05:01 AM

I'd personally say top up - saves all the creasing of the fabric.

Just realised mines been down for 5 months now with the hardtop on - be interesting to see how creased it is ina few weeks time.