............pop, and there goes my plastic window

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by landrovered

My top is fine, the PVC has leached out of the clear vinyl. No sense in replacing perfectly good canvas when I can get the window replaced a lot cheaper.

The advantage of TPU is that it is a different type of plastic that is not PVC. When was the last time you saw a PVC window that the menufacturer said could be washed in an automatic car wash?

This stuff looks pretty scratch resistant and not subject to the inherent shortcomings of PVC vinyl.

I say it is worth a shot.

Of course, it's your car, so if you think it's worth it, more power to ya. My only thought is that: 1) of course glass is more durable than even TPU, 2) it updates the look of the car (what convertible these days comes with a plastic window?, and 3) unless you replace the plastic window portion yourself, an installer will still charge you $400-$450 to sew in a new window, so you wouldn't be saving yourself that much in the long run, as a glass window will still outlast the TPU. One poke of a pencil thru the TPU window by a vandal, and it's done. JMHO.

[landrovered]

I would agree with you if I was not buying a Zeintop. The ragtop is going to be in a backup role if it ever goes back on the car at all. So in the mean time I am looking for a cheap fix.

I have a local upholsterer who is quite talented and quite reasonable (case of beer kind of thing) so it makes sense in my situation.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by landrovered

I would agree with you if I was not buying a Zeintop. The ragtop is going to be in a backup role if it ever goes back on the car at all. So in the mean time I am looking for a cheap fix.

I have a local upholsterer who is quite talented and quite reasonable (case of beer kind of thing) so it makes sense in my situation.

Just do the research prior to putting one of those Zeintops in. IMHO, there's a lot of effort involved in getting them to work in the car, and unless you love the look so much, probably better off just sourcing a factory hardtop, which doesn't require you to remove your clamshell and trunklid to fit.

http://www.ppbb.com/phorum/read.php?6,1500708,1500708#msg-1500708

[landrovered]

I am in the "love the look" category and even though it is purely psycological, I like having a bit more material over my head for track day usage and general weather.

I live in the hot south and our comfortable top down days equal about two weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall. Other than that is it too hot or too cold.

I am not looking to go as far as 986 to 987 cayman conversion level but am satisfied with a 986 coupe concept.

With the 3.6 and the other mods I am planning, I am excited about the end result.

[sasha055]

I think I'm missing something...

Replacing plasctic window is 400-450$ (from what I read it's very hard to sew it yourself)

Buying a new top with glass window is 550-650$ and you can change it yourself

I think it's would be an easy choice towards glass... am I missing something?


Sasha

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by sasha055

I think I'm missing something...

Replacing plasctic window is 400-450$ (from what I read it's very hard to sew it yourself)

Buying a new top with glass window is 550-650$ and you can change it yourself

I think it's would be an easy choice towards glass... am I missing something?


Sasha

I think you're correct, and that most people would prefer to have the glass top. However, as I stated before, with the aftermarket tops, there is a slight restriction to the engine when you put the top in service position...nothing you can't overcome, but some might see that as a drawback. The other slight drawback, and this is stretching it a bit, as it's not really much extra, but the glass window adds a slight weight penalty over the plastic counterpart. All in all, however, the overall advantages of having the glass windowed top IMHO, greatly outweigh any cons.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by sasha055

I think I'm missing something...

Replacing plasctic window is 400-450$ (from what I read it's very hard to sew it yourself)

Buying a new top with glass window is 550-650$ and you can change it yourself

I think it's would be an easy choice towards glass... am I missing something?


Sasha

Replacing the canvas from the top frame is not really a DIY type job. Well in theory with the right tools anything is DIY...But this isn't one of those you can really afford to get wrong and not end up with a some issues that will require you to pay someone to fix who should have just done the job from the start.
Its not like changing the oil, as in something you will need to do countless times in the future. You do it once, and with proper treatments and cleanings even one top (with glass) should last the life the car while looking good. The cables and motor perhaps would need to be replaced at one point or another since they have mechanical wear.

[GTA_G20]

glad Im not the only miserable person with this issue!

Im going glass, end of story

[wulfgang]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Replacing the canvas from the top frame is not really a DIY type job.

I'm not sure what you mean... I just did it. Cost me $350 for the top and a few bucks for two-sided automotive tape. Took me ~6 hours, following instructions you can find on the internet. I'm no mechanic, and I've never even owned a convertible until a few months ago.

I'm like others here... had it cost more than say $1k, I would have saved the cash to put towards a Zeintop.

I'm not like most others here in that I decided to skip the glass option even though it was less than $100 difference. The aftermarket glass is pretty small, which causes 2 problems, IMHO:

1. Reduced visibility (already mentioned).

2. Uglier lines around the back of the car. It just doesn't look right to me.