Replacement top cost?

[Mark_T]

That's not too far off the mark for an installed price on a glass-windowed top.

If your car is a 97 - 02 that has the three-bow top and originally had a plastic window then you may want to re-think a glass replacement. The glass window is much smaller and can make engine access difficult. Some people that want a glass rear window for an older car have bought an entire top assembly(4-bow frame and canvas) from an 03-04 car and swapped it out. Apparently it's really easy to do - much easier than changing just the canvas

If you go with just the canvas replacement then you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself. There are some excellent DIY tutorials floating around, notably Mike Focke's. You can buy a decent top with a plastic window for about $400 - $500 and it's a day's work for you and a mechanically-inclined buddy.

You may also want to order a pair of the upgraded plastic ball sockets ahead of time. If you have an older car with the original red sockets then it is very likely that you will find that one or both are either cracked or broken and then you will be waiting a week or so for parts before you can finish the job.

There has been lots posted about this particular project. If you do a search of the forum you'll find tons of helpful info.