more questions about the wind deflector

[aglsteven]

Definitely get the deflector! If you want the breeze you can always take it out afterwards. There are loads of Boxsters in Melbourne, and I think I've only ever seen about two of them without it. It just takes the edge of the blustery wind that comes through the cabin, and allows you to have the hood down in colder temperatures as well.

Last but not least, the ladies prefer not to have their hair blown around all the time. It may sound soft, but it's a factor.

[Rail26]

Gotta go with the wind deflector. It's a 80 mph hurricane if you don't...remember those pictures of the Weather Channel people standing on the beach waiting for the hurricane? That could be you. Ladies don't dig the hurricane.

[SoCal]

Well, it's recommendations like these that have me of two minds, and led to the questions in my initial post.

I've read opinions such as the above, which appear to be in the majority. But there is a sizeable minority, especially in warm climates, who say they never use the clear plastic deflector and that 1/2 to 2/3 of the wind blockage is accomplished by the black inserts inside the roll loops.

IMO, the clear plastic wind deflector looks cheap and uglies up the car. Complaints I've heard include: it rattles; it smudges easily and is a burden to keep clean; you can see vibrations and glare on the deflector through the mirror; it can come out at high speed and cause damage; and finally, according to one unverified source, the image of ex-girlfriends can appear in the plastic and ******************** at you about your music selections and hair loss.

But, I won't know how to balance the pros/cons until I drive it myself under different conditions. If I don't end up using the clear plastic deflector, I don't want those clip attachments sticking out of each roll loop. But again, I don't know the lesser of evils . . . IOW, how hard is it to take off those clips, and how much a mess it leaves, vs. how hard it is to put on the clips for a car ordered without a wind deflector.

If the clips are very easy to take off without leaving a mess, and perhaps reveal only two small unobtrusive screw holes (guessing) on each roll loop, then I probably would get the wind deflector. If, on the other hand, taking off the clips leaves a series of large ugly holes or other marks, that would be a problem (do the wind deflector clips attach only onto the metal roll loops, or do they attach through the padding?). In that case, I might just have to live with the unused clips on the roll hoops, but I'm trying to sort out the alternatives. Including, how easy is it to retrofit a wind deflector on a car ordered without one? Good as factory installed, or problems?

Hence my specific questions above, to try to make a final decision of whether or not to order the wind deflector. Sorry to be so wordy, but I guess I'm fixated on how bad I think the wind deflector looks. People complain about the chrono "wart," but IMO far and away the cheapest and ugliest looking part of the car is the clear plastic piece of crap wind deflector.

[Ronzi]

It is probably a small point, and perhaps of no particular importance to you, but you might want to consider the salability of car when you decide to get rid of it. By far the majority of Boxsters have the wind stop, and you have seen the testimonials from those that have it.
At some point in the future it could be the difference between a potential buyer choosing your car vs another one with the wind stop.
Also, it does give you a good place to paste your PCA club sticker.
Get the wind stop and leave it in the bag if you don't like it.

[RandallNeighbour]

SoCal, I do not think you should buy it with all your ranting and long posts. No amount of posting by owners who enjoy less turbulence in the cabin at speed are going to change your mind.

I don't mind your posts... after all, I am the king of verbose posting here! I just think you've made up your mind and you need to go with it.

Hey, if you change your mind you can always order them aftermarket and install them and be done with it.

[SoCal]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

SoCal, I do not think you should buy it with all your ranting and long posts. No amount of posting by owners who enjoy less turbulence in the cabin at speed are going to change your mind.

I don't mind your posts... after all, I am the king of verbose posting here! I just think you've made up your mind and you need to go with it.

Hey, if you change your mind you can always order them aftermarket and install them and be done with it.

Ranting? OK, maybe. I never used the "barf" smilie in a post before.

As long as the dealer-installed deflector is indistinguishable from a factory install, then it doesn't matter -- I can change my mind and add it later. And that would satisfy Ronzi's good point about potential resale value one day -- again as long as there are no downsides to a dealer-install.

[Pablito]

Hey SoCal....I understand your concern, the wind deflector is a good idea, Bose audio system , definitely yes, dealer installs (of these types of attachments) usually are of very high quality. When I got my 98' there was no deflector and I added it and don't regret it at all, as far as the mesh grilles for the hoops they just pop in place and unless you have a 987 (I don't know if the design changed) they fit any year from 97 to 2004...The ones that I have were from a wrecked 2000s. The reason the plastic deflector I believe it's because dealing with a plastic piece on a day to day basis is less cumbersome than if it were glass or tempered glass, also probably weight savings.

[TOM986]

So far mine has been no bother. No rattles, hasn't fallen out at over 120MPH. How would anyone know what kind of car I own?

[JackG]

The attachment points are under the padding on the hoops, so you can remove the clips by drilling out the rivets. The padding just pries off, and after you drill the rivets and remove the clips the padding presses back on. No one will ever know.

I think you'll keep the windblock once you get it, however.