Top up or down
 

Is it OK to leave the top down for extended periods. My car is a 2000 base model and the top is in great condition. I would like to keep it that way.

Rick

I was always worried about leaving the top down (and the plastic window folded) for a long period of time. Don't know if my concern was warranted but that was my worry. Later I installed a new top with a glass window and left it down for weeks without anything bad happening.

Anyone else want to weigh in on this?

Well generally people leave them down when a hardtop is installed. :)

Me? I'd make sure the top is cleaned thoroughly (plastic window as well, possibly treated with a protectant as well) and dry before stowing for extended periods. I've left the roof down in mine for about a week once and no issues.

I leave mine down for days at a time without issue. I had a 993 cab and that top would stay down for months at a time. I use the car cover when it is left outside.

As a side note I have heard of people releasing the latch for taking tension out of the top during storage.....not sure if this helps maintain proper tension on the material over time..

With a hard top, you have to keep it down, I make sure it's clean before putting mine down for the long period the hard too may be on, but it's always still in great shape when I go without the hardtop. I haven't owned my car for long, but I am sure other hardtop guys can back this up.

The soft top does fine for the extended periods that I have the hard top on. Before putting it down I make sure it's clean and dry. For the vinyl window I have a soft towl that I roll up and put in as the top is going down to avoid any sharp creases in the vinyl window.

I have firsthand experience.

My 1998 986 Base was purchased at a local P Dealer in 2011 with 23k on the clock with a new engine replaced by them in 2006 with 20k. The car came with a hard top and was used like that for many years. When inspecting the car, the convertible appeared that it was never used and still contained plastic factory wrap. The mechanism had problems closing and of course was a condition of sale to repair.

The performed some cable adjustments, but the roof would still not close. The problem was that the cloth had become stiff and taut being tucked away for years. Dealer saturated the fabric with a soapy substance, got it closed, and let it sit in the sun wet for a day. Roof was perfect at delivery. The plastic window was perfect as it was protected for years by a waxy form shaped protector from the factory.

I found Porsche part 98656385501 from Suncoast. I use it every time the top is down and my plastic window is perfect. It's a pain and all with the "Boxster Chop", but if I'm out of the car I don't mind the extra effort to grab it from the trunk. Plexus used often to keep the window supple. Car is a garage queen, so I'd like to keep it nice.

+1 On A Clean Top
 

Accepting the fact that I am anal retentive, I may be going overboard here. I leave the top down for the entire summer. I also clean the top and the window before putting it down. When putting the top down I do the Boxster chop on the plastic window, but then I place a piece of flannel in the fold of the window so the window does not fold too sharply, nor does it rest on itself.

I'm so confused. Originally, left the roof down all the time. If it was going to rain, I took my other car. But noticed when I rolled the roof up to clean the car, the roof looked to be developing creases. A number of google searches later, the overwhelming consensus was to always park the car in the garage with the roof up. Stretches the material back out as well as help keep the inside clean (dust/dirt) and clear of spiders and such. Now it sounds like most people keep the roof down. I do much prefer to keep it down all the time - so much nicer to climb in and do the Magnum slide into the seat as opposed to ducking way down under the roof.

OK thanks all for the info. The hardtop logic makes sense as do most of the others so I will just leave it down for the summer, fall and probably most of the winter.

Thanks again

Rick

I only put mine up when parking and the car is not where I can see it
I leave it down in the garage, but I have a 04 with glass window

What is a "Boxster Chop?"
Larry (the Bald Eagle) & a pretty recent new guy

When opening the soft top, as it folds for storage, the platic rear windows tend to crease oddly. May folks get out and using their forearm, press across the rear window horizontaly in order to put an even fold in the rear window. It looks like amchopping motion, but requires no force.

The "Boxster Chop" is the term of endearment given to the act of karate chopping your plastic window so that it folds smoothly without kinks or creases when you are putting the top down on your beloved Boxster........You have to open the top about 1/3 to 1/2 then get out of the car to chop the plastic window then get back in the car to finish putting the top down. It a minor PIA, but worth it to keep the top and window in good shape.......

My friend at work had a saturn sky and he'd have to manually slide the top into his trunk. He'd be doing this while I was "boxster chopping" and my boss with his hard top convertible benz would ride by with his top already down shaking his head at us.

My new top with the self chopping glass window is awesome :)

"Boxster Chop" Show & Tell:

Porsche Boxster Roof Drop/lowered/chop - YouTube

TO

He may have a retractable hardtop, but you have a Boxster! :cheers:

My top was not quite reaching the windshield from months and months of top down. Always have to tug it to the latch.

Been raining for a couple days. Drove it to work in pouring rain, top soaked. First time in a while.

Now it closes great.

Thanks for the "Boxster Chop" clarification. That's what I thought but wasn't sure.
Larry (the bald eagle)