Time for a new rear window - and recommendations for the Phoenix area?

[Ottacat]

I recently replaced the top on mine. The rear window had already been replaced once and the second one was splitting at the seams.

I got my replacement from AutoTopsDirect (ATP) for $659 which had the glass window and was made with the German A5B/DS Acoustic Canvas. It also included the wiring harness for the defrost. The same top from GAHH is $925 and all my research indicated they were exactly the same tops coming from the same factory.

I didn't feel brave enough to replace it myself. I found a local guy here in Ottawa that did the job for $630. It was in and out in a day. He had done other Boxsters and the local Porsche dealership here refers work to him. He had plenty of spare parts as apparently the factory roof replacements ship with various caps and screws that the aftermarket ones don't.

I'm very happy with it and it's nice to not have to worry about the plastic window cracking or clouding again and its nice to see clearly out the back. The glass window is smaller but its more than big enough for all practical purposes.

[Perfectlap]

I paid $400 and I would not do it again even for that price. My canvas was spotless when the window cracked so it seemed like a waste to just chuck the top.
But save your money and do it right with a glass replacement.
The person stitching in the new top has to nail it, it's very easy to end up with a weird crease since the canvas is already stretched a certain way. I had one and below the bottom of the window and the installer said "that's actually not so bad compared to others." On the drive home it was raining and I was seeing droplets forming all along the bottom stitching. When the old plastic is cut out they take with it the factory sealing along the border and just stitch right through the replacement plastic. And The stitching was not dead straight like the factory is capable of with their expensive machinery. If you have an eye for detail you notice it right away. Really this plastic was not meant to be replaced. Plus there were all sorts of adhesives on the inside that start to come loose so I had to get out the rubber cement and silicone.

Anything more than $400 is just money that could have spent on new canvas and a heated window.

[Porsche9]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I will likily go with a new top.