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Old 03-02-2019, 08:25 AM   #1
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They are the only brand making this type.
actually, if you go to the latest website they are not called z-tops any more. but it's a good search term if looking for more info.
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Old 03-03-2019, 06:12 AM   #2
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actually, if you go to the latest website they are not called z-tops any more. but it's a good search term if looking for more info.
Can you post the latest website URL?
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Old 03-01-2019, 08:30 PM   #3
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search this forum for z-top or zeintop. originally made by a grifty german guy named andreas zeineke or somesuch that took a lot of money but didn't make so many hardtops. hence the name zeintop, or z-top for most of us who could never remember if it was i before e or e before i. i actually spoke on the phone with him a few times, but could never develop enough trust to send him thousands of $. i've since had two z-tops, but never bought new; all acquired by scouring the interweb. eomak has my old one (sold in a fit of porsche hatred and poverty when it all was for sale, but the only thing that sold was the z-top to someone like me scouring the internet for the unicorn).

the top finally got ripped off and sent offshore and now the ones you find are (a) cheaper, (b) much improved, (c) more plentiful (when was the last time you got to use that word, hey?) and (d) made in china by the nimble little hands of industrious 9-year olds.

they are not perfect. fiberglass is not designed to do what z-tops do; be pulled in opposing directions by the four offset mounting points, or come out of the mold and maintain trim lines along multiple axis. the result is not oem; fitment is always slightly off, they squeak and rattle when cold, they put weight up high which is noticeable if you are a track guy, they can form stress cracks.

and they look cool. the end result is not a cayman (although the top is taken from a cayman roofline). the cayman is modern; aggressive front and rear bumper covers, sharkfin side intakes, designed to provide enough headroom to wear your ball cap to the side. the boxster has styling cues from 50's and 60's porsches; flowing lines, a curvature to the door, subtle side intakes. the result of putting a cayman roofline on a 986 is not a cayman. perhaps a bit 996TT mini me, but not a cayman.

there are other, similar options out there; look for dmoris (or is it d'moris?) for a high-end option. there's a british company making a clunky version of the dmoris top, and boxtcars/renegade hybrids was doing a cayman race top for the 986 for a while. eric on this forum was making a 996 race top for the 986; while he doesn't seem to be on this forum any more, he might be found at hgr? but realise that a race top is a LOT of work to make street worthy.

but really, if you want a cayman just get a cayman. but make sure it's smog legal in california (sorry; inside joke that probably only i get).
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Old 01-30-2020, 08:36 AM   #4
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Sorry to say, but the manufactorers acted pretty shady for a long time, the german distributor stopped business after a short period of time due to lack of information, support and trust.
Get your money back now and tell them, they are welcome to infom you once the shipment arrives. It might never happen, though.
I am pretty sure, that a better quality version of it could be 3D printed with e.g. aluminum.
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Old 01-30-2020, 09:42 AM   #5
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I don't think Starter986 is choosing to have his refund take a long time. From what I can gather, he has requested it already and he has to wait for the refund to happen from the vendor or until 6 months has transpired since he has requested it (at which time PayPal kicks in and covers him).

It sounds like the seller is an epic scumbag and is dragging this out for some sort of personal benefit.

Sorry you are dealing with this, 986
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Old 01-31-2020, 11:21 AM   #7
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Old 01-30-2020, 05:21 PM   #8
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oh snap - bauer they're using your car in the ad!
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Old 01-30-2020, 07:58 PM   #9
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oh snap - bauer they're using your car in the ad!
Lol that's funny. Darn commies!
Not a bad price on the top though if you figure in shipping. 3 month delivery sucks though.
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Old 01-31-2020, 02:27 PM   #10
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66% positive feedback...

That's 1 in three has a bad experience. My luck is that I'm that one dude.
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