New Hardtops!
 

Has anyone seen these new hardtops? They look amazing! I'm going to save my money to get one sent over here. They are only made in the U.K. right now. Check out this link to see them.

http://www.stuttgart.co.uk/986hardtop/boxht2.html

Yeah, I posted them a while back... I think they were about $10,000 if I remember.

No, that was the zeintop. It covers up the trunk too.

Actually, I e-mailed them and the guy told me it would be $5,750.00 with shipping. So they are about $2,750 more that the regular factory ones from Porsche.

Except you can get a used Hardtop for typically between $700-1200. So. That's about $4000-4,500 more. (minus painting if you can't find a match)

Yes true, but look at how different the 2 hardtops are shaped. The one I posted makes your car look like a 911 or the new shape of the Cayman. They are drastically different, so I think the newer design is definately worth it. Plus no one else would have one here in the U.S. I like to be different.

Sorry, spyder, but I really don't like that hardtop. The rear window is WAY too big.

( Love your car though, those stripes look sharp ! )

Just my opinion :p

Nick

But, why would I buy one car only to want to make it look like something its not? Its a Boxster.

I guess spending $6000 for a hardtop would make you different ;)

You're right, I didn't look close enough. Same concept... a little different design.

What does this Zientop look like? You've got me curious now. Do you have a link for it? I would like to see it too.

Google zeintop. It is a "cayman"-esque Hartop/hatch. It requires you to remove the rear trunklid. Seems cumbersome. not sure how heavy it is either.

I totally understand what your saying. The boxster was not my first choice. I would love to be able to buy the new Cayman, but just can't afford it. I bought my boxster used and it is a great car for me to fix up because I'm a former import tuner guy. And as you can tell from my car pictures, the front was already changed to the GT-2 bumper. I like body kits as long as they aren't to wierd looking. So for me, the longer window reminds me of the 2 other Porsche cars that I would like to have if I made more money. :)

Here ya go :

http://www.zeintec.com/index.html

Nick

Wow! Thanks for that link. Now I see why you said you thought it was the same. It looks almost identical, exept for the trunk being attatched to it. I wonder if this company in the U.K. is part of the Zietop Company. If not, looks like someone got ripped off in thier design. The Zietop looks a little more perminate, considering you have to remove the stock trunk lid, as aposed to the U.K. hardtop that still uses it. Well, if I ever wanted a more permenate roof and not a convertible, that would be the way to go. :)

I talked to the guys at Zeintop. Their top is $5,000 plus shipping and Kari told me they are back ordered for three months due to more orders than had anticipated when they launched the tops at the start of this month.

I like them ok, but no way for 5K!

I would love to have one of those $700 tops, heck I'd even take a $1000 one. Haven't seen those yet. $1250 is the starting point for all the ones I seen except for one currently on Ebay.

Hey spyder,

I like your hard top better then the xein one. very nice. personally i dont think
you need either, your car looks hype. just leave it the way it is.

if you really wanna be different, get that rear turbo looking bumper and exhaust system, thats amazing looking.

seeeyou and you

I have an OEM hard top, and it does look a little odd from some angles - especially in full side view. It seems a little "chopped off". I prefer the way the aftermarket tops taper in the rear.

But I wonder if the aftermarket tops will fit well. There seem to be a lot of areas where they will need to align with the car. I'd wait on a purchase until you can get some feedback from other owners.

I really like this look, wonder how much that cost to do?

http://www.stuttgart.co.uk/986hardto...986ht_5116.jpg

This would be a lot of fun especially with a 3.6 conversion!!!

waste of money considering we bought a convertible for a reason.
i do understaind that this maybe helpful in winter time, but waste of money kinda.
and i also dont like how that looks

I really like that top....but I'm also partial the Cayman's looks. I'd be all over it for
$2500, but not $5000.

It is kinda cool to think that I could have a "Cayman" part of the year and a Boxster the other part.....hmmm...maybe 5k isnt too bad....NO NO NO....I will NOT
put any more money into this car!!!!!!! :)

That's kind of where I'm at, can't do 5K. Their original version did not have the side window and I liked it even more.

Stinks that you have to remove your trunk and top cover. That would eliminate the quick conversion back to original for the day.

I like the look and really want a hardtop but can't find one in my color or without shipping. I could buy a new one for less th any used ones I've seen by the time I add shipping and painting.

I have a factory hard top for my 2001 and absolutely loved it and used it a lot of the time, until I got my plastic window soft top replaced with a GAHH glass top and hooked up the defroster element. Now, the hard top never even goes on my car. I just keep it stored in the shipping box in the back yard, I'm sure one day it will come out again but not this winter as its almost over. I do enjoy having it when I go to the track on cold days though as its got better rear visibility then the GAHH top. On warm track days its much more fun just to drop the top.

Take care,

Mike

I think Zeintec top looks much better than both the standard top and the top above but I agree, (imo) it's just too pricy...
http://www.zeintec.com/dyn_images/ga...sche%20047.jpg
http://www.zeintec.com/dyn_images/ga...sche%20046.jpg

That's why I prefer the one sold at Stuttgart. It is not needed to remove the trunk and you can just remove it when you want your convertable top down. Unlike the other one, where it is more for people who want a perminate hard top. But I agree, the Zientop looks better. :cheers:

I absolutely love that zientec top. $5k though is a lot of money, though. It also looks like a lot of work to put it on and take it off, not to mention the boot lid and top cover. :(

The top is the best looking one I've seen.

Zeintop Update
 

Hey everyone,

I've been following along the numerous discussions about the Zeintop (when they'll be available, how much, etc.). I noticed that several people inlcuded links to zeintec.com in their posts, but I also found the US Website, which includes links to dealers in each state. If you're considering this top (I agree with most people - seems too expensive), I would start there, and bypass e-mailing the Zeintec folks in South Africa/Switzerland. Seems like they've given different people different quotes, etc. The US Website is a better place for info IMO.

I'm going to go see one here in LA that is in the process of being installed - I'll try to take some pics and share what I learn.

I talked to the guys in CA when I got the price info. When you click on the link for dealer they all point back to Autotech Innovations in CA no matter waht state I chose.

I look foward to the pics, if these were the same or close to the factory price I might jump, no way for 5K plus shipping across the country. I would still have to think, not sure howI feel about re-installing my trunk and cover to go topless again.

i think the zeintec looks nicer because of how the lines flow, but its not practicel.

also, it might just look better because the car has european bumper, diff spoiler, sideskirts, lowered, and wheels, i dunno how it woul look on dead stock box with 16s

if one is looking for something "different",

practicality does not always find its way into the equation.

We've all seen examples of mods that have one half of the (Porsche enthusiast) house thinking it may be the greatest addition while the half of the house is left scratching their heads.

That said I haven't heard any real world examples of how long it actually takes to install one yet so I'll reserve judgment for now.

Hi,

One thing which concerns me is that being Fibreglass, this top can be very noisey, creaks, rattles, etc.

A review on a UK Boxster board, had one owner complaining of this saying it was terribly noisey and distracting. He was pretty disappointed.

I realize the OEM top is also fibreglass, but it was designed for the car and uses only the OEM mounting points which may be why it's not such an issue. FYI...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I think the Zeintop is nice, it's a great OPTION for us to have. I love the lines, and actually like that it serves as a trunk...

But before dropping a lot of coin on it, I would want to know a few things... How heavy it is. How long it takes to 'install' it, and then deinstall it.

It would be great for places where seasons really get cold and ugly for a few months if it were easy to get on and take back off. I mean, if it were <1 hour to install or remove, that might not be so bad.

Not sure if I'd do it down here, tho, as within the next year or a little longer, I plan on replacing my top with a glass rear window top. And the weather isn't bad down here for probably 8 to 9 months out of the year.

That seems to be the biggest drawback (money aside for the moment) - the fact that you can't simply pop it off if you want to convert back to the ragtop. It sounds like a 2-man, multi-hour job to install/un-install it. Not sure any hardtop is worth that sort of effort.

The OEM top is aluminum. I agree with everything else you say.

OK, Since we are on the topic of hardtops. I'm a new owner of a 2001 Boxster. Both tops came with car the car was delivered to me with the hardtop in place. I drove the car for about 3 weeks and the rattles were driving me nuts. The noise was coming from were the top meets the top of the front window.

This car is a beautiful car all OEM stuff. Can anyone give me some suggestion on the rattles?

Here's information on how to adjust a hard top. It might help reduce noise:

I'd advise you adjust the Hardtop, as no matter how hard the Germans or Finns tried, all cars will have flexed and 'settled' differently. If you have no leaks past the window seals when the soft top is up, use this as your datum and don't touch the windows at all.

a) Take off the plastic covers from each side of the hardtop and loosen the five alen bolts each side so you can just move the spinlocks in both planes.

b ) Open both doors and fully lower the windows, get your assistant to offer up the hardtop, clip in at the screen, make sure the spinlocks drop in, latch the top at the screen then make sure the top is sitting squarely on the car.

c) Give each spinlock a 45° turn, then carefully using a 5mm drill as a spacer, have your assistant gently press down on the top to provide a 5mm gap between the metal of the top and the bodywork on both sides, tightening the alen bolts each side. The remaining 45° turn on the spinlocks will make the top 'snug'.

d) Now have a look at the side window seals. On one side, gently pull the seal out of the aluminium channel - revealing the channel retaining screws. Loosen the screws enough to give some lateral movement of the channel. You will notice there is still a small strip of rubber on the outside of the channel - this forms the seal to the window. Now close the door and close the window, taking care that you and your assistant guide it into the slot with the small strip of rubber providing even pressure to the window. It doesn't require much, just even.

e) Hold the channel in this position, reopen the window and tighten the screws, then start at one end of the rubber seal and push back into the alumium channel in small increments. Repeat for the other side window and your hardtop will be fitting and sealing perfectly.

Here's the original post on Renntech: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10070&hl=hard+top

thanks for your help.

I went on a brief ride in the grey boxster on the Zeintec website while I visited Switzerland a couple of months ago. The owner took me on the rural roads for a couple of miles and I didn't hear any rattles/squeaks out of the ordinary. My softtop squeaks and rattles a tiny bit when I ride on bad roads and the Zeintec top didn't make any more noise than my softtop. I guess you have to make sure the seals sit well when installing it. It is a nice piece and I will be getting mine soon! I'll post pics when I get mine. I guess since I'm in Germany I save on the shipping fee/tax! Lucky me I guess! I can't wait!

:D

thats pretty sweet that you were in the exact one on the site, and that it didnt have any noise.

great to hear from someone who has seen/touched/drove in a car w one.

thx for sharing

It was! I had to see it for myself. I know a lot of skeptics and purists frown on this top, but I just like the concept. It is mostly cold/rainy here in Germany so the top wil go on for months at a time, but knowing you can switch to convertible is a plus Cayman owners don't have. I think this top would be a good thing for folks with the newer Boxster, but my 99 will rock it just fine I think!