why a hard top in the winter?

[Chills]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

well its well worth the money. Siginificantly quieter, saves the expensive soft top from aditional wear, improves the ride and performance with more rigidity
and you can sell the top for equal to what you paid for it most of the time. Its like driving a completely different car in my opinion.
Its a win win.

But you didn't mention anything specific for the winter.

And if a Boxster owner wants to save on wear and tear on the canvas and have a better ride, why not buy a Cayman?

[FrayAdjacent]

I don't think the hardtop being used has much to do with 'load' from the elements... the soft top is pretty sturdy, and can probably take some good weight.

I'd think it's more for insulation, improved rear visibility due to the larger window (this could be good since you'll more than likely have the top up anyway during the long winter months of inclement weather), and it also saves the top from wear from the elements.

The functional reasons are probably not all that great, but I'm sure it's a nice thing to have. I might try to find a hard top sometime, since my car is my daily driver.... although it's kinda harder to justify down here, as we do get some nice weather over the winter months.

[Chills]

The larger rear window I guess I can understand, but is that so imporatant to require a hard top in the winter?

I'm wanting djomlas to see this so he can chime in on why it is important to have his hard top on during the winter.

[super66]

it really is just not that important.....this is my third convertible and I have never had a hardtop for any of them...my brother doesn't have one on his roadster, I think they are pretty pointless.....

as to improved ride performance and rigidity.....I don't know if that's a benefit in the winter....I think you said it best, the cabin warms up just fine....

I wonder the same thing when people say get snow tires and a hardtop when someone says they are thinking about driving it in the winter, snow tires yes....hardtop, save the money....

[Chills]

Originally Posted by super66

it really is just not that important.....this is my third convertible and I have never had a hardtop for any of them...my brother doesn't have one on his roadster, I think they are pretty pointless.....

as to improved ride performance and rigidity.....I don't know if that's a benefit in the winter....I think you said it best, the cabin warms up just fine....

I wonder the same thing when people say get snow tires and a hardtop when someone says they are thinking about driving it in the winter, snow tires yes....hardtop, save the money....

EXACTLY!!!! The snow tires I can see, but why is a hardtop so necessary?

[986 Girl]

I store mine in the winter, but I always just assumed that extreme cold could take a toll on the plastic window, even if you aren't putting it up and down. I could be wrong though?

[Chills]

Originally Posted by 986 Girl

I store mine in the winter, but I always just assumed that extreme cold could take a toll on the plastic window, even if you aren't putting it up and down. I could be wrong though?

The only problem I've had with my plastic windown was when my dumb-ass put it down when it was about 30 degrees in my garage. That caused a small tear on the edge (there's a thread about it). Other than that my window held up great in the winter.

Hmmm.... still puzzled over this.


BTW, 986 Girl, I would store my Box in the winter too if I lived in Rochester. You have had massive amounts of snow this year. Every morning I send alerts to passengers flying out of Rochester Airport due to deicing I think to myself, "glad I don't live there."

[1JB]

Originally Posted by Chills

But you didn't mention anything specific for the winter.

And if a Boxster owner wants to save on wear and tear on the canvas and have a better ride, why not buy a Cayman?

I'm assuming you don't mean buy a Cayman for winter driving and a Boxster for summer driving but a Cayman instead of a Boxster.

I didn't buy a Cayman because I wanted a convertible so buying a Cayman instead of a Boxster wasn't an option to save wear and tear on the rag top. The hard top is however an option on the Boxster to save substantial wear and tear on the rag top from snow, salt and grit in the winter. Compare any ragtop driven throughout the winter with one that had a hard top and you will notice a substantial difference in wear. You also get a lot more crud in all of the spaces between the rag top and the body that you don't get with the hard top on in the winter.

Outside of the the Cayman forums there are a lot of people who don't think the Cayman provides a "better" ride than the Boxster for the very reason that the Cayman is more rigid. Throw in the trunk thump and change in air pressure created when the Cayman goes over bumps and the Cayman can be unsettling for some. I never really noticed that much difference between the handling and feel of the Cayman and Boxster but have been disparaged as a complete idiot with no sense of how a car handles for expressing that opinion. Maybe there is a difference though because many of those who claim to want the additional rigidity of the Cayman also opt for PASM to overcome the harshness of the ride. Particularly if they add 19" rims.

In short, I think you'll find an awful lot of people who think the Boxster provides a better ride because it is less rigid than the Cayman. Throw in the added benefits of a roadster in the summer and a hardtop in winter thereby extending the life of the ragtop and many people conclude that the Cayman offers less, not more.

[Chills]

1JB, that is what I was looking for. Now I completely understand why someone would want a hardtop for the winter. Very good explanation.

And yes, I meant a Cayman instead of a Boxster all together. My first thought is if people like hardtops so much, why did they buy a convertible? Your post explains it well.

I didn't know soft tops took so much abuse during the winter. That would be the primary reason for me to get a hard top for the next winter. My Box isn't my daily driver, but I do like to take it out as often as I can.

Thanks. Now I will start saving my pennies. I don't care for the look of the OEM hard top and I'd like to get the one from ZEINTEC. Too bad it costs so damn much. lol

[1JB]

Chills - I like the Zeintec top as well but don't know if they have any fit issues. I'd lean toward the Porsche top. When you see it in person it looks pretty retro but I think you either like it or really hate it.

[Chills]

From the pictures I've seen I'm not really into the Porsche top, but I haven't seen one in person so my mind isn't made up yet. I might end up liking the look and buying an OEM one... it sure would save me a bunch of cash.

Has anyone used that hardtop hoist you can find on eBay? It looks like a good way to remove the top and keep it out of the way.

[bringer666]

For people who live in climates where it gets very cold in the winter and you will be driving for months without ever a thought of putting the top down, then I can see a hardtop being a good idea. For me in British Columbia, however, the winter never really gets that bad and there are many times between November and April when it's reasonably warm (50-60°F) and sunny. I just couldn't bear the thought of having a hard top on my car on one of those days and not be able to drop the top. Also, since Halle sleeps in a nice garage every night and I don't take her out when there is actually any snow on the ground (or in the air), I don't think her convertible top gets any more wear than in the summer time.

As for aesthetics, each to his own. I think the convertible top looks pretty good especially compared to other drop tops.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Chills

Has anyone used that hardtop hoist you can find on eBay? It looks like a good way to remove the top and keep it out of the way.

I have an EZ-Top Hoist. It is a little pricey, but I paid only $610 for my hard top, so I felt like I could splurge a little on the hoist. It makes installation and removal a one-person job. It also keeps the hard top away from careless spouses and children.

I have a one car garage that my wife has claimed. If I had a spacious garage and someone to help me install and remove the top, I would have bought a wall rack and saved a few dollars.

[vouvoune]

KEVIN1990, where did you find such a good deal on the hardtop? I am looking for the exact same one as yours actually so I would love a few tips!!!