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Are Spyders Becoming Extinct At OPCs!

Just checked mine but as previously stated since driving out of the showroom May 2016 roof has been down

January I thought best put it up and see its all OK and I remember what to do - what a stretch to recall the procedure and even bigger stretch needed to get roof to close [:eek:]

It was then left up until February but only driven to once 20 miles to see what it was like :ROFLMAO:

Shortly off for 3 weeks so will be definitely closing the roof and let it stretch some more whilst I am away



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SpyderDavid said:
Checked my roof today and it looks ok - seems to sit a bit further away from the plastic parts than in your photos. Not up (or at least under tension) much though.
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Could you post up a pic of what yours looks like, please.

Perhaps the issue is one of the way the roof fabric has been installed and how it sits on the frame

 
Sorry cannot post pictures quickly...fabric seems to be a better fit round the plastic part - certainly cannot see the metal (?) element thats visible in your LH pictures. Your roof in general looks rather more weathered - is your car outside a lot?

 
I've just come back from a couple of days in the Scottish Borders. I can certainly recommend the roads around Dumfries and Galloway - I reckon that they're as good as north Wales, but less known about. They're a top tip if you're looking for a blat on roads that are under the radar!

 
I just checked mine and the hood is fine. I can however see that if the disconnected buttress was pulled vertically to the point its under tension that it would pull the material in the area indicated which has no reinforcement so i guess rips it.

 
legin said:
I just checked mine and the hood is fine. I can however see that if the disconnected buttress was pulled vertically to the point its under tension that it would pull the material in the area indicated which has no reinforcement so i guess rips it.
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Yes, that could be one explanation but, in my case, the only time that I have touched these buttress areas is when taking the roof down and plugging the male spigot into the female part of the plastic corner piece. And, when I do this, I am careful to ensure that the fabric is neatly folded.

Another explanation might be that this area does indeed come into tension: with the roof up, and when travelling forward the roof will, I guess, come under negative pressure (as you find on a wing) and the fabric is therefore lifted vertically. This would put this area into tension. And this scenario is perhaps born out by Porsche's reaction in Germany where they have told one owner that the roof must be replaced in full, rather than be repaired. If this section of the roof never comes into tension in normal operating conditions, then why is it tearing and why is a simple repair not acceptable, given that this area of the fabric is not visible at any time.

If the "legin" theory is correct , then 9 owners in germany have been tugging at the fabric too

 
Just checked mine to- night and see no signs of tearing ...One think I always do is when closing the hood is I make sure I can hear a definite click when putting the male end into the deck area that way I know it is secure and will not become detached as some have .

 
kitchens said:
Just checked mine to- night and see no signs of tearing ...One think I always do is when closing the hood is I make sure I can hear a definite click when putting the male end into the deck area that way I know it is secure and will not become detached as some have .
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Another check is if you put your finger underneath the catch before finally pushing it home you can feel the tip of the red plastic part of the catch and after giving the final push home listening for the click you can double check all is secure if you can no longer feel that tip protruding - If that sounds like Chinese backwards :ROFLMAO: you can see how this protruding red tip works by just holding that part of the hood in your hand and then pushing the catch down and watch the red tip move back & forth

 
Ok, Paul got me to go and look at this properly and after much closer examination I can see both sides of mine are starting to fray in equal measure. Basically its me that has put the roof up and down and I havent pulled on the buttress so its not that. Im now with Pauls theory that this happens due to the negative pressure especially at speed with windows up and I would add that buffeting with exacerbate the problem.

What do we know about Germany , they dont hang around on the motorway so got there quicker with the roof stress.

Close examination reveals that the thin (much thinner) inner liner inside the rear of the hood above the window is not adequately fixed to the main hood material in this area which is an area where several pieces come together. The plastic bit isnt the problem imo.

Equally its clear the fix only requires a reinforcement piece sewing or bonding in that would not be visible once fitted. If I was paying it would be the fix and I would do it myself now to prevent escalation. Glued and sewn in position by hand

This is a design fault not a fitting fault so we are all going to get it at some point and unless Porsche do the aforementioned reinforcement then fitting a new hood the same as the current isnt going to cut it longer term.

Anyone know if Porsche have done any fix to the hood or if one is intended ?

 
As I mentioned in my earlier posts, over in Germany one guy (who has a good relationship with his Porsche Centre) had them fight his case with Porsche, who have agreed to replace the roof in its entirety. Indeed, they would nt countenance a repair. I believe a couple of others have also had offers to replace the roof.

If I hear anything further from the Spyder Owner's Club forum, I will let you know.

But I do agree with you. Just replacing the roof seems to be a bit 'head in the sand', as it does seem that there is either a design or maybe a manufacturing fault.

 
I do think its a design fault not a manufacturing one. If its just like for like hood replacement I will reinforce mine myself this winter. Getting a new roof could introduce a whole load of fitting problems i dont currently have.

 
legin said:
I do think its a design fault not a manufacturing one. If its just like for like hood replacement I will reinforce mine myself this winter. Getting a new roof could introduce a whole load of fitting problems i dont currently have.
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Are there any fabric roof suppliers/fitters that people recommend?

 
Paul, Cheshire classics on Hawarden airfield is near you. Top drawer but not renowned for low price. Hoping its a small job compared to the bespoke hoods they make which cost literally thousands.

If its daft price then I will diy and get the mother in law to sew it.

 
That is not a million miles from me, as I live in Chester. Indeed, we are in Hawarden on Sunday, for the start of the PCGB N Wales sunday run and bbq.

I will try to get over there and ask them for their opinion. I'll post up anything that I glean.

 
Just been in to PC Chester to report the 'roof issue' on my car. They have taken photos and will take it up with Porsche GB.

Over on the Spyder Owners Club, they have a total of 8 cars (out of 125) reporting tears in the roof fabric.

So far, here on PCGB, we have two out of four who have reported back. How many Spyder owners do we have here on the PCGB forum?

 
Roof issue

To date, 6 owners have responded to my post. Of those, 3 owners have found tears in their roofs: paul08 (this is me!) - torn on one side/corner legin - fraying visible on both sides Stevemore - torn on both sides And 3 owners report no issues visible: daro911 Spyderdavid kitchens So it does seem that it is a wider issue
 
paul08 said:
Roof issue

To date, 6 owners have responded to my post. Of those, 3 owners have found tears in their roofs: paul08 (this is me!) - torn on one side/corner legin - fraying visible on both sides Stevemore - torn on both sides And 3 owners report no issues visible: daro911 Spyderdavid kitchens So it does seem that it is a wider issue
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Paul please note my roof has only ever been up once since May 2016! just to stretch it out a bit so mine has no signs (yet) as its not been used in anger ever

 
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