Boxster hard top - worthwhile?
- Thread starter nemc
- Start date
Michael Downing
New member
I have a 996 Cabrio where you get a hardtop, like it or not.
I'd say don't bother. It just wastes space in the garage during the summer and ruins the look of the car in the winter. Then, when you get a nice winter's day, you're stuck with a closed roof.
I put the hardtop on last winter, my first full winter with the car. There were several times when I wished I hadn't.
I'd say don't bother. It just wastes space in the garage during the summer and ruins the look of the car in the winter. Then, when you get a nice winter's day, you're stuck with a closed roof.
I put the hardtop on last winter, my first full winter with the car. There were several times when I wished I hadn't.
richardlawless
New member
I survived using my 1997 Boxster all last winter without a hardtop and agree that you know you'd be miles from home when the sun came out and you had the top on.
If you've got a pre-facelift and therefore a plastic screen I can see that there may be a benefit to a hardtop then. I guess if your Boxster is garaged anyway (mine isn't) then a hardtop is less of a requirement.
Perhaps someone with one needs to extol their benefit for you.
If you've got a pre-facelift and therefore a plastic screen I can see that there may be a benefit to a hardtop then. I guess if your Boxster is garaged anyway (mine isn't) then a hardtop is less of a requirement.
Perhaps someone with one needs to extol their benefit for you.
jac in a box
New member
Go for it!
I have the hard top and the plastic rear screen, although the rear screen is in fine condition the view through the heated rear screen on the hard top is much better.
Certainly it's a minor inconvenience having to lift it on and off, but it's no big deal. If it looks like being a good day during winter, off comes the hard top.
And it looks so much better with the hard top fitted than with the soft top raised...all IMO of course[
]
Paint fade should be no problem either, especially if your married to a Swissol man[]
Jackie x
I have the hard top and the plastic rear screen, although the rear screen is in fine condition the view through the heated rear screen on the hard top is much better.
Certainly it's a minor inconvenience having to lift it on and off, but it's no big deal. If it looks like being a good day during winter, off comes the hard top.
And it looks so much better with the hard top fitted than with the soft top raised...all IMO of course[
]Paint fade should be no problem either, especially if your married to a Swissol man[
]Jackie x
Guest
New member
I wouldn't get a hard top. Been driving soft top cabriolets for the past 13 years (some garaged some not, some with plastic windows, some with glass), most of them kept in Bavaria where the winters can get fairly rough and never felt the need for a hard top. The only benefit I can see is if you're living in an area known for extended hard winters (Canada, Scandinavia etc), have a plastic rear window, no garage and drive to work every morning in it.
On the bright side of NOT owning a hard top, I can open up at every opportunity as soon as the temperatures are reaching 5+ deg and the sun shines.
On the bright side of NOT owning a hard top, I can open up at every opportunity as soon as the temperatures are reaching 5+ deg and the sun shines.
juliany27
New member
Kish
IMO you have hit the nail on the head.
Apart from the plastic/glass rear screen issue, over which an owner has little or no control, the appearance of this type of car is rather important and a new hard top with a 'used' body might well look rather odd, even in winter. The roof on the soft-top seems weather-proof and fits snuggly and warmly enough - or at least it did over the whole of last winter on my car.
I say, save your money and use it on something else.
Any suggestions as to what the cost of a hard top should be spent on by way of enhancing a Boxster?
IMO you have hit the nail on the head.
Apart from the plastic/glass rear screen issue, over which an owner has little or no control, the appearance of this type of car is rather important and a new hard top with a 'used' body might well look rather odd, even in winter. The roof on the soft-top seems weather-proof and fits snuggly and warmly enough - or at least it did over the whole of last winter on my car.
I say, save your money and use it on something else.
Any suggestions as to what the cost of a hard top should be spent on by way of enhancing a Boxster?
JCB..
Non-member
I bought one with the car but I don't think I'd bother again.
Pro's:
Looks pretty neat on the car (IMHO).
Very quiet as the ragtop is sat on the engine.
Nice lined roof.
Easy on/off.
The glass window with defrost!
Con's:
Expensive.
Bit of a pain to store (for me).
Not easy to enjoy the "nice" winter days.
Maintaining the seals to stop squeaks can be a pain.
More to polish!
JCB..
dawn lang
Ex Club Member
Just thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. I think its dependent on how often you use the car and whether it's a pre or post facelift.
My old Boxster was a pre-facelift and I used it every day. With this in mind I bought a hard top so that I could defrost the back screen on frosty days and hopefully protect my plastic screen by shielding it from the elements.
If it hadn't been an every day vehicle I would have just put it in the garage for the winter and not bothered if I'm honest.
However, when I bought my facelift Boxster I truly didn't see the point of having the hard top so I sold it.
Now I just treat the hood once a year and don't worry about it.
Has that helped??? (probably not!) []
My old Boxster was a pre-facelift and I used it every day. With this in mind I bought a hard top so that I could defrost the back screen on frosty days and hopefully protect my plastic screen by shielding it from the elements.
If it hadn't been an every day vehicle I would have just put it in the garage for the winter and not bothered if I'm honest.
However, when I bought my facelift Boxster I truly didn't see the point of having the hard top so I sold it.
Now I just treat the hood once a year and don't worry about it.
Has that helped??? (probably not!) [
]
Dapster
New member
I'm in the "no" camp. I had a placcy window 986 and left it outside rain and shine for 4 years and never once wished I had hard top. Not having a garage made the decision anyway - I had nowhere to store it and when I ordered the car I felt £1000+ would have been better spent elsewhere. The British winters are just not cold enough to trouble the insulating qualities of the fabric hood - after a few minutes with the climate control cranked up its as warm as toast.
I would recommend the hard top if you fear the local riff raff and the safety of your pride and joy. A mate of mine had the roof of his Z3 slashed 6 times in a year (that was a grand a pop to replace the whole roof) until he was so p*55ed off that he gave in and sold the car.
For me the whole point of a convertible is that when the sun shines, you can pop on your shades and drop the roof. Imagine the frustration of waking up on your weekend away to find a lovely bright sunny winter morning, no clouds, clear roads and the blasted hard top in place!!
I would recommend the hard top if you fear the local riff raff and the safety of your pride and joy. A mate of mine had the roof of his Z3 slashed 6 times in a year (that was a grand a pop to replace the whole roof) until he was so p*55ed off that he gave in and sold the car.
For me the whole point of a convertible is that when the sun shines, you can pop on your shades and drop the roof. Imagine the frustration of waking up on your weekend away to find a lovely bright sunny winter morning, no clouds, clear roads and the blasted hard top in place!!
Thanks again to all for your time and response.
For a quick count: yes = 4, No = 8
So... my conclusion is that I will see how my first winter goes and decide from there...I do like the idea of dropping the top on a sunny winter / autumn day.
In the mean time I will keep my eye to see whether a cheap 2nd hand hardtop is offered for sale.
Picking my car back up from body repair shop this Friday... has been out of action for the majority of August...bad timing or what!!
Neil Mc
For a quick count: yes = 4, No = 8
So... my conclusion is that I will see how my first winter goes and decide from there...I do like the idea of dropping the top on a sunny winter / autumn day.
In the mean time I will keep my eye to see whether a cheap 2nd hand hardtop is offered for sale.
Picking my car back up from body repair shop this Friday... has been out of action for the majority of August...bad timing or what!!
Neil Mc
garyw
Moderator
Mine came with a hardtop, it came off on day one and has never been back on..
Nothing better than a winter day with blue skies and fresh breeze and motoring along with the heater and butt warmers on..
On the Xmas cruise we had 17 cars all with the roofs down.[] and brilliant sunshine.
garyw
Nothing better than a winter day with blue skies and fresh breeze and motoring along with the heater and butt warmers on..
On the Xmas cruise we had 17 cars all with the roofs down.[
] and brilliant sunshine.garyw
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