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Hardtop

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obbdob

New member

Hi guy's,
I was thinking of buying a hardtop for my 2001 Boxster S. I was wondering how it fixes to the car? Do I need to buy a fixing kit of some sort? If so
is it something you can easily fit yourself?
 
Fixing kit consists of two spinlocks that fit either side of the rollover bars, you should have a couple of black caps there currently. Fitting them is a diy task but it's fiddly and there is a real knack to it, Internet search will find the bag method i'm sure. Porscheshop or design911 should be able to supply the kit for around £60. Don't forget that a hardtop is a huge lump to store when not fitted to the car. Buy off eBay, use for the winter and sell in spring won't lose you much money though!
 
I take my roof down far more often in winter than in summer ! Maybe buy the hardtop in spring and sell it again in autumn when the rain has stopped !
 
I had a hardtop on my old 986, less road noise and the big rear window was a bonus on dark dismal winter days. However everytime we had a half decent winter day I wanted the hard top off which unless you have someone to help is a real pain.
 
I have the same question regarding my 1998 986, I want to get a hardtop but not sure what exactly I should look out for and other the the hardtop what other bits I would need. Thinking to pickup from ebay when I pops up.
 
ORIGINAL: Black80XSA Fixing kit consists of two spinlocks that fit either side of the rollover bars, you should have a couple of black caps there currently. Fitting them is a diy task but it's fiddly and there is a real knack to it, Internet search will find the bag method i'm sure. Porscheshop or design911 should be able to supply the kit for around £60. Don't forget that a hardtop is a huge lump to store when not fitted to the car. Buy off eBay, use for the winter and sell in spring won't lose you much money though!
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My understanding for Hardtops is that all 986 (so upto and including 2004) models have the same Hardtop. I also understand that all C16 (ie UK models were fitted with the sleeve inserts) If yours does not have these they can be purchased for your Local Porsche Centre. Cost £20.21 each and your membership discount will bring that down to £18.19 each. The part numbers are P986 563 713 03 and same number with 04. The two bolts to fix part number are P999 219 041 00 cost £3.34. for the pair. Storage. Not a problem if you have a garage large enough. Smaller garages with a bit of thought you can attach these to the underside of the roof. Take some strong rope and where it touches the hardtop get some plumbers insulation foam tubing to go over the rope. No good at knots - call in the boy scouts[;)] The wife and I can lift our hartop on and off the car in 2 minutes - its well worth fitting for the winter and saves the hood getting the worst of the wear in winter ie salt etc. They also have the heated rear window. However, make sure that when you drop the hood and fit the Hardtop that the hood is dry otherwise in six months time you may well put it up and find its turned a greeny sort of blue[&o]
 
My 'old' 996 C4 cab had a hardtop. I took it off [with help] on day 1 and gave it back [with help] on the day I part exchanged it for my 997. I had an 04 986 - never thought of getting a hardtop. Never used the hardtop on the 996, the car was warm enough without the hardtop and occasional icing or misting of the plastic rear screen was no big problem. A Porsche cabriolet is to be used as an open top as and when the weather permits. IMHO, you should keep your money or spent it on something else.
 
Obviously it is your choice whether to get a hardtop or not, but do you know there is a aftermarket replacement softtop that has a heated glass windscreen and does not require the 'chop' to lower? There is an extensive thread on Boxa.net. About the same price as a used hardtop maybe a bit more ~£800-900, or it was when I was looking. PS John, not all OPCs give the 10% discount, e.g. Aberdeen, but Exeter do and they used to mail out FOC.
 
ORIGINAL: Paul Fraser Obviously it is your choice whether to get a hardtop or not, but do you know there is a aftermarket replacement softtop that has a heated glass windscreen and does not require the 'chop' to lower? There is an extensive thread on Boxa.net. About the same price as a used hardtop maybe a bit more ~£800-900, or it was when I was looking. PS John, not all OPCs give the 10% discount, e.g. Aberdeen, but Exeter do and they used to mail out FOC.
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Just my thinking but you have the best of both worlds if you have a hardtop - spend £8-9 hundred pounds on a new glass back window and you wont get your money back when you part with the car[:(] Spend the same mondy on a hardtop and with a bit of luck you be be able to recoupe your Hardtop money when you part with the car. Add Cambridge to the list of 10% PC discounters[;)]
 
ORIGINAL: Paul Fraser Obviously it is your choice whether to get a hardtop or not, but do you know there is a aftermarket replacement softtop that has a heated glass windscreen and does not require the 'chop' to lower?
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Details also in the sticky "Plastic Window Replacement" at the top of this forum [:)]
 
ORIGINAL: jeegnesh 800-900 for a hardtop then personally its not for me. Appreciate the info though.
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I think you will find 8-9 hundred not bad for second hand - try buying one from new and that will set you back well north of £2k with vat etc. so second hand value is approdx 35% of new[;)]
 
I live in London and park my Boxster on the street, so I wouldn't dream of leaiving it without the hardtop. So for me, it's a security thing more than anything else. BTW - It is possible to remove and replace it on your own... carefully. But it's not easy and there is no way my g/f could remove it alone. My biggest grumble about the hardtop is the awful design of the attaching spindles, etc. We also own a Toyota MR2 Roadster and the roof on that is so much better designed that it is laughable - especially when you think that the Toyota cost something like £18K new and the Boxster £50K. I guess Porsche may have changed the fitting on the newer model, but if not then they really need to "borrow" a Toyota and have a peek at how it should be done! Even the (specialist) dealer managed to break a spindle showing me how to fit it.
 
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