Hard Top Buying Decision

There is a top in Miami (five hours away) that includes the rack. Price is $300, but there are several deep scratches that might require professional attention. Renting a vehicle to fetch the top will cost me $200. The headliner has indentations from sitting in the rack for am indeterminate time (might fade over time). Color matches my 996. Since this top could cost $1000 or more, is this a good deal? What could the cosmetics cost to render the top perfect?

Quotes source post: 9611376

I don't know if its a good deal but why do you have to rent a truck to pick it up? Bring your Porsche and just stick it on! It takes all of five minutes to install. Ooh, the rack! Have a significant other with an SUV who can follow you? -Eric

I got mine for $500 and I thought it was a good deal. Not sure what cost it is to paint it but do a search as I remember reading others who have done it. Mine is a slightly different shade of blue but only noticeable if you're really looking at it. For what I use it for, it's not worth me repainting it.

if the rack is like mine you can take the bolts out and fit it in the frunk or behind you in the car. just make sure that you have the (correct) rear lock sockets in your car. "The headliner has indentations from sitting in the rack for am indeterminate time..." Too bad they put the top on the rack backwards. PO did that with mine also. The dents have filled in since I bought it.

after you add up all your incidental costs, you are not too far from paying for a new one. When I was looking for one (ebay, craigslist, etc.) price ranged from $250-$1000+. Found one nearby for $400 (color match, cover and rack and most importantly, exterior/interior was in perfect shape). Try calling Suncoast, may have some left-overs. Best of luck.

Thanks for all the replies. The reason for renting a PU truck rather driving the 996 to fetch it, is that there is some rust on one the connnectors that I want to remove before putting the top on the car. What could the 'body' work cost to take out the deep scratches? $300? Pretty soon we're talking $1000-1200 . Will call Suncoast

I'd call a repair shop and ask them what it would cost to repaint a hardtop. $300 + $200 for a truck + $300 to repaint (which is unimaginably low) is $800 in total. For the that much I might hold out and see what else comes on the market. My guess is that, being in Florida, you're probably finding that a lot of original local owners opted for the hardtop delete when they bought their cars. That being the case, I'm curious why you're looking for one. Do you ever take the car up north? Do you plan on using it over the Summer because it's just too hot to put the top down? As an aside, I'd be concerned about the rust. Why would there be rust on one of the connectors? Is it significant? Was a portion of the top ever submerged in water? Maybe it's just time to move on! -Eric

I'd skip it. IMO the cabs look funny with those hard tops.

Quotes source post: 9612890

I call mine the helmet. But in the middle of summer it helps keep the cabin a little cooler and in the winter it helps keep it warmer. Plus on the track it protects the top from debris.

I wouldn't worry about the rust on the connectors. It happens. Just bring some WD40 with you and some rags. The scratches and other issues you'll have to assess for yourself. As others have said, just make sure that the connections are the same (bayonet or screw-type) that you have on your car and save the cost of the truck rental. The wall rack, if OEM, costs about $600 new and comes apart so you can easily carry it in your car. The hardtop comes in handy in the Northeast, not sure how useful it will be in Florida.

Its a good two man job to put the top on and off. I have a winch hoist in the garage ceiling directly above the centre of the car. The hoist cradles the top during the summer months. I can manage to put the top on and off myself with the aid of the winch which is on the garage wall. The top weighs about 70 pounds I believe.

It's definitely a 2 man job but it's not that big of a deal. My wife and I have installed/removed mine a couple of times. A winch is certainly convenient for storage and help to make it a 1 person job but not otherwise a strict requirement. Just my $.02. -Eric

There are many home built and $tore bought top hoists on this site just search. Rennlist thread with multiple homemade hoists https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...oist-help.html This is the electric top hoist that I made for less than $150 to allow me to mount\remove my top by myself. 1. 52" x 3/4 DIA steel pipe 2. Two 45 Deg fittings 3. Two 4" nipples 4. Two 3/4" caps 5. Two 1/4" eye bolts 6. 1 length ea of 3/4" and 1/2"pipe insulation 7. 10' of lightweight welded link chain 8. 6 pcs threaded chain joining links mine are ~5/16"dia (it was a 6 pack card) 9. Two 2 1/2" x 5/16 welded chrome rings 10. if you don't have any buy some 10-12" plastic wire ties while you are there 11. Two sets of bike rack straps - fabric straps with flat vinyl hooks for trunk lid ( Sears or local bike store) $15 12. Harbor Freight 440 lb. electric winch ($89 on sale in store) 1-10 Cost less than $35 total at Home Depot http://www.harborfreight.com/110-vol...rol-40765.html Strapworks.com http://www.strapworks.com/Flat_Hook_Straps_p/fhs1h.htm Sears http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...u=SPM237857509 1. Screw the pipe bits together to form a "\______/" 2. Drill holes in the pipe cap for the eye bolts. put them together and mount the caps. 3. Cover the pipe assy with the 3/4" foam pipe insulation all of the way to 1/2" past each end. Use wire ties to hold it together. 4. Figure the right length of chain to reach from the center of the top to the eye bolt on one side cut two pieces(leave it a couple links long (or buy another card of *8 above). there will be some left over 5. Using #8 hook the chains to the ring slide the 1/2" pipe foam over the chains put another #8 on the ends 6. Run the straps through one end of a 10" length of chain and tie them off. (Mine had adjustable buckles) put a #8 through the other end to tie to the 2nd ring, cover the chain with 1/2" foam 7. Hang your HF winch; I doubled the lift wire with the extra sheave to slow the lift speed 8. Hook your lifting rings with the straps, chain and padded pipe attached to the winch 9. Put the car under your lift unhook one end of the padded pipe, pass it through the car under the top hook it up and up up and away…. Now you have an electric hoist that allows you to easily mount and remove your top by yourself for about $140

You live in FL. Why do you need a hard top? Regardless. If you really want one, I'd keep looking. It sounds like that one will cost you more than new. If you are ever in Texas, PM me. I have one I'll give you. It has a slight crack, but no rust. 400 will fix the crack and repaint it to any color you want.