Opinions '99 996 Cab w/o Hardtop

I am looking for some adive on a 1999 996 Cab that is missing the Hardtop. I spoke to Sunset & they say about $10K for a replacement. What do you guys think this does to the value of the car? How much should I deduct from the sale price? I can live w/o it if I can get a great deal & the car checks out PPI wise..

A hard top can be had for $1,000 to $1,500....Sunset is totally full of ****e, they didn't cost that much brand new.....go to ebay. Lotsa people never use the hardtop.....I do now, but didn't for the first couple of years.

You can probably knock down the price $1,000 - $2,000 because it is missing the hardtop. To be honest, I've had my 2000 C2 Cab since new and I only put on the hardtop last winter. And as soon as it warmed up I took it off again. It is just taking up space in my garage. I should have gotten the hardtop delete option when I bought the car. Unless you're in the snow belt I don't think you'll really need the hardtop.

I don't need the hardtop here in CA but I do use it because, call me strange, but I like the look of my car with and without the hardtop. Kinda like having two cars in one. $10,000 for a hardtop? Are you sure you/they didn't mistakenly add a "0"?? If Sunset can find someone to buy a hardtop for $10 grand, heck I'd sell them mine for $6000.

As mentioned above, I've seen plenty being sold on e-bay in the $1-2K range...

Sunset claims you can't order the hardtop, only the parts. Thus the 10K number is all of the parts purchased seperately, then labor to assemble, plus painting. I almost choked when they told me. I like the ebay idea. I probably wouldn't buy the hardtop anyway, just concered about impact on the cars value. I'll check the option codes, maybe it's a hardtop delete car. At the very least I can use it for price leverage. Thanks for the advice.

A lot of cabs have the hardtop deleted. It won't hurt resell since used one can be picked up easily assuming you have black, silver, seal grey, blue car. Special color are harder to find and you're better off buying a used one and repaint it. If you do get a hardtop, get a hoist or stand with cover so it won't take up all your garage space.

Having just finished my search for a cabriolet, I can say the many,many, many cars out there have been ordered with the hardtop delete option. I think it was a credit of about $1500-1700 on the sticker. In fact, the car I bought was bought without the hardtop. That being said, of those that did order the hardtop, there is a large proportion who never/rarely use it. The usual line is -- I bought a convertible to NOT have a roof. Anyways, since my car didn't have one, and I plan on driving it through the white, fluffy stuff, I'm on the lookout for a hardtop. It is true that it would be easy to purchase a hardtop for $1500 on eBay. Find one close to you to avoid the (probably) exhorbitant shipping fees. I think the last one I saw sold was for $700 -- although most are selling for $1000 or so. There is even a person in Escondido, CA who is selling hardtops for $250. I would wonder where those tops came from originally, though.... So, if anyone wants to part with a Lapis Blue hardtop, please let me know! Best wishes, David

Did I read somewhere that there is a hard top stand available? My car came with the hard top which has been taking up space in the garage from day one.

I have 2 black 996 hardtops if anyone needs one.....and know of someone with a blue one

I don't think it changes the value. It might be a selling point when you try to sell but otherwise..... I got my hardtop on ebay for $100. The cheapest I have ever seen. No one bid but me and there was no reserve with the bidding starting at $99. Guess I got lucky.

Whew. That's really lucky. Problem with eBay is the shipping issue. But when you only pay $100 for the item, you can afford to splurge a little on the shipping! David

Yea, then I called in a favor from a guy that works for allied movers. It happened that they had a guy in Ca(where the top was) who was picking up a load and bringing to south jersey where I live. I tipped him $200 for gas. I was lucky.

If you're selling your car, I'll take your hardtop! :-) Looks like you have a Lapis Blue as well. Best wishes, David

[QUOTE=m5guru]Having just finished my search for a cabriolet, I can say the many,many, many cars out there have been ordered with the hardtop delete option. I think it was a credit of about $1500-1700 on the sticker. In fact, the car I bought was bought without the hardtop. I just did the same thing. I am also looking now for the hardtop since I will be driving it in inclement weather months. (Artic Silver) But there are a huge number without the tops out there.

I love my hardtop. I put it on in September and take it off in April. It is like owning two different cars. I think the car with the hardtop on is the best looking between the cab and the coupe. I live in Minnesota so YMMV.

My car was ordered with the delete option (credit of $1500). I looked for a used hardtop in my color, and found it last fall for $400 plus $200 shipping. However, be aware that after 2002 Porsche does not install the latches in cabs ordered without a hardtop. I had to install them myself, and the parts added up to about $500 (including the newer latches on the top itself which had been upgraded in '01 to reduce rattles and squeaks). The investment is definitely worth it IMO if you use the car as a daily driver in snow belt areas

Sorry to be dense, but do you mean by "after 2002" to mean 2003 model years and later or including 2002 model year? I guess that would make a difference in the installation cost/hassle if I needed to do that as well. David

Dealer quotred me 3K for new hardtop for my 04 C4. I found one on Ebay for 600. Shipping was another $400. Then I found out about the latches not being there. I paid another 500 to have them purchased and installed. It also took a while to figure out what parts were needed. In the end it ended up costing me a lot more than I expected, but it was worth it here in W.Va. where we get real winters.

No hardtop here. Never felt the need to have one. I drive my car on and off all winter, but then again, I live in NC, so winters here are not really winters. Overall, I am very impressed with the temp control and quietness of the softtop.

Here in Southern Illinois we can have pretty dismal winters. Not particularly snowy, but damp and uncozy. I don't drive the car much during the winter (Pirellis, salt, icy conditions, etc.), but during stints of passable weather the hardtop provides a fun alternative with its different look, large heated rear window, and quieter drive. Cozy. I like having it alot--sorta like a different car. Geert

Beginning with MY 2003

Thanks for the info. The power of shared personal experiences is something that these internet forums are so good for! David