Cabrio with hard top vs coupe

Hello All, considering a '99 C2 cabrio with hard top vs coupe. Any negatives with respect to the hard-top ? Ease of use? Leaks? Is it heavy? Thanks in advance for any help here.

I believe it is 33 lbs and made of aluminum, past that I can't answer.

I have a cab, never owned a coupe, but the cab hard top has never leaked and really reduce the sound when on, very light, when not in use mine hangs on the wall in the garage.

Cabriolets / Hardtops are great. Like having two vehicles. The top is heavy. I have a hoist in my garage (really, just to put on and off in fall and spring). Be sure to read the threads. You have to line up the front latch first. It's always great in spring when the top comes off and the blue skies are open overhead. You can hear the exhaust sounds much better with the top off.

the only negative i can think of is find a place to store it.

It takes two people to install/remove the hardtop. You'll need a safe place to store it. I have an OEM wall mount, ($650, I think), but you can build your own. I plan on building a hoist system in the future so I don't have to coordinate the activity with my sons. I haven't had any leaks, but the owners manual says not to use an automated car wash even with the hardtop in place. As others have said, it's like two different cars with the hardtop on and off. I can't offer a comparison between a Cab with hardtop and a Coupe, as I've never driven a Coupe. A Cab is a great way to get maximum enjoyment from your FisterD's (or other sport exhaust) as well.

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+10

for the cab owners that use hardtop. the fact that cloth top are being stored in the retracted postion for extented period of time doesn't damage the appearance at all? I thought the rule of thumb for soft top in general is that if you don't use it for long period, you should raise the roof....

I've left my hard top on many times for over 4-6 months. I've never had any issue with the soft top. It might be wrinkled a bit when it first goes up, but by the next day it's fine. As others have said, it's like having two vehicles and the Fister Ds sound much better with the top down!

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You can't install the hardtop with the soft-top up. You just have to make sure that the soft-top is clean and dry before you stow it for the winter.

It's really not heavy, my wife helps me take it on and off, she's about 103lbs 5'6", and I purchased 3 brackets at Lowes that it hangs from on the wall in the garage that I lift it up and onto by myself, with a little help you should be able to manage getting it on and off and finding a place to store it. Although I will be honest I have looked at a hoist would be easier to do it on my own, also it would be another new thing for me to play with LOL As said above the sound of the Fister D mod is great with the top down!

Cab w/ hardtop FTW!

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I've had my cab for a year and a half, and drove it in the winter last year (Minneapolis-St. Paul area) with the hard top on. Mine hangs in my garage over the bicycle repair area, and lets me feel like I'm in my car and working on my bikes at the same time. Agree with all said so far. Would only add that a cab is not quite as "at home" on the track as a coupe is, and most would not put the hard top on in order to run it on the track due to the weight of the hard top. I may be wrong about the latter, and as I have not tracked mine as of yet, am curious about how other cab owners do it. What is the experience running a cab vs coupe on the track? q

A coupe is absolutely better for the track for a number of reasons including safety and torsional rigidity. If you're asking about a convertible then my assumption is that you either know this already or don't ultimately care enough for it to persuade you from buy one. A convertible is certainly still a great car for an autocross. Hell, my '05 S60R (with its Battleship sized turning radius) is a fun car at an autocross...but I digress. It's all about priorities. I'm not planning on racing my 911, I missed having a convertible and my little kids actually fit still! The Cab was a no-brainer for my needs. -Eric

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The number is correct, but that is in kilos. Try about 73 lbs. Hardtops are great! But get yourself a hoist!

FWIW, I use a hoist (Performance Products=source). Doing so has the advantage of keeping the top out of harm's way of my clumsiness during the summer months. When removing or re-installing, my spouse assists...she operates the crank under my instructions while I guide things into place. But I have done it alone in a pinch. relinuca

Thanks for the animated sequence, is this the E-Z Top winch system from the company in Houston? I just picked up the bits and pieces of the E-Z Top hoist from the previous owner of my Cab, will install it this weekend so I can finally open the soft top!!

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That makes more sense. I was thinking the 33 lbs must be a lightweight track version, with the headliner removed. My hardtop in summer storage. I didn't like the fact that it was hanging by a thin SS cable, so I strapped it up for long term storage. It's out of the way until needed.

The automated sequence is from the EZ Top. It's geared in such a way that it's a one man operation. Very safe--far safer than any other solution. There's something about 73 lbs of stuff simply hanging over my exposed cabriolet that just makes me shudder! (You're lucky to get one--I think they're out of business now).

Yes that may very well be the case, their website says they are moving and have temporarily suspended production etc. etc., but at least the website still works and I was able to download the installation manual which gave me an idea to mount the winch box to the side of the car in an available space rather than towards my storage area. I do need to make an extension cable to extend the switch to a more convinient location though, just about to head out for some hardware shopping! So are you comfortable with the hardtop suspended by the EZ Top winch? (assuming the installation is solid, that's the part that probably worries me the most so I span the mounting board of the beam across 3 joists just in case!)

EZ-Top installation complete, works as advertized. Time to take a shower, grab a bite, and go for some top-down crusing in this gorgeous summer night!

Question since I don't have the owner's manual and didn't want to try it and wake up the neighbourhood, but does the 2000 cab have the "infrared passenger compartment monitoring" system as described in the 2003 model owner's manual (which is the earliest 996 available on Renntech), I did notice the security system beeped once when I locked the car after exiting and with the top down/stowed, which makes me think there is a different security mode that is in effect with the top down/stowed. BTW, top down cruising is heavenly!

It does have the motion sensor, but it will not be activated with the top down (open). From the MY2000 Owners Manual: "The infrared passenger compartment monitoring system is always switched off when the convertible top is open."

yeh i agree its like having two cars ,i live in NYC in the winter i keep hardtop on take it off in spring,my son helps, store in the garage no problem.

THAT is slick Dan!

I've had my hardtop a couple of months now and have had it on for an autocross. I personally didn't notice any difference in handling or weight distribution when running during the event. Next month I'll keep it on for a DE and see how it feels. I actually haven't taken mine off yet because it's been so hot this summer. I know the interior is quieter with it on which is can appreciate but it really mutes the sound I'm used to coming from my exhaust. After the DE I'll take it off and store it until winter.