14 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHRemovable Hardtops-history?
Leading reported evidence
Replace since 99
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'Replace since 99' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check on this' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
I think the update kit has everything you need but check on this.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
But you need to check the type of fastener on the top and what you have on the car if you have them.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
14 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
My rear plastic window is separating and I haven't gotten it fixed.
I bought a '99 cab w/removable hardtop recently. Now, I'm curious...was the hardtop "standard" for just the '99s? When did the hardtop become an option...2002 when the glass rear window arrived? Just wondering...really like the car, and don't mind fooling with the hardtop...I installed one of those hoists on "my" side of the garage.
relinuca
The 77 pound Aluminum hardtop was included in the price of the 1999 ~ 2002 996 Cabs, but there was a hardtop delete option that knocked about $1500 ~ $2000 off the price of the car.
Starting in 2003, the hardtop became an option, and the rear latching mechanism was updated from a twist locking pin system to a screw lock system. This was in response to complaints about squeaks and rattles from the locking pin mechanism. There is an update kit available for 99 ~ 02 Cars.
The Hardtop for the 997 is identical to the 2003 and later 996 models and is completely interchangeable.
Retrofitting a hardtop to a 996/997 Cab that does not have a hardtop is pretty easy. The only addition needed for 2003 and later 996/997s is the addition of the receiver hardware at the rear of the car.
My aluminum hardtop for my 2006 997S weighs 73 lbs and was ordered when I ordered when I ordered the car--thus, has the hardware from the factory. Porsche found over time in the 996 era that many cabriolet buyers didn't have the room to store their hardtops and frequently simply left them at the dealership when they got their cars. (Never turndown a freebie from Porsche). Over time, dealerships (particularly those like in NYC) began to sell them just to get them out of their basements. Porsche deleted them from the 997 lineup (as a tossed in part) because of this.
I happen to like my hardtop because it's another way to protect the canvas top during certain times of the year and on certain trips into hostile areas/climates. I used mine during fire season (the fifth season in California) to keep the ash from getting into the canvas fibers. I like the unusual look of it, and find it a relatively inexpensive way to wind up with two cars for the price of one!
My rear plastic window is separating and I haven't gotten it fixed. August in Dallas is 100+ degrees so I've been sporting the hardtop for a few weeks and I must say I love it. It has been hanging in the garage for a year and I was about to Craigslist it.
Yes, the hardtops have no changed since 99. But you need to check the type of fastener on the top and what you have on the car if you have them. If you don't have them in the car then get the update kit so you have both the parts in the car and the later type of fastener on the top too. I think the update kit has everything you need but check on this.
Yes as others have said they are interchangeable, but from 2003 on if your car was not ordered with a hardtop from the factory, the rear receiver hardware was not installed.
This is where the upgrade kit comes in, it has the newer receiver as well as the parts for the hardtop.
