"Racey" Looking Cabriolet?

About a year ago when I decided I'd like to get a 996 I wanted to get one that was a little rough around the edges, a coupe that I could mod both for performance and have a "race car" look. Maybe some paint scratches or faded paint, interior tears or wear on seats so I could replace them with race seats. Something I could drive hard, park anywhere and leave it dirty if I wanted (I live on a dirt road). Then, through a business deal with a friend, I ended up with this really nice cabriolet. It's got all the performance mods I need (stainless exhaust, short shifter, Brembos, etc). It is a wonderful car but was not what I was looking for. Way too nice and fancy looking and is a cabriolet which, to me doesn't look as racey as a coupe and we've had an ungodly hot summer so don't put the top down often. So that leaves me with two choices: (1) sell the car and buy a cheaper coupe or (2) do some cosmetic mods to this car. If I sell, I have to go through the hassle of selling, then find a coupe (not really a hassle as shopping can be fun). After buying a coupe I'd want to do about the same mods as my car (different wheels though) and would probably end up with as much if not more money than I have in this car or could sell it for. So I'm leaning towards keeping this car but changing the look a bit. I've seen some cabriolets with hard tops that look pretty good. I don't have one for mine but think they go for a couple grand? The wheels on my car are really nice but a bit fancy looking. I think they are expensive wheels so might be able to sell them or trade them. I also thought about having them powder coated black. The car has a green interior so I thought maybe some sort of green wrap? I attached photos of a couple green ones off the internet. So I'm looking for ideas to make this car have a more R Groupe type look. Any suggestions (with photos if possible)? As a side note, I know I shouldn't care what anyone thinks and usually don't but for some reason when I drive this car somewhere I always feel a bit self-conscious, like people are looking at me and saying, "rich ***** in a Porsche", even though they have no idea our 996's are worth less than a new Toyota. I know it is just a personal hang up I have and it is weird because I've never felt that about Porsche drivers. I think I'd feel the same about driving a Ferrari or a Lambo too. Anyway, I think changing the look of the car to be more rugged would make me feel differently about driving it. Maybe instead of spending money to change the look I should spend it on a shrink instead!

Not sure what else I would do, but I LOVE those wheels just the way they are.

Every 996 Cab shipped with a hard top unless the customer deleted it; if you look around long enough you'll probably find someone willing to let you have theirs (and free up the garage space). Dumping the car because it's too nice just doesn't compute for me, but you do what you want to do. The vinyl wrap will (a) let you change the color and (b) protect that original paint; maybe it WOULD be enough of a change to make you like the car more...

Also - since you have an aftermarket stereo, that DSP unit is probably just sitting there doing nothing. The GT3 console delete is a nice way to clean up the interior (and buy some additional knee space if you're tall)...

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It does have an aftermarket stereo as well as a big sub-woofer in the back and amps in the frunk which I'm probably going to take out as I have have never even turned the stereo on. I don't know what the DSP unit is or what the GT3 console delete consists of. I'm not tall (5'-9") so knee space is not really an issue although I do prefer to be close to the pedals. I tend to move the seat bottom up and recline the seat back a bit but not drastically.

That interior looks Space Gray to me, but maybe it's the photos. A hard top will not make the car look sporty like a coupe. In fact, it makes the car look a bit too heavy to me. A rear wing and some stripes may do the trick. How about orange stripes and orange wheels, for example? Or green?

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Maybe it is gray. For some reason I always thought it was greenish. Maybe I'm a bit color blind? I like orange but would have to see how it would look on the silver.

Orange and silver work well together....

One of the guys in our club has his hood blacked out. You could do it with wrap. Looks a bit more "Ricky racer". I hear you about the self conscious thing. I'm the same. I wish I could have some sort of cloak, so that all passers by would see a brown mini-van.

I personally find the roof line on all the cabs to be a turn off, I don't know what it is but there is just something about it I don't like. I'll probably get flamed but it's almost too feminine I guess. Personally I would sell and buy what fits your wants vs trying to mod the cab.

If being self conscious is a concern will making it more "racy" with green or orange solve that problem or increase it? The brightest, "look-at-me" on the car are the wheels. You could consider having them refinished in black. Then you won't reflect the surface of the sun.

I'm thinking it's time to get some proper window blinds or plantation shutters before you spend a dime on your car. PS the car looks great as is IMO.

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I'm glad I'm not the only one! I like the blacked out hood look but would want to do the wheels too.

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I'm in the process of a complete remodel right now. All new windows, full covered front porch, new paint, etc. Yes, a new roof will be included too. Thanks.

I'm actually digging the cedar shake. Take some before/after pics... I'm in the middle of a remodel too.

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I thought about that as well. Yes, would like to do the wheels in black. My goal on the car was a bit like Magnus Walker's 277 car. The look of an old race car that's seen many track and street miles. Rough around the edges but a solid runner. Here is a photo of my '64 Corvette. I have headlight motors on order and will paint the hood to match the rest of the car but the paint is faded and has a few nicks in it. Interior is in pretty good condition. 300HP / 327 that runs excellent, 53K mile car. I like it the way it is. I don't have to constantly worry about it, don't freak out if someone touches it or leans on it. Even though my Porsche is almost 18 years old, it is still pretty much a new car. I think I'm trying to make it something it is not. I am starting to think I should just sell it and then look for what I really want. Anyone want to buy a nice clean car?

Buy a used stock exhaust and shifter cheap, swap yours out, sell the cab on Bring a Trailer. Go buy the beat up coupe and use the difference in money to make it the way you want. Having owned both, I enjoyed owning a can, bu definitely prefer the coupe.

Run !!!!!!! go see a shrink, you definitely have a complex problem. Be damned what the herd thinks, do what makes you whole.

Hard top should be less than 2K. Here is one (very unhelpfully for sale in Toronto) for CAD $490 http://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-auto-pa...ationFlag=true

IF you want to do something to the wheels, you could start out with Plasti-Dip to turn them black. If you don't like it, peel it off. That way you can try it out for a while without a permanent change. My thoughts on more "Racey" Lower it. Add Roll Bar and racing seats:

A silver hardtop in your backyard. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/5810305668.html It's in Wildomar. I'd offer him close to half of what he's asking, but that's just me They don't typically sell fast. I've been running all summer with the top down. When the weather changes, the hardtop goes on. It's worth having one for your car, and is a positive selling point when the time comes to part with it.

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Dang it! I just decided to try to sell my car to get what I want and you post this up! Heck, even at his asking price I think it is worth it even if I sell the car. A buyer may want it. It's been so friggin' hot here all summer I have rarely put the top down. I'd run the hard top in the summer and take it off for the winter! Thanks for the link.

No worries. I'm in Canyon Lake, so if you need a hand picking it up, let me know. And, yes, it has been hot. But when you're rolling down the road, it's nothing like standing outside in it. It's really enjoyable, both during the day and the warm evenings. The hardtop may change your mind regarding selling the car.

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Thanks. You're right down the street from me! I just spoke to the seller and may take a look at it tomorrow afternoon. He's in Murrieta. I may take you up on that offer as I'm thinking I'll drive my car over there to make sure it fits properly and drive home with it on but will probably want to take it off once I get home. I'm still recovering from a broken wrist so a bit hard to lift stuff.

Not a problem. They're easy to install and remove. I'll pm you my number.

FWIW, I think your silver cab looks perfect. If there was never a hard top fitted on your car, you may need some extra bits to use the hard top. Not sure how true this is, as my cab came with hardtop, but there may be some connecting brackets you need on your car to make the hard top latch down properly. You may want to double check on that beforehand. My original sticker had the hard top itemized in the options list, but then it was also deducted from the final cost of the car (then penciled back in, obviously after buyer made decision to add the top). That leads me to believe that was a sales maneuver done by Porsche back then. Prospective buyers would see the price of the car on sticker with the hardtop line item factored in, but that didn't necessarily mean the car was fully set up that way. I think if you bought the car with the hard top, they would pull one from inventory and add the necessary bits. I would definitely hold off making any decisions until you drive the car around with the hard top installed. To me it transforms the car a bit, definitely quietens down the road noise.

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Interesting. I thought all cabs came with the hardtop but it makes sense that a buyer could delete the option. I'm going to look at one today and will bring the car to make sure it fits. I'm hoping I will like the top and look forward to seeing how it transforms the car.

Have you already checked the mounting hardware in your car (screw vs bayonet) and confirmed what the seller has? I am in Temecula, what time are you planning to meet the seller? P.S. YES, the hardtop will transform the car

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I'm supposed to meet him in Murrieta at 3PM today. How do I check the mounting hardware type?

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Too bad I cannot leave work till 1600 today. Posts on hard top must MATCH the type of mounting hardware in your car! Check out this link when you take a peek at your cab's mounting hardware: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-question.html Another good link that shows OTHER parts you may want to have (in addition to actual top): grille cover for mounts, cover for front latch, plastic tabs for mounting holes: https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-question.html LAST BUT NOT LEAST: if the top you bought is PREWIRED for a rear window defogger AND your car has one, run the rear window defogger after the top is mounted to make sure it works

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out.

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you are welcome and best of luck!

Well, I got the hard top put on. I really like it! Makes it much quieter inside yet I can still hear the wonderful exhaust note. I know it doesn't really add any rigidity but it feels tighter probably because it's so much quieter. I found myself driving it faster than before I put it on so it already feels more "racey". The seller's place was only about 5 miles from me so not a long drive home. I want to clean it up a bit and then go for a longer drive. He had is stored in his garage so dust has collected in between the glass and the small package tray. I need to clean the glass but the angle where the glass meets the tray is pretty tight. Any ideas how to get in there other than maybe a long screwdriver with a rag wrapped around it? Here are some photos along with a TT car with a blacked out hood that looks pretty cool. Thinking I might go that direction.

if you need a stand and cover for the hardtop, I have a spare for sale BTW, car looks good, congrats !

You have to take the parcel tray off to clean the glass... it only takes a couple minutes to do... just some plastic rivet deals on there... Nice XJ.

That's not an XJ FYI it's a WJ Never mind, I saw it hiding in the back of the pic...good eye

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The green one is a WK (Overland with Hemi) but I have a WJ too. (I know I have a Jeep problem!).

That car looked good before, but looks great now... I love the hard top cabrio look! Makes a narrow body look a bit more like a wide body, IMHO.

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Thanks. I'll let you know.

So, I just went for a little spirited drive with the new top on. MUCH different experience but getting some rattles and squeaks. Not bad, just can hear the fiberglass rubbing a bit and not really bothersome. It does make me wonder what driving a coupe would be like though as I have never driven one. I think I would like it even more. Now, I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, "Why would a guy in southern CA want a coupe over a cabriolet?". Well, because it is now October 9 and it's still frigging 96 degrees! Anyone want to trade a coupe for a cab?

The car looks great, Spork! I'm glad it worked out for you. I had to drive all the way to Scottsdale, Az. to get mine in ocean metallic blue. Which was fine, since I discovered that Scottsdale has no shortage of beautiful women and fun bars. A day trip for the hardtop turned into 3 days of fun . But as usual, I digress. It's important that the mating surfaces in the rear are spotless. So now you have an excuse to take the top off and run it top-down. It's how the cabs truly shine. Mine hasn't had the top up, hard or soft, since the beginning of summer. Do a run over Ortega to Dana Point harbor for cooler weather and cocktails. Enjoy the sun, brother! In fact, if there are any others around the area that would want to hit Ortega Hwy from the I-15 and the coast on the other side for refreshments and snacks, count me in. Always up for fun!