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YOUR RESEARCH2 Weeks with my 2004 996 Cabriolet
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A product I've used over the years to keep the top looking great is 303 Fabric Top Cleaner and Protector.
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Congratulations on coming back--and on a significant change from 1977.
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Well it has two weeks since I picked up my 2004 Cabriolet and every day I love it more and more.
It is my first Porsche in more then 20 years. Last being a 1977 Porsche 924.
I have a question for all you Cabriolet people.
I am told you should always keep the to up when not using the car so that the top doesn't wear where it folds and rubs. So I generally put the top up every evening when it is in the garage.
If you have a hard top and put it on for the winter the soft top would remain down all winter.
Are you supposed to remove the soft top if you are leaving the hard top on for a couple of months?
Congrats and welcome to 996 ownership.
If the fabric looks like it's in good condition, you should be good. It's the back window which will pry fail first. the glue, stitching are what degrades and will cause some pinhole leaks over time. If your up to it, do an upclose inspection.
As far as the hardtop, yes the soft top stays put; I havent' heard or seen the soft top being removed, but I will ask my indi about it.
I have a silver hardtop on now, but in South Florida, it's just the rain that's the hassle. As soon as the front passes, I back the car into the garage and remove the top with the electric winch set -up. my hard top stays on for maybe two weeks at a time.
I think a few Canuck and Northern members keep their hardtops on alot longer.
Thanks for the compliments, yes it is a glass rear window.
Sounds like it is not a big deal to leave it down most of the day.
I don't know of any leaks, but then again I live in Northern Virginia and it hasn't rained in weeks.
Luckily I park undercover at home and at work.
This is also my first black on black car.
The second day with it I made the mistake of washing it with out drying it off.
The water spots made it worse then before I washed it.
cool. avoid the headaches that may come with plastic windows. You should be fine with leaving the top down. The more you are able to park under some cover, the more you'll prevent the sun's damage, esp. with the Black/Black combo. Interior pieces are the first to start showing the effects of high temps.
other than that , keep some microfiber towels in the frunk and enjoy the drive!!
Great car. The kid might not express it but he is having a very fun time when riding with you. There's some good info on here on little one seats. Sorry but his feet won't reach the pedals in a porsche kiddy seat. Have a fun time with the car. Washing does not involve circular motions and some clay stuff is good at taking grit from the road thats stuck on the paint out of your paint. Fantastic car.
A product I've used over the years to keep the top looking great is 303 Fabric Top Cleaner and Protector. It takes out the weathered look and wrinkle lines of a fabric top. Restores the color and will bead water for months. Easy to apply and cheap.
Congrats on the car, looks great!
Many of us also use Raggtopp.
I'm in the Seattle area, so it's nice to put the top down in November, replace it with the hard top for the winter....then back to the rag top for the warm weather.
It's surprising to put the hard top on. It almost makes it a different car. Reduced traffic noise, more head room, bigger rear window. You may be able to feel the weight going around a corner--but it's not a big deal. I'd rather have the hard top for poor weather than argue about a few pounds of vehicle weight.
But the warm weather driving.....nothing like it.
Hope you continue to enjoy your car.
Congratulations on coming back--and on a significant change from 1977.
The 996 hardtop cabriolets work quite well. When Porsche redesigned their cabriolets in 1999 they decided that it was time to make putting a hardtop on a lot easier than before. Years ago the hardtops required the softtop to be removed first. It made the swap over a PITA. To remove the softtop was a 45 minute ordeal. I can put my hardtop on in 8 minutes with the aid of an electric hoist. Ditto for removal.
If meteorological conditions are unfavorable, you do well to install the hardtop. Granted, the softtop will be folded during that time but that's not so much an issue. What winds up being the issue more is the toll the cycling of the top mechanism takes on things.
I like having the hardtop because it gives me virtually a coupe for a lot less than buying another car!
Thanks for all the advice and ideas.
It is a big change from the 1977 924 - in many ways (black & white).
I must say, I do have some great memories in that 924.
Thanks again for all the compliments, this is a great forum on information about the 996 - can't wait to get into maintenance.
Nice car and welcome!
I leave my top down from time to time for weeks at a time and have never experienced any ill effects. It looks a bit wrinkled when it first goes back up, but within 20-30 minutes it looks just fine.
Now go out and enjoy it!!
