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YOUR RESEARCHHard top for my cabrio
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Use when the top is in place or
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The 2 round things are used when the top is in place or when the top is in the garage.
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Suggestion
It would be ideal to find a hard top nearby or one where you can drive to and do a personal inspection and test fit.
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Just wanted to get some input on purchasing a hard top for my 996 cabrio (previous owner cheaped out and so I'm without a hardtop now). Any suggestions? Also, found a few on eBay but the interior colors aren't exact - is it cheaper to buy one of these and then replacement headliner/plastic to match up the interior colors? Sorry for the dumb questions here - just didn't know where to start - many thanks!
Does your car have a hard top receiver installed underneath the rear shelf? Is it the bayonet-style receiver or possibly the threaded receiver. The kits may still be available from Suncoast Porsche in case you do need to retro-fit.
It would be ideal to find a hard top nearby or one where you can drive to and do a personal inspection and test fit.
Average prices run about $500. In 2009, I paid $700 for one I found local to me, perfect color match and fit. AND with a cover and rolling rack.
A few members here have found hard tops even as low as $300.
Shipping/insurance can easily add a couple hundred to the cost and risk damaging such a cumbersome item.
Best case would be to find a hard top with matching interior OR all black in case your interior is Metropol Blue or Savannah Beige.
The exterior can be painted to match the car or possibly wrapped.
I found one on eBay that was a couple hours' south of me ... drove down in a pickup truck and brought it home. $400 including the stand and cover. Seems like they pop up on Craigslist as well ... you may want to fire up SearchTempest to search your local Craigslist sites.
FWIW, I was at my indy mechanic this week and they mentioned a local dismantler who apparently has at least a dozen of them lying around. So you may want to ask around at your local shops if there's a similar outfit in your area.
As for your last question, I figured there was no way I would find one in my exterior color (Mirage). So I bought one with the correct interior color (black) and figured I'd get the exterior (also black) painted if I don't like how it looks.
Also, there are a few threads here and elsewhere that explain the difference between the bayonet-style and threaded mounting hardware.
I just bought my second hardtop(different cars) for 325 with a stand and cover. The outside color is the most important. Inside can be painted or dyed. I think all headliners are real dark gray. Search the receiver types. You will need an Allen wrench to lock the receivers. It is either 6,7 or 8 mm, do a search. Ask for the tool and front latch cover. Neither of mine came with them.
The latch over is over $80. Not necessary but worth asking about. Anyone have one lying around?
Searchtempest is the best tool I have found. Be willing to wait the sellers out as they have a high perceived value but an almost non existent market. Check dealers as well as customers store them and sell the car without ever picking up the top.
Found mine on craigslist: pristine condition; interior/exterior matched my car; correct mounts; rear defogger works plus stand & cover for under $500. Went to the seller's house and drove back home with the top on the car.
P.S. You will probably need to buy: front latch cover, cover for rear mounts, plastic inserts for mounting holes. I use a plain allen head wrench instead of buying a "Porsche" one
There are 3 little items that should come with the hard top. The center latch cover and the two plastic covers in the back window sill either side. For just one of those covers in the back window on ebay they are asking $99 . So a wild guess if you are missing all three would be $300 to replace them. If you are picking a hard top up, make sure you have those in the deal.
The covers for the back window sill are cheap. Suncoast sells the pair for twelve bucks. I just ordered a new pair as mine were trashed. When I went to remove them they basically fell apart.
FWIW I live in NY and use the car as a three season vehicle, I bought the hardtop for $300 (perfect match both interior and exterior) and have never used it once since I brought it home....
I don't mean the round plastic things. Those are cheap. I meant the larger plastic things that the round things go into. They look like speaker grills and clip into the rear window sill around the receiver when the hard top is in position.
Then there is center latch cover for the front. So those 3 things and your 2 little round things, will add up to at least $300 even from ebay. The 2 round things are used when the top is in place or when the top is in the garage. They fit into two different places. One time into the receiver mounting with the hard top up. The other time they are used to fill in the holes on the back window sill when the Soft top is in position. Buy those all from Pelican parts or Suncoast and you are looking at $400 and you can bet your **** on that. So I would say if they are asking about $800 for a hard top, those parts have to come with it. If not don't pay anything over $500.
Anyone update to the screw style receivers and have the older bayonet receivers they would like to sell?
Please PM me or give me a call at [phone removed].
Thanks,
Michael
