Feedback on hardtops on cabriolets???

I'm kicking around hunting for a hardtop for winter for my '04 C4S cab. Any negatives? General feedback? I may have my job cut out for me to find one....my car is Polar Silver with black interior....not many Polar Silver's around and most have blue interior that I've seen. Thanks, Tom G. in CT (10 day / 500 mile owner!!!....love the PSE!)

I'm sure you will like it. I use mine quite a bit and I'm not even in the RUST BELT. If I knew where you lived I could give you some tips in how to find one. There are some problems from what I hear on the earlier tops,--much noise. Focus upon finding a late one.

I drive my car all year round, and in the snow and ice. I think I've used my hard top once, for a DE. I don't use it for DE anymore (less weight). IMHO, the rag top is so good the hard top doesn't really add that much for me except for marginally better heat insulation and sound insulation. Plus I like the option of dropping the top on a sunny winter day. During hard driving it creaks a little when the body flexes. Storing it is a PITA. Mine hangs in the garage on a hoist. My own personal opinion is that the convertibles look better as a rag top, the shape of the hard top doesn't look as nice as the cleaner lines of the coupe. If you're sitting on the fence, ask around to see if anybody has one you can test drive to see if you like the way it feels and looks.

I love my hardtop. It's like having two cars. One in winter, one in summer. It is great in the event that you get heavily snow on while parked. It definitely has better insulation for warmth, also. If you can find a used one, it's a no brainer.

I use my hardtop in the cold months (it hangs on a hoist the rest of the year). Snow is not so much an issue in Seattle, but being lazy, if the hardtop is on, I will take the car through the high quality, free car wash offered by the local Porsche dealership. I wouldn't take the rag top through the wash. So, during the wet months, it's easier to keep the car clean. That said, the hard top gives you more head room & a larger rear window. Yet, while the hardtop reduces noise from surrounding traffic, it can seem to increase the road noise, etc., from the car itself. A trade off. It's nice--but not a necessity.

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, worry about the convertible top in the car wash, but the amount of roadsalt we use in New England means the car will need a lot of washing in the winter. My other concern, though, was if any long term damage could happen to the soft top if left in the retracted position for a long period of time (say 4 months)? Any special preparation needed? Still learning these cars. I have another 4 wheel drive for really bad days, but this car will see its share of snow and flurries, for sure. Thanks again!

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No, IMO it's even better for the soft top to be in the retracted position. I've my hard top on for 4-6 months and when it's off, I park my car in the garage, most time with the top down. Realistically in my case the the soft top is up less than 50 days/year. I'd say it still looks pretty good, going into it's 9th year.

I'm looking for a hardtop myself. I've seen several silver tops for sale for $300+. I'm supposed to be picking one(black top) up this weekend

Interesting. I've seen plenty of Artic Silver roofs, just a few Polar Silver roofs, though, and they have a different interior color. So I guess that begs the next question: How hard and expensive would it be to change the interior color from a blue plastic/fabric to black? If anyone has leads on a Polar Silver with black interior top I would be very grateful..... Tom

I'm curious, where have you been looking?

I've looked from Ebay to parts shops to user groups. I've found a few that are Polar Silver but with blue interior trim. Try ebay for quick shopping, but the price you are getting quoted is the best I've seen so far....by far!

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Try craigslist if you don't mind used.

Cab or Coupe - solution!!!

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I concede being able to go through an automatic car wash in the winter is the definitely a big plus. I have spent much time freezing to death in the spray booth cleaning the salt off. If you leave the rag top retracted for a long long time, it can get creased and shiny in places. I think my car sat unsold on a lot for a long time, possibly a year. As a result there are permanent creases and shiny spots on the fabric (from rubbing). The most noticeable is a circular spot about the size of a JFK $0.50 in the middle of the roof. I doubt if a few months retracted will affect the fabric. I think I read somewhere that it's generally better for the fabric to be stretched out and not to retract a wet roof and store it like that.

My car didn't come from the factory with the hardtop option, so I will need to figure out how to retrofit my 2004, in at all, to be able to install this top. Any ideas? I prefer to have the top down, but I will be using this quite a bit in the Winter, including in CT and northern NH, and the hardtop will just be easier to maintain....I feel.

A factory hard top will go right on your car, you may need to remove a few plastic plugs that will be in the hardtop mounting holes. If there is concern about long term storage with the top down Porsche has a spray on canvas treatment that you should use every once in a while to keep things fresh, regardless of whether or not you have/use a hardtop. They also have a window treatment that will help keep the plastic window fresher longer.

I have an offer from LA Dismantler for a Polar Silver with black interior hardtop. Site unseen and shipping isn't cheap. Does anyone have history with these folks? They seek to be a Porsche-focused scrapyard. They tell me the top is OEM and old-new stock and that it comes with everything I will need to mount it. Thanks again for everyone's help. Tom

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It's funny that you mention this because I bought a polar silver hardtop that had a black interior. I order the metropol blue plastic components and a new blue 'rack' (that piece under the rear window) and installed them myself. I think the roof liner is black for all of them so I didn't mind it at all since the interior of my ragtop is black even though the canvas is blue outside. Anyway, long story short, if you find a blue interior polar silver hardtop, I may still have the plastic pieces from when I did the change. I'll have to check when I am next in the basement and come back to you.

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Others will disagree but this is a valid concern IMHO. The best long term position for your soft top (and plastic window) is the top up position. If you do decide to use the hard top lay a thin microfiber towel in the fold of your rear window.

Purchased a 2000 996 cab 2 months ago. It came with a hardtop. 1. The car is yellow (not sure the paint number/scheme) but the hardtop is a deeper yellow. So you may want to assure the paint matches. 2. Water is getting into the car via the upper A pillar on the drivers side. The window molding looks fine, so not sure what problem is. 3. It's very easy to remove and install the hard-top. - Doug

I have the same little leak! Anyone have a solution to this?? Would be so appreciated!

I just installed my hardtop for the first time this past weekend. I think the top when installed on the car looks a lot like those football helmets with extra padding in them (a helmet over a helmet). I prefer the aesthetics of the rag top, but figured I'd try the hard top this winter. I purchased my car for a project a little over a year ago and found the hardtop on ebay last Christmas. The top was black and tan while my interior is black and silver. I removed the 3 tan pieces and painted them with SEM vinyl paint..Turned out perfect. I paid $100 for the top and $11 for the paint.

Do a search here for LA Porsche Dismantlers. There are many stories both good and bad. Personally I'd look for a local top and have it painted if needed. They are expensive to crate and ship, and most sellers don't want to deal with the hassle. You may need to install spinlocks to lock the hardtop in place if you car did not come from the factory with a hardtop. Give Suncoast Porsche a call and they will be able to tell you. They also have the lowest price ($70) for the spinlocks that I was able to find, less than half the price of my local dealer.