Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hiya all, I tore the back window away from the hood with some over enthusiastic car washing around about 6 months ago and my neighbour who is a tailor reckoned he could tackle it when the weather improved. Well the weather did last week and he tried with the roof in situ but quickly decided to give up before he made it any worse. He said he will do it but it needs to come off and I am now thinking sod it! Treat myself to a hard top whilst he repairs the rag top and then I can have both. My Boxster is a 986 in Ocean Blue Metallic so if anyone has one or knows where I can get my hands on one please let me know. Also I am interested in your opinions on the look of the hard top on a Boxster as you are all passionate about Porsche's and I value your opinions. Thanks.
Andy Bruce.

Hard tops usually sell for around £500

Have you thought about having a glass screen fitted rather than fixing the plastic one?

Hiya sean, I have thought about that but if my neighbour can repair mine for the price of a few beers then I may as well spend the money on a nice hard top. I personally think they look quite good, what's your opinion?

In two minds to be honest! They are bloody heavy & need storage which not all of us have. I'm lucky in that the hood was replaced with a new one in 2010 with a heated glass rear window.I'll probably get a cap type hood for the winter to protect the hood as mine sits outside all the time, mohair hoods are a pain to clean if they get really dirty.

We have a convertible, have had for the last thirteen years. Wouldn't even consider a hard top.

Sun shines, roof off - whatever time of year.

There, saved you a load of money

Jim's point - from experience of trying to clean our hoods I would consider following Jim's advice about a cap type hood - although I'd use it all year round. It's the stuff off the trees that does the most damage and is hard to clean. Also, don't spend loads of money on protective stuff, just by Nikwax tent protector from Millets - I was at Porsche and the guy said "I could sell you this with a Porsche badge on, or I could send you to Millets for Nikwax tent protector.... it's exactly the same thing". So I did and it is.

I have a hard top for the 4S, it is still in its cover on the wall and has been for 3 years.

Even if I used it as a daily driver I wouldn't bother putting it on the car.

I would get sick of the plastic screen and the Boxster chop.

Hiya John, I also use mine all year round and oops too late mine is already covered in green crap! It's been a combination of blocked drain holes and not wanting to open the roof to clear them in case I make the tear 10 times worse that has been stopping me cleaning the car!!! I need to do something quick sharp because the car is looking minging.

My first ever car was a six-month old 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500, RD 819 B (BFG plates) then SPC 104X when imported back into the UK. I had the top off whenever it didn't rain, all year round. I was home in the UK one winter, it wasn't raining so I put the top down - however it was freezing and the back window cracked across the bottom where it attached to the hood. Got my dad's black bodge / gaffer tape out and fixed it. That tape is so good that it was still on there three years later when I sold the car. Being black it was pretty much un-noticeable. It also never leaked.

Could be a solution for you in the short term.

I have one, with a case, and a stand............but it's in Arena Red.
Over to you...............

Two Tone could look quite continental with some white wall tyres....

My car lives outside so I fit a hard top between november and march. I think a hard top suits the car and they are so well engineered it is just like driving a saloon. They do take quite a bit of room to store, bigger than you think. I paid £850 two years ago for one in immaculate condition.

Hiya Graham, I think it might start getting a bit pricey if I go down the re-spray route but if you want to PM me with a price I'll certainly cosider it. Thanks alot.
Andy Bruce.

Hiya all, just to let you know I opted for a used soft top in the end, it is off a Boxster S and is a much better roof than the standard Boxster roof (mohair and double skinned with a nice lining inside the cab) it is like new as is the plastic rear window and also included the frame. £250 fitted from Porschapart. I thought about the hard top or soft top with glass rear window but with daughter number 2 arriving in 3 weeks time I decided to keep the cost down as I dont want it to become "that bloody Porsche" in the wifes eyes! I also quite like the thought of keeping it standard as it is slowly becoming a classic. Thanks for reading.
Andy Bruce.

Hope it serves you well.