Boxster Convertible Tops
and Hardtops
The Boxster comes "stock" with a fabric (canvas) convertible top.
The '97 thru '02 model years had a flexible plastic rear glass window.
The plastic window is larger and thus provides more visibility than any of the glass windows for the Model 986. The plastic window (depending on how the car is used, stored and the window is maintained) can easily last 10 years. Mine is 8+ years old and looks and feels original. I wash the window every time I wash the car. I polish the plastic (see below) once every 6 months and store the car with the top up either in a garage or under a Noah fabric car cover.
The plastic window can be replaced and the original canvas top reused for about $400 at a shop that specializes in such repairs, often a boat canvas or auto upholstery shop. Ask on www.ppbb.com giving your location and we may be able to direct you to a shop that has done this before.
Early ('97 - '01 base model) Boxsters had an unlined convertible top. All S models and base models from 2001 on have liners. The liners provide insulation and help to deaden the sound from the wind rushing over the car and from the tires contact with the road.
Do not lower or raise the plastic-windowed top at temperatures lower than about 45 degrees F. And the lower the temperature, the slower you do it. Also, depending on the fit of the top, you may need to stop the lowering process half way down and "chop" the top, moving the plastic window so it stretches evenly and folds smoothly across its width. Failure to do this (and failure to maintain the window inside and out with products that add back "oils" to the plastic (see Novus 1, 2 and 3 under How I maintain my Car)) will result in clouding, hardening and cracks.
Store the plastic-windowed top in the down position for long periods only when it is clean. And store it with a soft cloth separating the two surfaces of the plastic window. Felt or some other clean, soft natural fiber fabric. This prevents the plastic from flexing against itself and grinding on any dirt.
The '03-'04 model years had a smaller glass window with a rear window defroster built in.
A '03-'04 top complete with frame can be used to replace earlier tops. 987 tops will not fit.
And replacement canvas tops for the earlier frames are available with the glass window from several suppliers (gahh, robins). See eBay. Or there are sometimes group buys offered on the Boxster forums.
There are aluminum hardtops available. Two styles came from Porsche.
Early ones had "ears" low down on the sides next to the side windows that allowed attachment of a system (RTS) that mounted over the top and allowed luggage carriers, bike racks or ski carriers to be mounted to the hardtop and put on and off with the hardtop (otherwise the RTS bolted to the body via an attachment point just under the little removable piece that is behind each door) .
Later hardtops omitted those "ears". Either style will fit any 986. Both have built in defroster wires. Both use glass windows. Functionally they are the same except for the look and RTS mounting point.
987 hardtops will not fit 986s and vice versa.
To mount a hardtop you need spinlocks (sold as a kit, less than $100, see the mount link below for part numbers), and perhaps a defroster connection cord. And the hardtop.
I've seen used hardtops sell for $700 and for $2,000. New ~$2,600 but generally now not available from dealers. Lots depends on the location, the season, the color, the condition and the willingness of the seller to arrange packing and shipping. And of course the motivation of the seller (how badly does he need the money, how willing is he to wait for the best offer).
If shipping, get insurance and professional packing.
Obviously the best buys are odd colors in the spring or early summer that have to be picked up or ones that need repainting (get good pictures of the scratches). And ones located in warm climates where there is little demand. Figure repainting at about $700. Many owners use contrasting color hardtops (like black on a white or silver car), after all the canvas top contrasts.
You would be amazed at the number of hardtops that were bought, placed in a garage, and never mounted. Also the number that got scratched just sitting there.
GT Motorsport has just advertised a $1050 hardtop that looks like a factory model but is in fiberglass. Don't know of anyone yet who has one. Pedro comments on ppbb: "This manufacturer in particular also offers it with the latch and rear glass at what seems like a good price when compared with the OEM, but if you're looking at it for general cruising/driving and not for weight-reduction purposes, I'd stay away from it. Fiberglass will be noisy, will flex/flutter at higher speeds and won't hold up to the rigors of installing/removing the way that the OEM does. The OEM also has a liner which dampens road noise."
There are special light weight tops designed for racing.
It is a 2 man job to put on or take off any hardtop unless you have a hoist. Store covered (there are fitted covers, a blanket will do) via the hoist or in a rack so it doesn't get bumped, fall over and scratched.
They are often advertised on eBay and in the classifieds of various Boxster on-line forums.
See if you can buy the defroster cable (986.612.081.01 wiring harness per one source, 986-612-315-00 per another) with the hardtop as, according to Robbins, it can cost $155.
To pick up a hardtop from a seller, mount your spinlocks first and take adjustment tools with you so that you can adjust the fit. The hardtops sometimes squeak but that can be adjusted out of them.
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