i'm getting the 996 and the R129 ready for (what we call) winter here, and i was quoted ~$285 to change the plastic in the soft top for the C2, as opposed to $250 for the SL

anyone done this before at an independent - and if it's not much of an intrusion, what was the cost range to get it done?

i am assuming dealers won't touch the car unless they change the soft top as a whole, can anyone deny or confirm that?

 

So the rear window in the Porsche is plastic?? I have no idea, since I haven't owned a P-car but good luck in your search. Even my lame little Audi has a glass rear window just seems weird!

 

1999-2000 was plastic, glass after that I think.

 

ooo gotcha!!

goodluck, wish I knew more about it to help the original poster!

 

99-01 was plastic. 02+ was glass....

I had mine replaced for about $500.....dealers will subcrontract it out to an upholstery shop....just find one that works on Porsches....

 

thanks for the heads up guys, i didn't know the 02s+ were glass
any pics?

newport996,
did they take the whole of the soft top out and replace the plastic?
or was it done while the soft top was up, i.e. literally working "on" the car?

btw, that is one mean looking cab you got there .. congrats on a job well done!

 

What condition is your soft top in? Mine has some wear and tear, so I'm just planning on replacing the whole top when the time comes, even it it'll cost a few hundred extra.

 

The upholstery shop can replace the plastic one without remove the top. I saw the work not too long ago. I don't like the clear plastic window that's why I got an 02 and bigger displacement.

 

I had my rear plastic window replaced last year, and I believe it was around $250. I had it done at an auto upholstery shop, and they sewed a new plastic window in, along with the basic glue that Porsche uses. should last much longer than original. Dealer would only replace the whole top, just for the window.

 

Trent: The soft top is in great condition operationally. And for the fact that it's folded pretty much eight or nine months of the year, I would say it looks perfect after a few days of letting it stretch and a little cleaning.
I do have a little tear in the middle of the top though, but it does not leak or do anything else but look like a circular tear.

Well, I dropped the car off last night. And silly me, forgot to take pics for a before/after comparisson!
They will take the whole top out to work on it.
Like capt601 describes, the guy at the shop told me that it will be sewed on and that it will show on the outside. I'm going to pass by in a few hours when I'm done with work to make sure they glue it, too.

I promise I'll take (phone)pics this time.

daytrader: If it's not much trouble, could you kindly snap a few pics from inside the car as well as out when you have the soft top on?

 

Here are the pics:





^ You can see at the bottom why I am changing the plastic.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get a pic of a hollow-space in the right hand side bottom corner, which was my initial concern.



^ I thought some of you guys may want to know what the top looks like under the cloth.

They're going to use clear plastic, not the greenish one.
And they won't use glue between the plastic and the cloth. I'll remember to show you guys pics of the stitches when it's done. Wish me luck!

 

Got it back, and loving it.

Stitches:



Pic w/ no flash to show clear plastic:



Holy dirty/dusty soft top, Batman.

Visibility is for the first time what it ought to be. Can't wait to drop off the SL now for the same thing.

 

Wow, that looks really good. Congrats!

 

Mine is an 02 with glass not plastic. I was talking about a friend's car that I saw the work.

 

Thanks Trent!

daytrader: Yes yes, I got you the first time. I was asking to see YOUR car with the glass.