How many years should the plastic window last on the Spyder?
07-03-2020, 01:21 PM
#1
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How many years should the plastic window last on the Spyder?
It's only a matter of time before the rear plastic window along with the top part needs to be replaced. How prone are Porsche rear plastic windows to yellowing and cracking? My car would be kept in the garage in SoCal weather so although it can get hot and cold during the seasons, it doesn't get hot like Las Vegas or Arizona hot and it doesn't get cold like east coast cold. Just enough for us wussies to complain that CA is cold. 
I looked on Suncaost and it looks like the 987.2 convertible top can be replaced in two parts. Not sure if the 982 can also have the top and the rear window section replaced separately as that would help manage the maintenance cost of the top.
I really do wish Porsche would have somehow engineered the top to have a glass rear window. Along with not have to replace it over time, it would have allowed me to tint the car. Now that there's a plastic rear window, I don't plan to tint the car because tinting only the side windows and not the rear looks weird.
I looked on Suncaost and it looks like the 987.2 convertible top can be replaced in two parts. Not sure if the 982 can also have the top and the rear window section replaced separately as that would help manage the maintenance cost of the top.
I really do wish Porsche would have somehow engineered the top to have a glass rear window. Along with not have to replace it over time, it would have allowed me to tint the car. Now that there's a plastic rear window, I don't plan to tint the car because tinting only the side windows and not the rear looks weird.
07-03-2020, 01:28 PM
#2
RL Community Team
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Perhaps if the actual window material doesn't fold it can be replaced with some lightweight glass? I would think a good automotive upholstery shop could retrofit something?
Am I mistaken or did someone do this for the 986's?
Am I mistaken or did someone do this for the 986's?
07-03-2020, 02:46 PM
#3
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pretty sad they didn't do this - as they did for the 911 Cabriolets...
07-03-2020, 02:57 PM
#4
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Back 14 years ago when I was looking for a Boxster, I set the starting year at 2003 as it was the first with a glass rear window, bummer that in 2020 they didn't do the same with the Spyder...
07-03-2020, 02:57 PM
#5
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Has anyone observed window yellowing on 981 Spyder tops?
I know the plastic rear windows on most 986 Boxsters are toast by now, but I don’t know if Porsche improved the material. 986 Boxsters have for many years been treated as cheap beaters, and many are always left parked out in the sun. Also, the rear window on the Spyder is upright/vertical rather than being heavily sloped like on a 986, so I’d expect it to get a bit less sun/UV exposure on average.
I know the plastic rear windows on most 986 Boxsters are toast by now, but I don’t know if Porsche improved the material. 986 Boxsters have for many years been treated as cheap beaters, and many are always left parked out in the sun. Also, the rear window on the Spyder is upright/vertical rather than being heavily sloped like on a 986, so I’d expect it to get a bit less sun/UV exposure on average.
07-03-2020, 03:01 PM
#6
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it is perhaps because of the way the roof folds, could it not accommodate glass I wonder ... if that's the case then it will wear even faster
07-03-2020, 03:58 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Has anyone observed window yellowing on 981 Spyder tops?
I know the plastic rear windows on most 986 Boxsters are toast by now, but I don’t know if Porsche improved the material. 986 Boxsters have for many years been treated as cheap beaters, and many are always left parked out in the sun. Also, the rear window on the Spyder is upright/vertical rather than being heavily sloped like on a 986, so I’d expect it to get a bit less sun/UV exposure on average.
I know the plastic rear windows on most 986 Boxsters are toast by now, but I don’t know if Porsche improved the material. 986 Boxsters have for many years been treated as cheap beaters, and many are always left parked out in the sun. Also, the rear window on the Spyder is upright/vertical rather than being heavily sloped like on a 986, so I’d expect it to get a bit less sun/UV exposure on average.
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07-03-2020, 04:50 PM
#8
Geez OP, this is like the fourth or fifth thread you’ve started worrying about one little thing or another on the Spyder. Are you sure this is the right car for you?
07-03-2020, 05:00 PM
#9
It's only a matter of time before the rear plastic window along with the top part needs to be replaced. How prone are Porsche rear plastic windows to yellowing and cracking? My car would be kept in the garage in SoCal weather so although it can get hot and cold during the seasons, it doesn't get hot like Las Vegas or Arizona hot and it doesn't get cold like east coast cold. Just enough for us wussies to complain that CA is cold.
I looked on Suncaost and it looks like the 987.2 convertible top can be replaced in two parts. Not sure if the 982 can also have the top and the rear window section replaced separately as that would help manage the maintenance cost of the top.
I really do wish Porsche would have somehow engineered the top to have a glass rear window. Along with not have to replace it over time, it would have allowed me to tint the car. Now that there's a plastic rear window, I don't plan to tint the car because tinting only the side windows and not the rear looks weird.
I looked on Suncaost and it looks like the 987.2 convertible top can be replaced in two parts. Not sure if the 982 can also have the top and the rear window section replaced separately as that would help manage the maintenance cost of the top.
I really do wish Porsche would have somehow engineered the top to have a glass rear window. Along with not have to replace it over time, it would have allowed me to tint the car. Now that there's a plastic rear window, I don't plan to tint the car because tinting only the side windows and not the rear looks weird.
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07-03-2020, 05:11 PM
#10
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That’s good to hear. If there’s no yellowing at all currently, it’ll probably remain usable 10 years from now.
I guess they used a plastic window for weight savings. I would have preferred a glass window despite the extra weight, but I’m not too worried about it myself, as the car is meant to be driven with the top down mainly, and mine would be mostly parked indoors out of the sun.
I guess they used a plastic window for weight savings. I would have preferred a glass window despite the extra weight, but I’m not too worried about it myself, as the car is meant to be driven with the top down mainly, and mine would be mostly parked indoors out of the sun.
07-03-2020, 05:14 PM
#12
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That’s good to hear. If there’s no yellowing at all currently, it’ll probably remain usable 10 years from now.
I guess they used a plastic window for weight savings. I would have preferred a glass window despite the extra weight, but I’m not too worried about it myself, as the car is meant to be driven with the top down mainly, and mine would be mostly parked indoors out of the sun.
I guess they used a plastic window for weight savings. I would have preferred a glass window despite the extra weight, but I’m not too worried about it myself, as the car is meant to be driven with the top down mainly, and mine would be mostly parked indoors out of the sun.
07-03-2020, 05:56 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
In this case, I know plastic rear windows will at some point need to be replaced which is impacted by many factors such as parking in the sun, parking in a hot garage, putting the top down and possibly putting a crease on the plastic, etc. I'm just curious to know how many years in general this part on a Porsche can be expected to last. From the responses, it sound promising which is all I was trying to gather.
07-03-2020, 06:15 PM
#14
After 350 miles in Spyder I have not noticed window at all cause c'mon it's a crime to drive it top up
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07-03-2020, 06:33 PM
#15
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