New owner & best mod for pre-02 cabrio (pics!)
06-27-2007, 06:19 PM
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New owner & best mod for pre-02 cabrio (pics!)
I've sponged long enough without posting any pics so, before I get banned, here area a few. In fairness, I've been waiting on getting a few critical mods completed before uploading. (I'm still sitting here with pedals, dash trim, aluminum gauge rings and a carbon fiber ebrake to install, so interior pics will have to wait.
So, for now, check out my new ride and its new top. I had a very faded grey top with an opaque plastic window that was separating from the canvas. So, I opted to replace the whole thing with the GAHH top. Now, I have a real glass window (with a defroster, no less).
Visibility is great. True, it's probably not as good as an OEM top on an '02 or newer because the glass is not as tall, but it's the next best thing. (I couldn't see anything when backing up before, so this is a major improvement.)
It's lengthy process. The shop had the car for two days and when first fitted, it's tight like a drum. Plus, you can't put the top down for 2 weeks while the canvas continues to stretch. After two weeks, I have to take the car back and they'll spend another 7-8 hours fine-tuning the fit of the top and the new headliner.
More pics to follow once interior is done. Then on to wheels? This forum is great. The advice is invaluable.
So, for now, check out my new ride and its new top. I had a very faded grey top with an opaque plastic window that was separating from the canvas. So, I opted to replace the whole thing with the GAHH top. Now, I have a real glass window (with a defroster, no less).
Visibility is great. True, it's probably not as good as an OEM top on an '02 or newer because the glass is not as tall, but it's the next best thing. (I couldn't see anything when backing up before, so this is a major improvement.)
It's lengthy process. The shop had the car for two days and when first fitted, it's tight like a drum. Plus, you can't put the top down for 2 weeks while the canvas continues to stretch. After two weeks, I have to take the car back and they'll spend another 7-8 hours fine-tuning the fit of the top and the new headliner.
More pics to follow once interior is done. Then on to wheels? This forum is great. The advice is invaluable.
06-27-2007, 07:49 PM
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Looks great - sounds like you found a very thorough place to install the top. I have a guy across the parking lot from me who does them in about 4 hours. Worried the crap out of me.
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06-27-2007, 08:54 PM
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Thanks, all.
The color is actually a match to the factory original. (I believe it's "graffiti" grey. Confusing, since interior is graphite grey...) I thought about black b/c black actually holds up better to sunlight, but opted to stick with the original color.
This place is called Premier Upholstery in Santa Clara (www.premierupholstery.com). I called a local indie mechanic and a dealer and they both recommended these guys. They do a lot of warranty work and insurance claims for the dealers.
The job was pricey. $2,000 for the top and $1,000 for the labor. (I think the replacement top with plastic is $500 cheaper, but that was an easy decision.) I probably would not have gone this route if the old top had not been as faded and beaten up as it was...
The other benefit is that Premier takes responsibility for the top should anything go wrong from here on out. The canvas itself has a 3 year warranty, but if anything mechanical fails for the life of the top, Premier will replace fit it for me, no questions asked. Since they take it apart, they take ownership of it. So, part of that $3k includes a psuedo-lifetime warranty on the top.
The color is actually a match to the factory original. (I believe it's "graffiti" grey. Confusing, since interior is graphite grey...) I thought about black b/c black actually holds up better to sunlight, but opted to stick with the original color.
This place is called Premier Upholstery in Santa Clara (www.premierupholstery.com). I called a local indie mechanic and a dealer and they both recommended these guys. They do a lot of warranty work and insurance claims for the dealers.
The job was pricey. $2,000 for the top and $1,000 for the labor. (I think the replacement top with plastic is $500 cheaper, but that was an easy decision.) I probably would not have gone this route if the old top had not been as faded and beaten up as it was...
The other benefit is that Premier takes responsibility for the top should anything go wrong from here on out. The canvas itself has a 3 year warranty, but if anything mechanical fails for the life of the top, Premier will replace fit it for me, no questions asked. Since they take it apart, they take ownership of it. So, part of that $3k includes a psuedo-lifetime warranty on the top.
07-01-2007, 11:22 PM
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The guy who did the top told me (just as Joan's plastic surgeon told her) that the tightness would relax a bit after a couple weeks... It's like a drum right now.
