rpolin

I expect to be driving my '02 C4 cab this winter although of course not in the heavy snow and I have already started down the path of figuring out what to do for tires and rims but the real question is the top. I used to have an SL500 that I would put the hard top on in the winter and it was great. I was thinking of doing the same for my 911 as I don't want the soft top exposed to the harsh winter but I was hoping to get some feedback before shelling out the cash for a top.

Any thoughts?

Also, anyone have an artic silver hard top that would fit my '02 C4 cab that they are willing to part with?

Thanks.

CabrioArtie

I think in the NE a hardtop is a necessity, I had a hardtop on my M3 and when I acquired my 996 I immediately started looking for and acquired a hardtop.

Haven’t gone through a winter yet, but with snows and a hardtop the car should be great.

DaveSpeed

I love having a hard top, makes the car usable year round.

Dharn55

Hardtops are great in the winter. Mine usually goes on in November and comes off I'm March. Quieter and said es wear andtear on the soft top. There are lots of them for sale on eBay, etc. And silver is a very common color. The trick is to find one nearby as they are expensive to ship. You should beable to find one for less than $500.

wyovino

I agree on using the hardtop for the Winter in the Northeast.

frisbee91

Big fan of the hardtop in the winter. I only had it on for about 3 months last winter, but it was still nice to have. It's like a new car when you first put it on/take it off.

Chaos

I Love Mine !

AckyE

I want to get one too. Although I don't plan on driving it in the winter, I think it would change the look and feel of the car. And, I could extend use of it when it gets a little colder maybe, just to extend the fun!

U just gave me an idea. The PO said that the owner before him may even have it somewhere in his garage. I have his information, might be worth a shot. (Whats the chances after 7 years this guy has it?)

And , I think $500 is the going rate.

rpolin

Is it safe to assume that a hardtop from one 996 would fit any other model year 996? To be blunt, woudl the top from a 2001 911 996 cab fit on a 2002 911 996 c4 cab?

Reborn996

Yep, same hard top for all 996 models... although the spin locks did change somewhere in the range but you can retofit them to the car if needed. I think the hard top is even the same for 997 models.

Sue Esponte

There's no questioning the benefits of having a hard top but I wouldn't lose too much sleep if you don't end up finding one before it snows for some reason.

I used to use my MKI 2002 TT (225) Quattro Roadster as a daily driver in CT and it, of course, had a soft top. It was like a snowmobile when wearing its Dunlop Wintersport M3s.

Sure, the cabin was probably marginally colder when you first got in it than it would have been if it was fitted with a hard top but it's not a 747. The cabin heated in up in no time and the layers of the soft top did a good job at maintaining the cabin temperature. I can't imagine that the 911 would be that different.

Just my $.02,

-Eric

TomF

I love my hardtop. Since we so rarely get sun here in winter, spring, fall (or summer) I remove and replace it whenever we get a decent stretch of weather. It also makes the car very quiet. I would highly recommend getting one. They are a great piece of engineering.

jwex16

The tops are everywhere on craigslist. Try searchtempest. Watch for the interior color matching as well as the exterior color and the fastening sytem. 99 to 02 or 03 used a bayonette stlye with a pin. The later style is a screw type. Find the right fitting as upgrading can cost you hundreds .Do a search for identifying the different types. The best way to pick it up is with your car. They are awkward for a pickup or van and will not fit in many. you only need allen wrench to install. It may be 6mm or so. Ask if they come with a stand and try to grt the plastic cover that goes over the latch. I found mine with a stand in the right colors for $300 last year. Makes all the difference in the world.

B r i a n

love it - makes it feel like a different car for the winter.
Porsche of Tysons in VA had some leftovers for $500 - not sure if any left

SSST

I have a hard top that came with the car. I drove it home from the dealer with the hard top on, and man was it noisy. Took it off as soon as I got home and put it in storage. My TT is much quieter with the softtop.

Someone said I would want to put it back on in the Texas Summer, but the AC works so well, I haven't had the need.

I don't have to deal with single digits and snow though.