pbarch1

I have been thinking about getting a hard top for my Cabriolet. This question is all you who have one..... Dan......I see alot of tops for the 996, but not many for the 997. why is that? and Secondly how would you sugest going about getting one. Now I really don't see the need for spending 4000.00 to get one. But It does interest me, what do you think?

points

InTheAir

Although Dan will be the authority on this, I don't believe they are specifically made for the 997, but the hardtop for the 996 fits.

I think that is how Dan got his and had it painted.

(someone will obviously need to confirm this )

KeninBlaine

I checked into the hardtop issue extensively last year, and eventually gave up on the idea. I received a lot of conflicting information from numerous people as to whether a 996 hardtop could be adapted to a 997 at all, or whether later 996 tops might fit whereas earlier ones wouldn't (some minor changes were apparently made along the way in mounting hardware). The dealer told me it would not work, but a Rennlister from NY said he did it, and provided a description of what was needed to make it work. To me, it wasn't worth the risk or the effort, since I find I likely wouldn't use it much anyway here in So Cal. Besides the risk of the 996 hardtop actually fitting properly, there is the issue of adding the required hardware to the car to accept it (if it wasn't factory ordered with the car). This may cost more than the used hardtop.

The reason for the high supply of 996 tops is that, from what I've read, the 996 cabs all came with hardtops. However, many people didn't want them so left them at the dealers. Of those that took them, many have gotten tired of them taking up space in their garages, so are trying to unload them. I've seen them in this area for $800, and there are always a number on the market at any given time. I've never seen a 997 hardtop for sale, because the few people who ordered a car with the hardtop are unlikely to want to part with their tops.

If you take the risk with trying to install a 996 top, I'd love to hear about your experience. If you do a search you'll likely find lots of discussion on this forum.

jnx

Actually when I ordered my 2002 996 cab, I got a credit from Porsche when I deleted it.

Edgy01

Here's the hardtop story.

(1) Porsche kept the designs the same between the late 996 hardtops and the 997 hardtops.

(2) Hardtops were originally provided with every cabriolet in the early days of the 996. Over time they reversed their approach and gave back credit to cab owners who chose to delete the option for a minor credit. What essentially happened were many hardtops were stacking up at dealerships. Apparently many cab owners maintained the position that they owned a cabriolet and didn't want (or have the space for) a hardtop. I have to say that if Porsche ever gives you something you should NEVER turn it down. (You could have always sold it on eBay if you wanted,--that's what several dealerships have done to their minor stock of abandoned hardtops.

(3) A hardtop is an extra cost option for the 997 model. I recall it to be about $3200. They're aluminum, and weigh about 73 pounds, with a functional rear window defroster.

(4) You can ALWAYS retrofit a 996/997 hardtop to fit a 997, but it's not inexpensive. As with so many Porsche options, you are generally better off ordering it up front from the factory when you submit your order. This is what I did,--it was part of the original order.

(5) Not all 996 tops fit a 997 right off the shelf. Many of the "early" 996 tops are not a Form, Fit, Function top for a 997, even with an adapter kit. The kits run about $1800 so I have been told to prep your 997 to receive a hardtop.

(6) Buying a used late model 996 hardtop is fairly easy to do,--check eBay or Craig List for your area. BUT, keep in mind that the adaptation is a whole 'nother deal. My hardtop originally ordered with my MY06 cabriolet carries a 996 part number. Buying a hardtop off eBay can be quite inexpensive,--owners are generally eager to get those space hogs out of their apartments, etc.; I'm talking something like $500 or less, even. If you have the luck of finding one in your color,--fantastic. (Like in my case, I knew there would never be such luck so I ordered mine with the car). You can easily have it painted to match your car.

(7) But lets do the math.
(a) You need an adapter kit ($1800) and (b) you need a deal off eBay (~$500) and then, usual case, you need (c) to have the top painted to match the car ($1000-1200?) so by the time you're all done with it, it could easily run you from $3300 or merely about $2000 if you find one on eBay in YOUR color and get it cheap. (Of course, there is always the shipping issue to add cost and risk to eBay purchases).

Thus, the price of $3200 FOB Zuffenhausen is a relative bargain.

John Velasco

nice point.

jnx

Just buy a coupe

Edgy01

I like the option! it's too nice where I am to restrict myself to a coupe.

NYNick

Had the 996 w/the hardtop. Only time I used it was at the track for DE's because they req'd 996's to run with them. Otherwise, it just took up space and was a pain to store. Did not get one for my current CAB for just this reason. I really don't see the need for it.

tkids

I don't think I have ever seen it with the hard top on!! BEAUTIFUL! Just stunning.

Speed

I was able to get a 996 hardtop for my 997S for about $1,500. Here's my story. The 996 top will fit a 997, the problem is the rear mounting hardware. During the production cycle of the 996 the hardware changed over the years (I think to reduce the rattle that the early tops tended to have). Also, I think that some hardware has to be added to the 997 if the car was not ordered with a top so that the defroster will work.

I had a 996 with a top I was going to keep and retrofit, but the guy who bought my 2002 car insisted on having the top and I had already placed the order for the 997. So I called around a number of local dealers who all have 996 tops sitting around and they quoted me ridiculous prices for the top + the hardware, along the lines that Dan mentioned in his post.

Then last May I got a flat tire while on the way to the Hamptons and the car was towed to Huntington Porsche. When I picked it up, just on a lark, I asked the service manager if he had any 996 tops lying around. He took me to a room loaded with tops in all colors including Artic Silver. After some negotiating, he charged me $500 for the top, $500 for the parts and $500 labor. And the top fits better than the OEM top I had on my '02 996.

The part nos. my dealer used are:
900-378-173-09 (4 hex screws. $.81 each)
996-561-653-03
996-561-654-03 (elec. fixtures; $172 each)

So ask around your local dealers. There is really no market for these tops so maybe someone will give you a fair deal as Huntington Porsche did with me.

Edgy01

What a great deal you got!! You see, if you work at it a little you can work it out. I suspect the NYC dealers got stuck with many of them because so many cab owners live in apartments and there is simply no room for something like a top,--unless you make a coffee table out of it! :-)

KeninBlaine

My dealer swore it wouldn't fit, even though I mentioned your post above that you shared last summer. Are the part numbers above the parts needed for the hardtop itself, or for providing the mountings on an unequipped car? If I have a car that was not ordered with a hardtop, are those the only parts I need to have with a 996 hardtop? And does it matter what year the hardtop was for (eg, 2000, 2001, 2004 etc.)?
Thanks

pl

look at the 996 forum, ppl can't get rid of their hard top for 100.