Its actualy alot of fun to drive a Miata. They are small and nimble giving you that enjoyable cart feeling. The only problem, from my point of view, is that they are underpowered.

 

The Smarttop device certainly adds the "one touch" convenience and much else to the 997. However, I would not hazard having one on my car unless the Porsche dealer installed it and was willing to warranty it. Any problems with wiring modifications are on you if anything goes wrong.

Ask me how I know. The Smarttop module I had on my car failed. Top down & wouldn't go up, horn blowing continuously and PCM flashing. I was able to get it to my mechanic right away and he removed the module. No damage to the car, fortunately. It had to go to the dealer to reset the top and PCM.

I was out of pocket for installation, removal, 2 way shipping, a trip to the dealer and loss of 5 days use. Not even a single word of apology from Smarttop! You expect people to try to get it right. Not caring is inexcusable. A discredit to the aftermarket community. Those shameless persons are still sending me emails advertising for their products, as if this never happened. Do business with them at your own risk. "One touch" is great, but if it means dealing with a disreputable company like this, I would rather hold the button down until the top opens.

 

I guess they didn't put it on the 997's exactly because of the latch. On a Boxster, you have to "commit" to lowering the top by pulling the latch. If the 997 had the same feature, the top would open on the switch alone-- perhaps unintentionally. I also believe this is why the cabrio/targa switch was redesigned from the 997.1 to the 997.2: it is harder to knock it and have "bad things" happen.

Tom

 

Doesn't the wind resistance create stress on the top mechanism which could cause premature wearing?

 

Edgy

If you want a laugh go check out the top operation on a 550SL......

if you can do it without checking out the manual I'd be surprised

 

Are they similar to the 500SL? (Will check with a buddy).

I recently took the hardtop off a SL500 (1990) and was surprised at how automated much of that was. You push the button, and then wait, and then hoist it up and away.

 

traded it in so i wouldnt know.. at 50 it would stop moving tho. so clearly thats a limit for it.. motor just stops at 50.. i always put it up/down on the go.. motors sound the same and moves same speed so never thought was stressing it.

 

Good info to know! I always thought it was 30 mph; nice that we have that "buffer" to 50.