Looks like I won't be able to avoid the convertible top replacement as the bottom of the glued on vinyl window is delaminating, not easily repairable, appears to be a common issue with early 996 convertibles.

Has anyone got any first hand experience or recommendations with shops in Toronto area for this work?

I came across Enco Trim & Glass on Dufferin St and Eglinton area, reasonable labor rate, wonder if anyone has used this outfit before?

 

I had Vision Glass in Woodbridge do a minor repair on my wife's Boxster. They did a great job repairing the issue with the sunroof for a reasonable price.

They had 2 complete sunroof replacements on the go when I dropped off her car.

 

Hands down. New Image Auto Interiors. They did my 996. I've also had them do a 2000 Miata, 1965 mustang convertible, 1989 mustang convertible. Always great service. Ask for Serge. Whenever I'm there there's always a 911 in the shop. People know about them. Look them up!

 

Thanks Bmantdot, I'll give them a call in the morning, much appreciated.

You can ignore my PM now.

 

I should have listened to Bmantdot.

Someone mentioned ENCO shop on Dufferin and Lawrence as being used by Downtown Porsche although he had no direct experience, I called Downtown Porsche and the person who I thought was a "service advisor" said yes Downtown Porsche has used ENCO in the past without issues, so I decided to use ENCO since it's about 20 minutes less travel for me.

An EPIC mistake.

I was told by owner Lou at ENCO two days will be required to replace the top, so I left the car with ENCO for four days (Tuesday to Friday), I had to call him Thursday afternoon for status, Lou said "the material is not wide enough" and they need to stretch the material overnight.

It was painfully obvious when I picked up the car Friday that the brand new replacement top I had purchased from German Auto Top https://www.germanautotops.com/ and brought to the ENCO was not installed properly, issues included:

1. A visible notch at the bottom of each side
2. Wrinkles on the driver side edge area
3. Exposed stitching on passenger side
4. Distorted vinyl window bottom edge in the center
5. Numerous fine scratches on the convertible side frame trim, the scratches were not there in the pictures I took the day before dropping the car off, it was from ENCO technicians prying with tools without protecting the trim or the tools with painter's tape.

Over the weekend I found out from the convertible manufacturer that New Image shop has installed this top numerous time without issues, the manufacturer said he would have recommended New Image to me had he known I was in Toronto. (He couldn't have known, as I had the part shipped to Niagara Falls for pick up)

I contacted owner Lou at ENCO on Monday that I will take the car to New Image for assessment and possible repair if the material was not faulty, he tersely replied: "Go ahead, you bought a cheap top, it's faulty, it's not genuine German fabric, it feels like cardboard.", every excuse except his guys didn't do the job properly.

I should known then nothing good will come out of this.

New Image was able to rectify all issues with 3 to 4 hours of work, proving there was absolutely nothing wrong with the material, which New Image confirmed is genuine German convertible top fabric and perfectly fine. I paid for the repair work, then returned to ENCO to discuss compensation.

Lou at ENCO flatly refused to acknowledge the material was not faulty, or accept responsibility that his shop installed the top poorly, or refund any amount of what I had paid him, he insisted the price I paid for the material was "cheap" implying it must be inferior and/or faulty. He then began to curse, ending up screaming obscenities at me, at which point I left.

I have since attempted to contact Lou/ENCO three separate times through emails to try to work things out, no response was ever received.

There is no prospect of getting any refund back from ENCO, however I will share this experience so no other Rennlisters in the GTA will suffer through the same misfortune I did.

DO NOT USE ENCO on Dufferin St., go to New Image Auto Interiors in Scarborough.

The ironic part is I had fully expected ENCO to perform a stellar job, had the owner Lou's permission to take images so I can endorse them after the job was done, never thought I am now highlighting ENCO as the shop NOT to go to.

Here are a few images of the work after ENCO had the car for 3 days:





















And after New Image had repaired the issues of poor installation by ENCO: (I'm missing a driver side view, but the hardtop is already on, so please accept my words that the driver side looks perfect now!)

 

Glad your top issues were resolved and thanks for posting. It is important that we weed out inferior service providers. Doesn't sound like it's worth it in this case but remember it only costs $75 to file a small claims suit.

 

wow... night and day difference!

 

I am general contractor for mostly residential contruction in Toronto. I refer alot of people for different trades. Herald and Serge at New Image Interiors are real gentlemen. They are professionals in their field and produce stellar results for fair money. A+++

 

I need to talk to you on future construction related referrals!!

 

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Sorry to see that you had to go through this. Glad it's all now taken care of and thanks for posting.

 

Excellent post Ken send a link to the twits!!