Hi, I recently came across a OEM hardtop my new neighbor used to have on his S2000 before he totaled it. The hardtop was off the car when it got totaled, and that is not my concern. He said he only had it on for about 3 weeks after he got it and then decided he liked not having a roof beter. He was telling me that he had taken out the soft top and motors for the soft top when he had it installed and it gave him some extra storage room. I was wondering how common this is, or if it is necessary, and also how hard it is to do and if there are any ill effects due to removing it. I am just trying to check out my options. Any help would be great. I appreciate it since I am going to be buying it soon.

-Ian

 

It is not common or required to removed the soft top. It is common for the hardcore track junkies, but the daily drivers rarely if ever do it.

You will need about 500 in parts to install his hardtop. This is to replace the parts that were on the car when it was totaled. So make your offer with that in mind.

 

He is selling it to me for $1500. Well actually his wife is telling him to sell it to me for $1500 since I let them barrow a lawn mower and an edger back when they first moved in. I figure either way i am saving a little money. The Extra Storage space is actually really attractive to me. I am just curious if anything rattles or if there are any ill effects to taking it out. Thanks.

-Ian

 

if u take out ur softop and only have a hardtop then if ur driving around and the day is nice u cant take the hard top off as u cant fit it in the boot.

the reverse is also true for when its a nice day and u left the hardtop at home and then all of a sudden it rains. u'll just have to drive home in the rain

 

1500 for a hard top is hard to pass up especially if itts only 3 weeks old. If I were you I'd take it but I would leave the softtop intact that way if you decided to remove the hard top, you will still have the convertable.

 

yeah thats what i think I will end up doing. he got it about 2 years ago and only had it on for about 3 weeks and then said he liked not having a top better and he had kept it since then waiting to get another. I was jokingly talking with him and his wife and told him I would buy it and his wife was like you can have it for 1500 and he was like i guess, i dont think i would install one again since i like having a convertible better. i appreciate everyone's input.

-Ian

 

Extra storage? That's interesting. You would probably still have to remove the hardtop to reach behind the rollbars to reach anything. I have an OEM hardtop which is always on my car and it is very hard to reach behing the roll bars to vaccuum wih the hardtop on. My softop is still in the down position in the car.

Removing the soft top for extra storage doesn't make sense to me. First, there's not much room there. Second, how would a driver reach anything back there? Removing the hardtop just to have storage seems highly cumbersome and not practicle. Removing the hardtop which weighs about 44 pounds is best done with two people on both sides of the vehicle or you could risk scratching the paint. So how would that have worked for better storage is a mystery to me. I find it hard to believe.

As others have said it is not necessary to remove the softtop just to install the hardtop. The hardtop rests over the whole passenger cabin including resting a bit over (behind) the softop when the softop is in the down postion. The car feels like a solid coupe with the hardtop. It is my favorite accessory.

Remember you will need some parts to install on the body of the vehicle to fit the hardtop into. Make sure you get those parts or try to shop for them. I don't know how easy it is to find those pieces but you should know about them.

Good luck shopping. Shop wisely.

 

If you remove the soft top the value of your car will go down.......alot.
IMHO this is a bad mistake unless like Strat said, your a track junkie

 

It is the best option on, or off my car.

 

Coincidentally, I did just pull my softtop and all the rear trim out of my car. As others have said, I did it to make room for a custom roll bar for track use.

There really would be some significant extra storage room. About the same as doubling the trunk. However, it would not be convenient to get at.