[flash]

Many of us have converted our convertible tops to manual operation, per the procedure indicated in the Owner's Manual.  Some of us have done so as a result of failure (over 100).  Some of us are doing it as a preventative measure (likely a whole lot more).  I though a poll was in order to see just how many have done what and why.

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[Mark]

I have mine in manual because it is faster

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[MLB]

Hi

Unclear what is meant by the question "do you care?"

I currently use manual mode as preventive measure:

YES, I care that I don't damage my top more than I care about perceived inconvenience of manual

NO, the inconvenience of manual doesn't bother me

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[Ryan]

If you are not in manual the second question is moot, however it won't let you vote without a response.

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[Ernie]

I put mine in manual after Max commented on how "brave" I was using the power option. When he explained that they bugger up pretty easily, I chose discretion, over valor!

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[BeBe]

First, I modified the relay to allow the top to operate when the car was running.  I ran that way for a while.  However, the more I read about the bad and expensive things that happen if the top gets misaligned and breaks, convinced me that manual operation sounded like a better way to go.  The top is pretty easy and quick to put up and down manually.  Not much of a downside.

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[flash]

the "do you care" question was intended for those who said they were still powered, and were willing to throw caution to the wind, as well as those who are not powered and are fine with it.  it was really more for fun, which is why the third choice is there.  the first 2 questions were the real ones.

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[Mark]

The wife's car is in power mode and has been for it's entire life, she apparently doesn't mind the 30 seconds it takes to go up or down. She knows if it stops or hesitates for any reason don't try and continue or it could lead to a very expensive repair.

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[flash]

my white car is too, and i'm seriously cringing, waiting for it to fail.

 

i'd love to have the blue car in power mode though.  just not willing to risk it.  seen way too many failures.

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[Grandpa#3]

Just another poorly designed part Porsche saddled us with being the cast Main Bow. It could have been made out of stamped steel and stronger instead of cheap pot metal. A person on ebay had a Main Bow that had been welded and was asking $500.00 for it. Who in their right mind would pay that much for a so called welded repair? :angry:

 

Cheers,

Larry

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[ryker]

Flash, what prohibited you from designing a better main bow?

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[flash]

the main bow wasn't really my issue with the design.  it's the dual motors, dual cables, and dual armatures, and dual latches, all of which have to be synched and adjusted just right.  add to that the fact that the stupid top sticks way up above the body, and that you have to use the boot cover, which means having to get out of the car, and it's basically a piss poor design

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[94SilverCab]

I have mine in power because the car came with a power top, and the day I sell it, it will have a power top. If a part breaks after 20 years, that's not a failure...

JMHO,

Jay

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[flash]

lol - that's just plain scary.  i figured for sure by now, after reading about all the horror stories, that you had gone manual.  with that reasoning, you should just adhere to the owner's manual regarding belt service, and ignore what we have learned.

 

if i were you, i would prepare to break a bow.  it's almost inevitable, unless you regularly get in there and adjust the top, and replace the canvas every few years.  pulling those inner panels to adjust things just seemed like too much work, so i went manual to avoid the nightmare.

 

a good indicator of when it can start to be a problem is looking at the stitching across the top, along the bows.  it it is fraying, or missing any stitches, your top is moving in the wind, which will stretch it, causing misalignment.  that's when the motors get involved and force the bow into a position where it breaks.

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[94SilverCab]

Every button and switch on my car is fully operational...(OT)with the exception of the interior temp display that goes dark when I turn on headlights. One of these days I'm going to get that bugger figured out.

Jay

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[jferraro17]

Y'all put your tops up?  

 

Hmpff, who would've thought....

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[az968]

My coupe always has the top up, can't find an easy way to put it down.

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[Langley968]

If you are not in manual the second question is moot, however it won't let you vote without a response.

I am still using "power" mode and I use it regularly. I replied to the second question, but it was only because that was the only way to vote, since you could not leave it blank (and it does not apply to us "power" folk!)

My top looks good, but I think it is still original! With 105k miles, it has been outside plenty, but given the condition of the top and dash, it probably was garaged most, if not all of its life.

I just hate the fact that I need to turn the car "off" to use the "power" mode.

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[flash]

there is a mod to the relay that allows for the top to work with the engine running.  do a search here, and you'll find it.

 

as for the rest, i'd be running out and buying a lottery ticket.  a quick way to see the condition of your top is to lift up the flap on the side and look at the stitching.  all stitching on all tops is black.  most of them look white, but when you lift up the flap, you'll see black.  by the time they are white, they are fragile, and start popping shortly thereafter.   a few popped stitches and the top billows when driving, which you cannot see from inside the car.  at that point, you start stretching the canvas.  the bow popping follows shortly thereafter if ignored.  about as predictable as the sun rising.

 

the truly tragic thing is that many people say "i'm going to get a new top soon" but wait too long.  there have been at least a dozen in the last year alone.

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[BeBe]

The relay mod is very easy to do.

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