why go hardtop?

22877 Views 47 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Ken Branch, Mar 26, 2012

CtheW0rld

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2012

Just curious. My primary car is a hardtop. I bought the spyder specifically because the top goes down. For those that have a hardtop, why did you do it?

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

SuperWhiteGT4

· #2 · Mar 22, 2012 (Edited by Moderator)

A lot of us here (although definitely not a majority) bought the car for reasons other than it being a convertible.

In fact, it's my single least favorite attribute of the car, but we all like it for different reasons. I like it because it's the most lightweight car on this side of a Lotus.

NitroMidgets

· #3 · Mar 22, 2012

I can count the amount of times I lowered my Spyders soft top on one hand. I like it because of the way it handles, the mid mounted engine and the RWD. When I get the spare cash I will be going hardtop with a harddog and the soft top removed.

07HR350Z

· #4 · Mar 22, 2012

Why do owners go hardtop?

1. The soft top leaks.
2. The hardtop adds rigidity to the upper section of the body.
3. Hardtop looks better than a black, brown, or red soft top.
4. Hardtop is more aerodynamic than soft top.
5. Hardtop has a cleaner look inside.
6. You can remove the hard top and drive topless whenever you'd like.

I think that covers it.

Reactions: 1

rcntype

· #5 · Mar 22, 2012

I was like these two up top but after getting the car and realizing how great a convertible sporty car feels I could never get a hardtop. Was even offered a really cheap hardtop recently, just can't do it. I love being able to drop the top and go for a cruise.

Im_In_San_Fran

· #6 · Mar 22, 2012 (Edited)

07HR350Z said:
Why do owners go hardtop?

1. The soft top leaks.
2. The hardtop adds rigidity to the upper section of the body.
3. Hardtop looks better than a black, brown, or red soft top.
4. Hardtop is more aerodynamic than soft top.
5. Hardtop has a cleaner look inside.
6. You can remove the hard top and drive topless whenever you'd like.

7. OEM hardtop has great sound dending from road noise and motor. Combine that with a comforter in your rear compartment and you have a very quiet car. Aftermarket exhaust has no drone (critical if driving on highways for many miles). Also you can hear your stereo at lower volumes.

8. Your heat and air conditioning become twice as effective due to the insulation (no sweaty road trips).

9. OEM hardtop has a huge piece of glass, offering no blind spots. (almost like having your top off). I've never seen a car with more visibility.

10. ~1" more headroom compared to soft top up.

11. No slashed soft-top style theft.

12. Wind no longer causes the car alarm to go off (you can keep the motion sensor engaged).

13. If you are in the bar parking lot you can plop your date on the roof and make hanky-panky while you stand on the door sill. Yes it's gross.

14. When you are done with the hardtop you can sell it at the same price you bought it or at a halo-effect mark-up due to the the hanky-panky butt-marks.

This is getting absurd... sorry.

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cool_apple

· #7 · Mar 22, 2012

vanity ? ^_^

more so as an insurance in case something happens to the soft top.

the primary reason of the spyder for me was its lightweight, nimble sports car, the bonus was its also a open top.

my earlier mr2 ride was a t-top AW11 SC

Erdoc48

· #8 · Mar 22, 2012

I was a 'soft top only' person as well, and recently had the opportunity to get the hard top at a very good price. I now use the Spyder more than I did in the past (generally drove it maybe 3000 miles per year), and it's nice for security. I can take it off easily if I want to drive top down, plus, I plan to use it for longer distance vacation driving. I do recommend it unless it's an occasional driver or if you can always park it in a secure area. I love top down driving, but the HT makes the car a little more useful (especially if gas prices top $5/gallon).

Plus, as others have said, it's a win win as you can always sell it for at a minimum what you paid for it.

rcntype

· #9 · Mar 22, 2012

07HR350Z said:
Why do owners go hardtop?

4. Hardtop is more aerodynamic than soft top.

I think that covers it.

I don't think this is true, the sharp cut of of the rear of the hardtop vs the softtops easy blend says otherwise. I'm definitely no aero engineer though but it makes logical sense to me :lol:

TxBman

· #10 · Mar 23, 2012

My reasons were few and simple and besides appearance were based on things I had heard from owners who had one. My reasons in order of why I have one are:

1. Appearance. Looks a heck of a lot better than the soft top, knew that before I got it.
2. Less noise. The most noticeable and appreciated difference. Can actually have a conversation on my cell phone (w/blue tooth).
3. Added rigidity. An added and noticeable benefit but not as appreciated by me as less noise.

I agree with better temperature control, just wasn't a reason I wanted one. I live in southeast Texas.

The only downside to me of a hard top is taking it on and off but based on what it provides is a minor inconvenience. During what we consider spring and summer in Texas, it will stay off because the pain in the ass of being able to go topless quickly based on the day's weather trumps the hardtop being on.

Mateo Largo

· #11 · Mar 23, 2012

This topic has been covered a number of times in the past. There are a few valid reasons, but there is only one that matters...

BECAUSE IT IS REALLY F'ING COOL AND THE CAR LOOKS BADASS WITH IT ON

xbiker

· #12 · Mar 23, 2012

The hard top is bling that will not lose its value. I like to have it on for long trips and remove it for local driving.

Rampage

· #13 · Mar 23, 2012

Only way I would have bought the car. I am not a fan of ragtops and I have loved the look of the Spyder with the hardtop since I first saw it on a model car in 2003. Plus it makes the car more exclusive. Very few people have any idea what it is and no one believes it is 12 years old. I get "When did Toyota start making this?" when I finally tell them it is a Toyota.

kaustein

· #14 · Mar 23, 2012

Hardtop = 2 door coupe

Soft top vinyl/cloth = Roadster

Enough said!

But I can understand why some may choose to go the hardtop route!

tmhuud

· #15 · Mar 23, 2012

Mateo Largo said:
This topic has been covered a number of times in the past. There are a few valid reasons, but there is only one that matters...

BECAUSE IT IS REALLY F'ING COOL AND THE CAR LOOKS BADASS WITH IT ON

lol.very true.

cool_apple

· #16 · Mar 23, 2012

its been 8 months + i think i've don the HT on the spyder.

and gathering a bit of dust :huh:

still, in case it rains...the HT is nicely tucked at home.

OldMan

· #17 · Mar 23, 2012 (Edited)

Post Deleted

TreeFitty

· #18 · Mar 23, 2012

I love the Spyder in spite of its being a convertible. The mid-engine dynamics, light weight, and affordability are what drew me in and have kept me interested.

My last Spyder had a hard top, which I sold for roughly what I paid new, and I'll have another. The reasons are covered in a few of the responses above... minus the rooftop sex thing, as I never tried that when I had a hard top :lol:

Joe Schmoe

· #19 · Mar 23, 2012

Im_In_San_Fran said:
9. OEM hardtop has a huge piece of glass, offering no blind spots. (almost like having your top off). I've never seen a car with more visibility.

A contributing factor to this is that the curvature of the glass has a funhouse mirror effect and actually widens your field of view a bit more than it would normally. I had one for a short time and I mostly liked the way it looked.....but at some angles (rear 3/4) it looks a little crappy...too much glass. Besides that I'd agree with everything else everyone has said so far. I'd like one....but not for $2200+. That's becoming a large % of the value of these cars. I'd consider it for half that, but I live in a fair weather area. If it was my only car and I lived in permanently crappy weather are it would be more appealing.

kfx123

· #20 · Mar 23, 2012

Im_In_San_Fran said:
7. OEM hardtop has great sound dending from road noise and motor. Combine that with a comforter in your rear compartment and you have a very quiet car. Aftermarket exhaust has no drone (critical if driving on highways for many miles). Also you can hear your stereo at lower volumes.

8. Your heat and air conditioning become twice as effective due to the insulation (no sweaty road trips).

9. OEM hardtop has a huge piece of glass, offering no blind spots. (almost like having your top off). I've never seen a car with more visibility.

10. ~1" more headroom compared to soft top up.

11. No slashed soft-top style theft.

12. Wind no longer causes the car alarm to go off (you can keep the motion sensor engaged).

13. If you are in the bar parking lot you can plop your date on the roof and make hanky-panky while you stand on the door sill. Yes it's gross.

14. When you are done with the hardtop you can sell it at the same price you bought it or at a halo-effect mark-up due to the the hanky-panky butt-marks.

This is getting absurd... sorry.

15. It just makes the car look soo much more sexy...

16. For people who like a shiny top.

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