Interior Exterior
Q:
I drove the car home from the dealership with the hard top on, but took it off the next weekend. As much as I like the car with the hardtop (I like the looks of it), it's more fun topless. The hard top has been sitting in the garage since.
Interested in selling it ?
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Update- I also did not want to spend the money up front. I saw a Gulf Wing Style and I thought I would put the $1500.00 towards the Gulf Wing Style.
Maybe someone can answer my question there. Is the frame that holds the HardTop-Gulfwing style removable? Does it come on and off like the original Hard Top?
Peter
The gull wing frame is removable, but not like the OEM hardtop. To install the gull wing frame, you have to remove the original roll bar cover. The Gull wing frame replaces both the removable top and the roll bar cover.
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Not having owned my car very long (and already in for a stereo upgrade), I wasn't sure how often I'd use the hardtop. I have a Lotus M100 Elan and the problem with the soft top in that is that it does give you the dreaded wet knee syndrome. I had a fix by sticking extra canvas along the window edges but that still didn't solve the corner where the top of the windshield meets the top of the window. In any case, I found that top to be warm enough (although I have never had in below 50 degree weather on any kind of regularity). So, I figure, the hard top for the winter months but soft top and no top from spring through fall (say April - Oct.). It seems like taking it off is a pain (for the hard top) - how hard is the soft top to take on and off? If its not too bad, I figure that would be the mode to use most of the nicer part of the year. Also, isn't ingress/egress easier with no top? I'm guessing with the soft top its no different than the hard top, right?
Scott
I believe most people do not have leakage problems with either the hard top or soft top in the Elise. Of the few that have had the problem initially, most of them have had the problem solved by adjusting the side windows. They are fairly easily adjustable for height front and back and for tilt front and back.
I don't have a hard top, but from what I hear, once you get proficient at it, it only takes a few minutes (~5?) to remove...as long as you don't strip an bolts, which has happened to several people. The soft top goes on and off in less than a minute. SurferJer takes his on/off at a stoplight. I haven't attempted that yet...and probably won't, though the only difficult part is the awkwardness of releasing the passenger side front latch.
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Have my hardtop on 100% of the time...looks really bitchin'
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Bottom line: get a hard top, if you don't like it, you'll be able to sell it at a profit (especially SY).
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I have a soft top and love it. Having had a color coded hard top on my vette', I prefer the soft top ANY day of the week. It comes off easy, rolls up and stores easy, and still looks cool while its on. I think the hard top makes the Elise look a little smaller as well. Just my preference. Good Luck!
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The gull wing frame is removable, but not like the OEM hardtop. To install the gull wing frame, you have to remove the original roll bar cover. The Gull wing frame replaces both the removable top and the roll bar cover.
Thanks for the info. ANy idea where to pick up a gull wing?
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http://www.huntingridgemotors.com/parts.php
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Interested in selling it ?
Noticed you wanted AR. I can't quite part with it yet. I may be temporarily relocating to a colder climate, so I'm holding on to it just in case.
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Hi, Jon,
I'm a Colorado guy and I love my hardtop for the cold weather months. I've used it about 50/50. Really, nothing beats open air driving-the soft top is a breeze to pop on and off (you know our 15 minute out-of-nowhere summer showers) but for winter driving, I think it's a must. Plus, it really does look great. Get one! Hope to see you on street soon!
Tom
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never plan on removing my hard top, not once.
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never plan on removing my hard top, not once.
Wow, with so many postive responses to keeping the hard top on, I feel like maybe I'm missing out on something!
I guess I'll put it on this weekend just to see how it looks and feels. I hope I can find it, I think it's still under the bed or in the closet or somewhere...
Can't take it anywhere though, too much snow...
Wayne
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I'm one of those people that did not order the hard top, and have no need for one. The soft top has only been on a couple of times, and only then because I got caught out in the rain.
The only advantage (for me) of the hard top would be the possibility that some track may require it for track time - but the built-in roll bar should be good enough for most tracks.
If I can't drive the Elise with the top off, I don't bother to drive it.
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Get the hardtop. We are having an indian summer in Seattle right now......and I know you get plenty of those there in Colorado. It is such a real pleasure to drive w/ the HT on days like this (let alone when it is overcast, yet somewhat dry). If I lived in a tropical state I would have thought about it. The HT is well built and will last the life of the car.......will the soft top?....doubt it.
Get it......you will not regret it. Don't get it and you will regret it.
My 2 cents on the color..........My brother has KG and lives about a mile from me so I see it both on the road and in his garage alot. He took one of the 1st deliveries so when he ordered that color based on a few pictures I was like..."What are you thinking?".
It looks awesome and sitting next to CO I really think it is the winner. He left his plain but if you decided on black accents, that goes better w/ the KG. I saw a KG w/ black LSS wheels, diffuser and racing stripes and thought it was the most stunning elise I have seen. On the same note I saw a CO w/ black racing stripes and didn't care for it. Just too halloweeny for me. But you know......picking a color has to be the hardest option. They almost all look great.
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I put my hardtop on for the Winter (Oct-March). I do not drive the car much during the winter. The only time I really use the hard top is at the track. This means that I use the hardtop a dozen times. Truth be told, I enjoy the car more without the top.
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never plan on removing my hard top, not once.
what, no interest in driving topless? the hardtop does look really nice, but you might be missing something if you NEVER once try driving without it.
I didn't get the hardtop and have driven my Elise ONCE with the top on in 16 months, and then it was only to see what it was like to have it in place.
Given another go around, I would buy the hardtop and hang it in my garage for decoration. Then if I caught caught in a pinch for a few dollars I'd sell it for some cold hard cash.
The Elise looks really nice with the hardtop on, but the extra sensations provided by driving topless are priceless...
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YOU CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF????
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I never have considered myself a convertable guy. Wasn't really interested in buying one but the Elise only comes that way and I wanted an Elise. I didn't buy a hardtop and thought I'd pick one up later. Needless to say, my soft top is only on when absolutely necessary. I love driving the car topless. I have thought how pretty the car is with the hard top installed but ultimately probably wouldn't use it much at all. Especially because it isn't just a simple on/off thing.
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Wow, it seems to me that most people love their hardtops! and thanks SSFlanker7 I have read that KG is way more impressive in person
I think I will just get the hardtop for the sake of having it, and who knows I might track it one day
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Here's a comparison: