Interior Exterior
Q:
Is that a custom hardtop? would make getting in and out easier
A:
Is that the gullwing top that HRM sells? I wonder if it leaks.
A:
I dont know I saw a picture on the local lotus dealers website...and i woudnt doubt it leaks from what i read all tops leak on the elise (I am loking for mine still hehe)
A:
Is that a custom hardtop? would make getting in and out easier
[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e83/firecow1703/hartopconversion.jpg
[/IMG]
I've had the gull-wing (installed, painted by HRM)
since Feb. 05.. No leaks so far and in addition to easy access into
car you can pop the panels off and store them in the trunk if you
want the convertible effect. Shinoo sells them out of Sector 111
on the west coast but you have to find your own establishment
to paint and assemble it. HRM does the whole job and it ran me
$3,395 plus $293 tax. The carrying cases were $195 for the two.
One fellow in New Mexico had HRM fly their installer out to him.
I guess there wasn't anyone in his area that he trusted to install
it, especially when he realized that the HRM man had done
numerous ones in the past.
A:
Thanks I will need to look into this for my future Elise
-Jon
A:
The main advantage is easier entry and exit. If this is not an issue, (me at 5' 9" for example), then the only reason for a gullwing is the "bling factor"
A:
The main advantage is easier entry and exit. If this is not an issue, (me at 5' 9" for example), then the only reason for a gullwing is the "bling factor"
I'm 5' - 10" and even at that height, trying to negotiate
entry into the Elise with a top, either 'hard' or 'cloth', is
a task. Every detailed article I've ever read on the car
points to this fact. The bling is an extra benefit but the
gull-wing makes constant entry into the vehicle, especially
for women, much easier. P.S. - Popping the two panels off
for storage in the boot is also quick as a flash, requiring no
helper.
A:
I am not going to do it now but I may have done it instead of buying my Elise with a hard top. It looks very practical and kinda cool.
A:
I am not going to do it now but I may have done it instead of buying my Elise with a hard top. It looks very practical and kinda cool.
I can't even count the amount of times I've raised a
panel and had people refer to the car as a 'Baby Lambo'
because of it. It's amazing how many people don't
realize that the Lambo's bling-moves are the doors going
up, not the roof.
A:
I can't even count the amount of times I've raised a
panel and had people refer to the car as a 'Baby Lambo'
because of it. It's amazing how many people don't
realize that the Lambo's bling-moves are the doors going
up, not the roof.
Any issues with them, squeeking ect? Do they use your hard top (core charge)? I prefer having a hard top most of the time and it seems like a great solution. They look like they are a lot easier to live with than the hard top. How good is your a/c? I am not sure mine is good enough. It has only been 4.5 hours since I read this post and I am getting weak!!!:
A:
I'm 5' - 10" and even at that height, trying to negotiate
entry into the Elise with a top, either 'hard' or 'cloth', is
a task. Every detailed article I've ever read on the car
points to this fact.
Really? I'm 6ft and have had no trouble at all getting in. And no, I'm not 18 anymore either. Of course, it's not like walking into a Buick. What's more of a challenge is getting out, but I've pretty much figured out how to do it gracefully and in any case the roof is not much of an issue for me in egress.
A:
Any issues with them, squeeking ect? Do they use your hard top (core charge)? I prefer having a hard top most of the time and it seems like a great solution. They look like they are a lot easier to live with than the hard top. How good is your a/c? I am not sure mine is good enough. It has only been 4.5 hours since I read this post and I am getting weak!!!:
No squeaking but the pins that slide side to side working as a
locking mechanism did jiggle a bit after about 8 months and
caused a slight clicking sound, undoubtedly from their metal
hitting the inner wall they slip into. After squirting a nice dose
of silicone gel into both ends of each pin-cavity, both where
the pin sits in the actual panel and the flared rear section of
the roof the pin slides into, all clicking sounds disappeared.
Sometimes when I leave my nice heated garage on a cold day
there will be some flexing heard concerning the fiberglass as
you touch upon some uneven roads but that dissipates after
about 15 minutes of driving. I'm sure, as time goes on, there
will be a bit of fiberglass flexing sounds to deal with but that
may have to do more with making sure all nut-held bolts are
tightened from time to time. You should note that once the
conversion is made, you will have a totally different 'flared' rear
roof area that loses the rear-glass-tail-light. It is a slightly
different shape than the OEM rear-section which is evident
when you see the little embossed union jack in the center of
the roof. You will have to ask HRM about getting back the
original 'flared' roof section, I never bothered. Your convertible
top is also of no use to you with the conversion. I gave mine
away to an Elisetalk member in need of it. My a/c works great
and I never have any temperature problems even on extremely
hot days when I'm stuck in 'going-nowhere' traffic.
A:
Thanks Ron, It looks like a great idea. I will have to see it in person and how my a/c works this summer. It gets HOT out here.
A:
For months before getting my Elise I thought I would be getting this gullwing top. In fact, I even factored it in with the price for the Elise. However after closer inspection, I found that the front and back edges of the custom top were ones that I felt were instrusive to the lines of the car. I've modified the original picture post and circled them (in white) to point them out. From my estimations the rear edge comes up about four inches and the front edge comes back about six inches.
Now, in all fairness, I'm pretty sure it was necessary to shorten the removable tops (or else they wouldn't fit in the trunk). You really can't beat it in terms of practicality and convenience. However, this alone was a big enough deterrent for me to NOT get the gullwing top. I know that these edges were also a deterrent for some of the other folks in the forum. No offense intended to the folks who have the gullwing; it's my bias.
I just thought that you'd want to know before spending the $3700.
A:
I have the gullwing top. Purchased from HRM and paid to have Walder fly out and install it for me. Best decision I have made in a long time. He knows the Elise better than any other mechanic and had the instal done in about 3 hours. No leaks, easy in and out and still a convertable with the tops off. I am about to head from New Mexico into the hill country of Texas for a week of driving those fantistic back country roads. I can highly recomend HRM for the gullwing top. Walder also has designed a very nice replacement for the air box which I had him install while he was in New Mexico. Much better air and about 2 more HP.
A:
I have the gullwing top. Purchased from HRM and paid to have Walder fly out and install it for me. Best decision I have made in a long time. He knows the Elise better than any other mechanic and had the instal done in about 3 hours. No leaks, easy in and out and still a convertable with the tops off. I am about to head from New Mexico into the hill country of Texas for a week of driving those fantistic back country roads. I can highly recomend HRM for the gullwing top. Walder also has designed a very nice replacement for the air box which I had him install while he was in New Mexico. Much better air and about 2 more HP.
PM me if your in the austin area and you'd want some one to drive with. Should be picking mine up out of the shop on Sat. (sorry to hijack)