Glass-windowed tops and engine access

[jjflash]

In my searching for a used Boxster, I've run across a few older cars (pre-2003) that have had upgraded tops with a glass rear window. I've also seen a few posts which warn or complain about these replacement tops, especially the GAHH, making access to the engine compartment difficult.

I've only had one previous Boxster, and only for about 6 months. It was a 2002 "S" model with the plastic rear window and I never had occasion to access the engine compartment for any reason, not even curiosity, so I'm not sure what I should be aware of and possibily avoiding.

I'd like to understand what the exact problem is and how serious it might be. I have been searching with the idea that finding an earlier car with this upgrade would be a real plus, but since reading about the access problem, I'm not sure.

I've never heard of anything like this with the post-2003 original glass-windowed cars, so I'm assuming that there's something different in the whole top mechanism that causes this access problem with the GAHH (and other???) upgraded tops.

Anyway, I'd like to understand the problem and pro's and con's on this.

TIA.

[Wayne 962]

That's right - the glass top retrofit for the early cars is a different top that does restrict access slightly to the engine compartment. It makes it a little more cumbersome as the top is in the way, but you can still reach everything perfectly fine. The glass rear window is a *huge* upgrade, and definitely worth it - this minor point is almost not really worth mentioning. I'm not even sure if I mention it in my book (I guess I should at least put a footnote in there about it). I think you would find it annoying if you were installing a 3.4 engine in there and needed lots of access to the bay. But if you're doing that, you can simply disconnect the rear top mechanism if you're going to be in the engine bay for a very extended period of time.

Hope this helps,

Wayne