Cab guys - are German tops really better?

rsr808 · rsr808's Garage

I need to get a new top for my 911 and finally saved enough money to afford one... but question now is whether or not to go with German canvas or Stayfast.

Is the German canvas really worth $100 more than then Stayfast? When I look at the materials I really cannot distinguish a difference.

Any advice is appreciated.

caliber60 · 04-24-2003, 09:24 AM

I am about doing the same thing to replace my top. I am thinking about going to

http://www.richandfamousautotops.com/index.html

The owner John, quoted my the price for $750-$1000 with German top , labor included with 5 years warranty. The interior carpet replacement is $750, German material as well. They make their own fabric in house. I was referred by another member on the Pelican site.

I am thinking about going there in the next weeks or so. You are not too far away. I work in El Monte area. What installer are you thinking about in L.A. area?

rsr808 · rsr808's Garage

I have a guy who works at a upholstery shop that said he'd do it for $550 during his off hours if I provided the top. I think I can get a German top for just over $500 with the headliner... a bit over $400 with headliner for Stayfast. Rich and Famous sounds appropriately priced.

All the best.

caliber60 · 04-24-2003, 02:08 PM

I think it's better to go with the shop that provide both the labor and material. If something goes wrong, they are responsible. If you provide the top, the installer might just blame on the material, not his labor. As you know there are several areas on the top that would rip easily just from daily use.

Colby · 04-24-2003, 02:19 PM

I went w/ a one-piece top on my '84 Carrera from www.cabrioworld.com. Very good quality and I love the 993 style top whereby you don't have to unzip the rear window. I'm at work now, but will post a pic tonight of it. Price:$390 for the top in Stayfast (I saw no reason to go w/ German canvas).

Colby

rsr808 · rsr808's Garage

Colby,

That's very cool... I've always wondered about the 993 style top. How long have you had that top on your 84? Is it holding up well? Also, I'd love to see pics of it... you might sway me that way.

Cheers,
Steve

caliber60 · 04-24-2003, 02:43 PM

Two piece cab top is the funest part of owning a 911 cabriolet. Just by opening the back window, you can hear the engine and concentrate on driving instead of opening up the convertible all the way. It's a very special and interesting experience. If I ever buy a coupe, the 2nd window cab top will will be the part I missed the most. One car that reminded me of the same driving sensation will be the older european BMW 323I with soft top option back in the '80s.

hoosierdaddy · 04-24-2003, 05:37 PM

There are actually 3 kinds of material available for Cab tops.
1- stayfast
2- stayfast G
3- german cloth
The stayfast G is a german cloth clone and a little sturdier than stayfast. I'm wondering if the G cloth is what you are being offered under the guise of being german cloth. The reason I say this is because I know for a fact there is more than $100. difference between stayfast and german cloth . In any event I would spend the extra money for the better top if you are planning on keeping the car .

Jim

rsr808 · rsr808's Garage

I know that it's always best to get the "best" for your 911 but in some instances there is a 911 "mark-up" that is added to some of the stuff that we buy. How else would you explain some paying $1000 for a replacement top and other paying up to $4000??!!!

Just my 2 cents.

Colby · 04-25-2003, 06:18 AM

I am under the impression that German cloth isn't "better", but it is "original equipment" meaning for a restoration job it might be preferable but for a daily driver Stayfast G is fine (thats what I have).

Colby

Superman · 04-25-2003, 07:02 AM

I don't know anything about replacement tops, but I've seen folks put aftermarket parts on German cars many times, and sometimes get away with it. Usually it's a mistake. The German parts already on the car are bigotted, and they gang up on the foreigner. You can find aftermarket parts that outperform OE Chevrolet parts, Ford, Chrysler, probably even Ferrari, Maseratti, maybe even Rolls Royce. But you're not going to find parts that outperform OE German parts.

ontheloose · 04-26-2003, 02:40 AM

I had a one piece top installed at the end of 99 on my 86 911.

The place had a good rep and a friend referred me to the shop.
In the end it was a disaster. Beside it taking 3 weeks to install with one excuse after another the top they installed within 2 years started coming apart. Of course the shop is out of business and I'm stuck with a top that has all the treads disinigrating, the rear window has fallen out and if you push against the material your finger could go right through.

I am looking to replace the top again but this time I am going to put the German Canvas 2 piece top on, which I understand it the best avaliable (my original to lasted from 86 to 99 before I had any problems).

I was wondering if anyone has installed a top themselves and how difficult it is? Is there any pitfalls I should know about or can anyone with go mechanical abilities handle it?

Ron F

hoosierdaddy · 04-26-2003, 03:28 AM

Ron

Contact the manufacturer , you still have some warranty left. It may not be much but anything helps.

Jim

Kurt B · 05:18 AM

I know, i always comment on this. I ordered both kinds and installed both kinds on my car. After 4 or 5 few months, I pulled the cheaper quality stuff off (think it was stayfast actually), after i ordered a top of German knit (double) from http://www.autosintl.com/

I've had it on for 2 years now, self-install, and it's in excellent condition physically.

For the guy whose top disintegrated. Yeah, it likely did because they could not get it on your car. After fussing, gluing things in place and removing the glue (believe me it is fully possible to glue stuff together and get stuck later on), they damaged it.

Stayfast G is just stayfast but double like German. For the money, buy German. It's thicker and heavier and lots more robust. It also s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s nicely while remaining thick and even. The old German tops do stretch nicely. They must, or you will never get them on right. Even pros struggle to get these things on, and if you are going to get German, also get the best installer you can.

You don't want to detect a difference between German and stayfast if you can't tell, because there is definitely a difference in the threads. The german threads are thicker. The other stuff is thin, like nylon or something almost. I mean, that other stuff is what they put on 'stangs and cars like that.

Mine is also an 84.