Qus for manual top cabrio owners

[nickd]

How do you get along with the manual latch system for opening/closing the convertible top? I'm considering "back dating" my power top to the manual roller latches ('87-'89 models I think, and targas?). The electric latches can be fiddly to get everything adjusted so that the top triggers the microswitches for them to latch. Fiddly meaning, they may or may not trigger if: the back window is zipped/unzipped, the ground isn't level, the moon is full...

So I'm wondering if the manual roller latches have any quirks?

Thanks!

[Autoban]

My '86 has a manual top. I own the car for the last five years and no issue.

Juergen

[Smoove1010]

It's quick and pretty painless. A couple of caveats:
- The top assembly is not light-weight but the average guy or athletic girl could keep the mechanism under control while folding.
- When raising, it takes a little finesse to line up the pins on the front bow with the holes in the windshield frame. Once those are aligned my car requires that you give that front bow a good push down to seat the roller latches enough so that they'll grab when the handles are turned.
- It's possible to have the roller latches in the wrong (locked) position when you try to close the top. You'll only make this mistake once or twice.
- I find it good practice to have the windows rolled down about half-way when closing the top to insure that the glass and roof seals are on the right sides of each other.
It would be nice to be able to raise and lower the top w/o getting out of the car but I've never felt the need for a power mechanism.

[Jack Stands]

Continual problems with the power top in my old '87 Cabriolet made me eventually decide to sell it. At least my '84 Targa can always have the top installed in case of a sudden shower instead of trying to get a balky power top to maybe raise. Converting to manual seems like a great choice.

[Lyle O]

I agree fully with the above comments. I have a manual top on my '87 (I am VERY thankful for that). It is pain free and easy. The things that take a few minutes compared to modern all-power tops (zipping the window, installing the boot-cover) you still have to do, so no issue there. Just be sure to not leave the handles in the latches when you drive around. Always remove them and store them in the glove box, like the owner's manual says to do, whether the top is up or down. All in all, zero maintenance issues...

[A horse with no name]

Originally Posted by Lyle O

I agree fully with the above comments. I have a manual top on my '87 (I am VERY thankful for that). It is pain free and easy. The things that take a few minutes compared to modern all-power tops (zipping the window, installing the boot-cover) you still have to do, so no issue there. Just be sure to not leave the handles in the latches when you drive around. Always remove them and store them in the glove box, like the owner's manual says to do, whether the top is up or down. All in all, zero maintenance issues...

+1...No issues whatsoever - > Easy-Peasy'

PS - Why they ever made such simple light weight top electric, as on these G series, beats me.

[nickd]

Thanks for the info!

I've already converted to manual up/down. The frequency of folks breaking expensive pieces of the cabrio frame from one of the raise/lower cables coming loose is completely not worth the automation.

The entire raise/lower transmission linkage, attached arms, and the motors can be removed to convert to manual up/down. Then rig up the "cabrio top down" microswitch to trigger when the remaining raising/lowering arm is down to turn the warning light off in the "down" position. So far so good, and -12.8lbs!

Now, onward to full manual conversion...

[bill911911]

MY 89 has a manual top, 12 years no problem and quick.