Clear or solid top?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,683
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From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
Clear or solid top?
I recently purchased an '01 coupe with the clear top. It has the crazing on the surface like many of them do. There is a local place that will swap a remanufactured one for mine with a net cost to me of about $675.
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
Last edited by jcsperson; Nov 11, 2011 at 09:44 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
I recently purchased an '01 coupe with the clear top. It has the crazing on the surface like many of them do. There is a local place that will swap a remanufactured one for mine with a net cost to me of about $675.
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
From: Martinez GA
mine had the same thing and i took it to a buddy that owned a paint and body shop and he sanded and recleared it and it looks brand new. i would like a black painted one as well but really don't have a place to store it right now......maybe later after i finally get the bendpak and utilize some "upper square footage"
as marco from tropoje says.......good luck!
as marco from tropoje says.......good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Painted top here, Why not keep your clear top and buy another 300 buck top and have it painted the correct color?
Or if you want a painted top have your clear painted the car color.
Or if you want a painted top have your clear painted the car color.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: tuttle ok
St. Jude Donor '11
I have both tops. Can't use the clear one when weather is warm without the shades (kind of defeats the purpose of a clear top). Like driving in a sauna! I do enjoy it in fall. If I only had one top, definitely the solid one. Talked to my painter here, he said $250 -$300 to paint.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Tsawwassen BC
I have both and use the painted one in the warm weather and the clear one during the fall as it warms up nicely with it and adds light for our northwest cloudy
fall and winter days.....for appearance definately the painted one looks better
fall and winter days.....for appearance definately the painted one looks better
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I recently purchased an '01 coupe with the clear top. It has the crazing on the surface like many of them do. There is a local place that will swap a remanufactured one for mine with a net cost to me of about $675.
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
The other alternative is to sell them the top outright for a couple hundred bucks and buy a solid top. I've seen several used, all the wrong color of course, for $200-500.
1) Which top do you all prefer?
2) How much do you think it would cost to have a body shop paint a top to match my car? (Navy Blue Metallic)
Thanks!
Co$t is more than likely $150-$200
Thanks,Matt
Administrator
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
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I asked a couple of body shops around here what it would cost to redo the paint on a solid top to match my car - the price ranged anywhere from $350-400. That involved taking the molding and weatherstripping off so the paint looks factory.
My last two C5s have only had the glass top, and I would like to eventually get a solid top for the car. But with my '99, I had both tops and I'd say 97% or so of the time I had the glass top on the car.
My last two C5s have only had the glass top, and I would like to eventually get a solid top for the car. But with my '99, I had both tops and I'd say 97% or so of the time I had the glass top on the car.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 11
From: Virginia
When the clear top is on the car just feels so much more open and airy.
Of course, this is Florida and the painted top goes on in May and stays until late October.
Big difference between "open and airy" and roasting.
