This "hypothetical" question goes out to all the roadster owners who drive their cars year round.
If you had the opportunity to purchase a removable "hard top" for your roadster, would you? Assuming it's design complimented the Crossfire, and it was built from fiberglass, or carbon fiber.

 

That was one of the first things my wife asked about. Assuming the price isn't exorbinant, YES!

 

with one of those lifts in the garage like the good ol' SL's would be cool.

 

Absolutely! But it would have to look good.

 

Sure would just as an option.

 

How about like the aluminum hard top for my Cadillac Allante Roadster. You can use a lift, but I just get my wife to help me throw it on. Being made of aluminum, it isn't very heavy at all. Probably under 100 pounds.

Making something similar for the XFire would likely cost a bundle. I say that because of the way the header is made and there is no good place, in my judgement to add a top pull down latch on the rear deck. I assume that we are talking about a one piece hard top as a folding hard top would likely cost about what the car is worth.

 

By the way, as a little known fact...when Cadillac introduced the Allante Roadster in 1987 it sent MB straight to Pininfarina to get a new design as the Allante dated the SL series so badly it was pathetic. Check the design of the new late 80's SL 500 MB and you will see Allante styling everywhere.

Pininfarina did the design for the Alllante as well as built the body and did all of the coach work for the car in their plant in Italy. From 1986 to 1993, the longest assembly line in the world was the Air Bridge of Allantes, that started on the Detroit Hamtramick Assembly Plant line, then breing transported by 747 to Italy to have the body mounted, the car painted and the coachwork completed and then flown back to Detroit by 747 for final assembly and sale. Cadillac lost billions on the deal, but managed to come up with a design that is truly beautiful and timeless. The Allante is still one of the best looking cars on the road today. Just ask any proud owner.

 

I probably would not be interested in a hardtop. I had one on my old Jeep and it was a huge p.i.t.a. Some others may be interested though.

 

It probably would be great for the winter. I do drive mine once in awhile when its cold.

 

I drive mine all winter long - assuming the roads are clear. The heater works so effectively a hard top has never crossed my mind.

 

I would not be interested. The soft top is just fine in the winter. And I like the looks. I pulled the hard top off my old Ford Bronco and stored it. And I bought a Jeep without the optional hard top.

 

That would be an awesome option provided after purchasing there was enough money left over for food and mortgage. ;-)

Put it this way, if I purchased new and it was an option, I'd be all over it.

Advantages:
Compartment security. - Not so worried that some jealous low life has slashed the canvas while attending an event.
Less permafrost on the top of the ole noggin during the winter months. Easier to keep the passenger compartment warm.
A nice option for the rainy, snow season, providing for less wear and tear on the canvas roof.
Clearer vison through the glass back window.
An end to the battle... A Coupe and a Roadster all in one... sort of.


Cheers!

 

No I don't think I would be interested given the amount of days that I probably would actually use it.

 

The price would have to be very right. I'm an "old" covnertible user, my first was a 1966 Mustang (purchased in 1977) and the ones I've owned always had great heaters. Also, when the temperature hit's 45-50 degrees the top comes down......

 

I'm disqualified because I garage mine Dec-April, but I would not buy one. I had a removeable hardtop for my 1974 TR6 and it looked great but the car rusted away after five winters. Used hardtop Crossfires are so cheap it's easier to buy another winterbeater and keep the summer beauty in the garage and out of the salt.

 

That would be super But like already posted it would have to look good I have an 88 Mustang Conv and there was always talk of the same concept for it. Nobody ever designed one that look good.

 

I sure would be interested.
I've looked before and found a retractable hardtop proto-type on a website.
But they didn't actually make one.

 

how often were you swapping tops?

i touch my hard top twice...once in April, once in October. not much of an ordeal.

 

Like you, twice a year. I had a YJ which was pretty cumbersome. Plus I had to uninstall/install the soft top.
That YJ, though I loved it, is the reason I will never buy another Jeep product again (unless it's a ******).

 

no because mine is garaged Novthru may. I go to Myrtle Beach for the middle two weks of May so I rarely get it out before then because It doewsn't go out if the top doesn't go down. Plus I always wait for a few really good gully washers in akron,ohio where I live to wash all the new calcium $hit they are putting on the roads up here that absolute are eating cars alive. It is put on as a liquid, dries on the road and then gets activated by the snow. They have had features on how it is eating up brake and gas lines under cars.