Viper Scot
Viper Owner
Given the choice of EITHER a factory hard or soft top, what would RT-10 owners on this board advise? The car would be owned in California.
Soft or hard top
- Thread starter Viper Scot
- Start date
CitySnake
Enthusiast
Completely depends on your priorities. If you will need to use the car at any point regardless of the weather, then you will need a soft top. If you plan ONLY to use the car on nice days (and don't mind the few times when the weather might be very unpredictable) then you don't need a top at all.
The hard top is only good for long distance driving and/or cold weather. You can't take it with you unless it is "installed". (maybe racing too).
The hard top is only good for long distance driving and/or cold weather. You can't take it with you unless it is "installed". (maybe racing too).
Andy 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
hard top.
DodgeViper01
Enthusiast
Love the hardtop. I have owned my car for two years and only used the soft top three or so times and those were because the hard top was being repaired. Soft top is great for traveling. I just thought it was a bit of work to put on and off all the time.
KURT E
Viper Owner
I have been considering one of the 3 piece hardtops that fit in the trunk. The latest version looks very nice. I assume (dont know) that they probably dont seal as well as a one-piece design, but, the convenience would be outstanding. Here is a link to the E-bay auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7954182078&category=33652.
Kurt
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7954182078&category=33652.
Kurt
HARDVIPER
Enthusiast
Soft Top is UUUUUUUGGGGLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
No Class. just my 2 cents.
No Class. just my 2 cents.
Jeff Lemke
Enthusiast
They seal very well.
Jeff
Phil Lee 94 red RT
Enthusiast
Get the three piece Hardtop.
Does the three piece hardtop leak at all? It just seems to me that it would be prone to leakage with all of the seams. My car came with just the soft top (got a GREAT deal on the car), and I have been debating between a OEM hardtop, and the three piece hard top.
Also, does the three piece hard top come painted, or would I have to do that?
Also, does the three piece hard top come painted, or would I have to do that?
tim721
Enthusiast
hard top looks like a hat, but then again the soft top doesn't look "great" either.
its a roadster, i wanna be able to take the top off at any time. if i was gonna use a hard top all the time, i'd buy a GTS.
for the kind of car it is, the soft top is much more versatile.
like CitySnake said, it depends on your priorities..are you gonna race it?
its a roadster, i wanna be able to take the top off at any time. if i was gonna use a hard top all the time, i'd buy a GTS.
for the kind of car it is, the soft top is much more versatile.
like CitySnake said, it depends on your priorities..are you gonna race it?
Brian 95 RT
Enthusiast
The three-piece doesn't leak at the seams, it has a very tight seal. But water will come in from where the front corners meet the windshied posts when you are moving. It comes painted or unfinished. Still noisy, but not as noisy as no top. No good over 100mph - more for street use. Get more compliments with top than without.
Early93Viper
Enthusiast
Why is in no good over 100MPH? I planning to get a Top for track days are you saying the trunk top won't work?
2001 Sapphire Blue
Enthusiast
Hard top. I've had mine for 3 years and haven't even taken the soft top out of the bag.
AG98RT10
Viper Owner
[quoteWhy is in no good over 100MPH? I planning to get a Top for track days are you saying the trunk top won't work?
[/QUOTE]
Yep, that's what he's saying. Stick with the stock, Vipermania, or Autoform tops for tracking... They've all established they won't be likely to fly off at 140 plus. Also, they give you a lot more room for a helmet...
[/QUOTE]
Yep, that's what he's saying. Stick with the stock, Vipermania, or Autoform tops for tracking... They've all established they won't be likely to fly off at 140 plus. Also, they give you a lot more room for a helmet...
Jeff Lemke
Enthusiast
Brian is referring to the older version of the 3 piece. The new top has some pretty rugged draw latches and is mounted in six locations. I don't think there has ever been a top held down like this new one. I have not had the chance to actually test it at extreme speeds as there is nowhere in my area to do it, but I am confident that it would hold on better than a factory top.
Having said that the new top is still designed for the street as helmet height was never a consideration. If your going racing, I definately recommend double bubble one piece.
The trunktop design priorities were drop dead good looks, ease of use, and watertight.
Jeff
www.trunktop.citymaker.com
Having said that the new top is still designed for the street as helmet height was never a consideration. If your going racing, I definately recommend double bubble one piece.
The trunktop design priorities were drop dead good looks, ease of use, and watertight.
Jeff
www.trunktop.citymaker.com
Newport Viper
Enthusiast
Jeff,
Can you post pic of Gen 1 with the V-mania widows here?
Brian 95 RT
Enthusiast
Sorry, I should have mentioned I have the original version. I don't track mine so it wasn't even an issue with me. But I don't see how you could wear a helmet with this low-profile hardtop. I bought it for the drastic temperature swings here in Michigan during the summer - no top during the day, hardtop comes out of the trunk when the sun goes down!
Jeff Lemke
Enthusiast
[/QUOTE]
Jeff,
Can you post pic of Gen 1 with the V-mania widows here?
[/QUOTE]
Yes. I will do that soon.
Jeff
Jeff,
Can you post pic of Gen 1 with the V-mania widows here?
[/QUOTE]
Yes. I will do that soon.
Jeff
Jeff Lemke
Enthusiast
Brian,
No kidding on that statement. Especially last summer, I used the top alot more than I expected. I hope we have a warmer summer this year.
Jeff
Cedric the Floppy
Enthusiast
Bolts for hard top? Newbie looking for guidance.
Greetings - have a 1996 rt-10 with a one piece hard top. There are some bolts that came with the top - but dont fit in the holes on the back of the roof. the front locks work fine - what bolts are for the back? Does anyone have parts numbers? A source? thanks!
Greetings - have a 1996 rt-10 with a one piece hard top. There are some bolts that came with the top - but dont fit in the holes on the back of the roof. the front locks work fine - what bolts are for the back? Does anyone have parts numbers? A source? thanks!
IEATVETS
Enthusiast
Re: Bolts for hard top? Newbie looking for guidance.
Love my Autoform top!! Windoes **** but the top is is fantastic. No lift at 150mph either.
Love my Autoform top!! Windoes **** but the top is is fantastic. No lift at 150mph either.
Well, depends on you, your preferences, and how you feel about the looks of it, which I feel is dependant on the color of the car; as most people seem to agree that the factory soft top looks pretty ugly on the red, yellow, and white cars, and I feel it doesn't look quite as bad on a black, and perhaps an emerald green car.
Personally, I've done my share of driving and riding in sub-freezing and near-freezing temps, so I'll leave the hard top on for December and January, and for long highway trips. Otherwise, I've got the soft-top in the trunk for unexpected showers, etc. If I'm at home and feel I need a top on the car, though, I'll put the hard top on.
It also may depend on the year car you have or plan to get (your sig says you're looking for a '94?) and how the top attaches. If an early model car (pre-98?), where you have to remove the "sport-pad" to install the factory hard top, then I hear the factory hard top is a royal pain to install and remove (remove the sport pad, which is 4 bolts which are hard to get to, then a couple of bolts to put the factory hard top on). The later hard tops ('98 and later?) go on in the same way as the factory soft top, which is a single person job (once you're used to how it works) and something like 90 seconds.
I hear good things about the new aftermarket $2400 three-piece top, but not from anyone that actually has one, so I can't make any suggestions concerning it. It does indeed seem the best of both worlds, AND, its a lot lower than the factory top (like the old AutoForm tops) which looks better than the factory top to me - only problem is that, if you're very tall in the torso, you'll need to lower your seat to use it.
scottgf
Viper Owner
Re: Bolts for hard top? Newbie looking for guidance.
I have both for my 94...
I think both are ugly...
I only bought the hardtop for tracking events.
Ive used the soft top a number of times when out in the cold, and a couple times in the rain...it only leaks a few drops and is good to carry in the trunk just in case.
If I could only have one or the other it would be the soft top since it fits in the trunk.
Cheers,
I have both for my 94...
I think both are ugly...
I only bought the hardtop for tracking events.
Ive used the soft top a number of times when out in the cold, and a couple times in the rain...it only leaks a few drops and is good to carry in the trunk just in case.
If I could only have one or the other it would be the soft top since it fits in the trunk.
Cheers,
Jay Herbert
Enthusiast
Hard Top. I live in AR, on my '93 I put it on in November, left it on 'till spring. The car is a lot quieter with the hard top on too, if that matters 
. Once removed, it was only on for trips, then usually sat in the hotel room once arrived and I use the cockpit cover (not tonneau cover).
I do not like the look of the car with the soft top on. Plus the soft top "creeks" pretty bad. Have a hardtop for my project Viper, and living with a soft top on my "tide-me-over" '95 since it will be sold when the project Viepr comes home. I definitely prefer the hard top.
. Once removed, it was only on for trips, then usually sat in the hotel room once arrived and I use the cockpit cover (not tonneau cover). I do not like the look of the car with the soft top on. Plus the soft top "creeks" pretty bad. Have a hardtop for my project Viper, and living with a soft top on my "tide-me-over" '95 since it will be sold when the project Viepr comes home. I definitely prefer the hard top.
Gerald Levin
Viper Owner
I PASSIONATELY HATE THE SOFT TOP! Fugly to the max. I've seen some nice hard tops. If I ever relocate to CA or FL, I wouldn't mind having an RT that I would keep in the garage with no top and take 'er out on nice days. I'd probably have to trade in my little maven as she would not ride in the RT as it would mess up her hair.
got one
Enthusiast
definately go for the new trunk top...looks awesome!
