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St0rmBr1nger	Has anybody got an opinion on getting a hardtop and using it on a daily driver kat. Right now it is my only car and I plan on continuing to use it as such for the next couple years until we get a lift put in or a bigger garage. I am melting in the heat and with the top up visibility is down like you would expect. To any of the aftermarket or factory hard tops have a bigger rear window for ease of driving with the top on. Does the AC work better, less wind noise. Easier to talk to a passenger. Any other mods that I should look at doing to make the car more user friendly. My last kats have been weekend only cars and though I did rack up the miles I never did it at the rate I am now. Only regret is I have a brand new set of the factory runflats on the car and they are harsh. On my last one I dynomated the entire interior tub and the doors and it made a world of difference but it took me a solid two weeks after work to get it down and there is no way to that now. I am averaging ~1K miles a month give or take not counting the longer trips with the wife, I have only seen one other on the road.
stprinz	I DON'T THINK THAT THE HARDTOP BACK WINDOW IS BIGGER THEN THE NORMAL ONE. WHEN I GOT MY HARDTOP ON THE KAT THE VISIBILITY IS ALMOST WORST THE WITH THE NORMAL TOP UP. THE BACK WINDOW IN THE HARDTOP IS SITTING HIGHER THEN IN THE NORMAL TOP, SO LOOKING BACKWARDS YOU DON'T SEE A LOT. WITH THE HARDTOP WILL REDUCE THE THE WIND NOISE, BUT I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT. I DRIVE THE KAT WITH THE HARDTOP ON ONLY IN THE WINTERTIME SO I CAN NOT TELL YOU IF THE AC WILL WORK BETTER. I THINK THE AC WORK'S GREAT EVEN WITH THE NORMAL TOP EVEN DRIVING 800 MILES AND A BOILING ENGINE...
beachcat	I love my hard top. Less wind noise, air works better, easier to talk to passengers and listen to tunes, car looks better imo. cons: no trunk access, a bit of a job to remove and re-install, a little less visibility, a little harder to access/egress (it seems less forgiving in a head bump). all in all it's a plus.
cdn prowlin	I agree with beachcat on the fact looks better air works great easier to talk with a passenger cons reduced visibility no trunk access.I got mine this year dont know if it will ever come off looks way to cool
St0rmBr1nger	quote: Originally posted by beachcat: I love my hard top. Less wind noise, air works better, easier to talk to passengers and listen to tunes, car looks better imo. cons: no trunk access, a bit of a job to remove and re-install, a little less visibility, a little harder to access/egress (it seems less forgiving in a head bump). all in all it's a plus. I can live with no truck access not like I can get alot back there. Any idea what a good price would be on a used one, there is one on eBay at something ridiculous like 5K, they were ~3500 new I think when I bought my first prowler at the dealership. Also does the hardtop have a inner liner. I have been talking it over with the wife and we can car pool sofr a week or so if I want to dynamat the car again, but it would be helpful if I could do the roof as well.
NRVOUS	Looking at one of these myself http://www.theprowlerstore.com/Products_Page_Accessories_Hard_Top.htm any imput good or bad? quote: Originally posted by St0rmBr1nger: I can live with no truck access not like I can get alot back there. Any idea what a good price would be on a used one, there is one on eBay at something ridiculous like 5K, they were ~3500 new I think when I bought my first prowler at the dealership. Also does the hardtop have a inner liner. I have been talking it over with the wife and we can car pool sofr a week or so if I want to dynamat the car again, but it would be helpful if I could do the roof as well.
beachcat	They are pricey as are hen's teeth. And then you have to spend more to paint if it's not your color. And more to ship it to you. So 3 to 5K is normal. Nice if you can get one with a stand and cover. I have a TGF gen2 and it has a nice cushy headliner.
cdn prowlin	When i got mine with purchase,shipping painting and repair was close to 6000 condition was not as good as seller stated came with stand and cover is a gen2
xtreme prowler	I did some group buys with these a few years back with TGF.. they cost us around 2600 unpainted plus shipping. I use mine in the spring and fall but put it away in the summer to drive top down. mine cost me a little less than $4000 including shipping,tax and paint... it has a nice gray headliner... love the HT and wouldn't think of selling it.
wqqdies	Got mine 2 years ago......hasn't been off since and may never come off as long as I own the car. I concur with all the pluses above.....this was the first priority with me after I got my cat and I will never regret my decision, even though it was a pricey addition approaching $4,000 after all the costs were tallied.
beachcat	mine was a little rough too when I got it and I've heard that from a few others lately. I think they need a bit of maintenance with keeping the pins and parts tight and well adjusted. Also I noticed, on mine, the window seal on one side, where is sits on the door needs work.There's a lot of flex going on with them.
St0rmBr1nger	4-6 grand leases me a decent car for the next couple years. I figured they were in the 2K range used like most hardtops tend to be. If I see one cheap and local I will try and snag it. If not I really need to clear up some more space and get a lift in so I can have a daily driver and keep the miles off the Kat. Getting closer to 50K everyday.
Mike Williams	We sold a brand new one about 2 months ago. $3200 unpainted right out of the crate from TGF included stand and cover. Buyer flew into Houston on a business trip and purchased while they were here. Have no idea how they shipped it back home. Buddy C may have one, check with him, TGF no longer manufactures them.
padroo	I assume the hard top is insulated. The A/C has to work hard in 90 degree plus weather to keep up with a black top and no insulation. My car is black and I don't think the floor board and cowling are that well insulated either.
beachcat	Dale I don't what what the backing of the headliner is but the sound deadening qualities are good. From that, I assume the insulating value is good. The air seems to work really well. My impression is that TGF Metalcrafters was /is a producer of high quality products.
prowlrman	I bought my top 5 years ago and it has not been off the car since! This is such an improvement in driving characteristics it is unbelievable in my opinion. My wife says it is like 2 totally different cars. I never use my trunk anyway so access is no issue. Road and wind noise are greatly reduced and it just makes the interior such a nice environment. The inside headliner is finished off. As far as rear vision goes, I don't perceive it to be any better or worse than the factory soft top. Appearance of the whole car changes because it makes it look "finished" versus the soft top. Yes they are costly to buy one...but I will tell you..of every mod I have purchased so far, this top is the best money I have ever spent, and I'd never consider getting rid of it. Frankly I think they should have come with it from the factory. JMO
CJ	I have hard tops for all three of my cats. I never take the top off my Candy cat. Every so often I will take the top off my CAL KID cat. The black cat has only had the top on once just to see how it looked! : The hard top has extra head room. It's quieter, cooler with the air. It does give the cat a whole different look. ------------------ CJ - The One and Only 1999 Black - PPROWLR 2002 Deep Candy Red - CJPROWLN 2002 Black California Kid Prowler - CAL KID The Prowler makes you smile. Why? Because it's focused. It has a plot, a reason for being, a passion. It evokes the hot rod. It evokes the American Dream. This car is the human psyche.
Mike Williams	I think it is quieter and cooler. Looks like a regular headliner that you would get in any vehicle.
Mike Williams	The headliner seems to be what you get in any other vehicle. It is quieter and cooler.