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Stan · 01-02-2005, 06:44 PM

>>> The Gullwing solves the issues with the hard top though. It looks like the hard top when on, flips up to solve the ingress and egress issues, and since it is in two pieces it will fit in the boot. I don't see how having the t-bar will take away from the open air feeling.<<<

* The hard tops I have seen lack the indent of the stock hard top. This design element ties into the "spine" aspects of the front and rear of the car.

* With the hard top pieces off the car on some of the units there is significantly less open air above you than stock.

* Ingress/egress may be improved in the up & down direction but it can be much worse front to back. This can be a bit hard to tell from the photos as the units replace the whole top of the car...not just the hard top. In other words it includes the bodywork over the roll bar too and this extends back over the side sail panels.

* I'd suggest that folks try them out if possible. You might get sorta locked in with the install effort, removing the old upper bodywork, paint matching and so forth. The way I get in and out of my Elise, I *need* the few inches behind the windshield. Maybe my approach could be changed...I guess I was just surprised that getting out was harder than stock for me. Maybe for taller folks it could be a very different story.

* I'm still looking for a stock Saffron Yellow hard top...ANYONE?

01-02-2005, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Stan - Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,927	>>> The Gullwing solves the issues with the hard top though. It looks like the hard top when on, flips up to solve the ingress and egress issues, and since it is in two pieces it will fit in the boot. I don't see how having the t-bar will take away from the open air feeling.<<< * The hard tops I have seen lack the indent of the stock hard top. This design element ties into the "spine" aspects of the front and rear of the car. * With the hard top pieces off the car on some of the units there is significantly less open air above you than stock. * Ingress/egress may be improved in the up & down direction but it can be much worse front to back. This can be a bit hard to tell from the photos as the units replace the whole top of the car...not just the hard top. In other words it includes the bodywork over the roll bar too and this extends back over the side sail panels. * I'd suggest that folks try them out if possible. You might get sorta locked in with the install effort, removing the old upper bodywork, paint matching and so forth. The way I get in and out of my Elise, I need the few inches behind the windshield. Maybe my approach could be changed...I guess I was just surprised that getting out was harder than stock for me. Maybe for taller folks it could be a very different story. * I'm still looking for a stock Saffron Yellow hard top...ANYONE? Last edited by Stan : 01-02-2005 at 06:51 PM.