Is it hard on the top & window to keep it stowed all the time?

[Dale_K]

I do all my driving with the top down. Basically the only time I put the top up is when I wash the car. I let it dry out completely before lowering it but I hardly ever drive the car with the top up. I bought my 2000 S last winter and the top looks pretty good and the window seems pretty flexible (and clear after I cleaned it with PlasticX). But I can see some fold lines and crease points at the outer edges of the window. I'm careful to be sure the window folds smoothly horizontally (I stop the top motor and manually adjust the window fold if it's starting to crease). But at the edge of the window where the horizontal fold line transitions into the canvas the window gets a more complex pattern that has some crinkles.

Would I be better off putting the top up when I get home and park the car in the garage? My theory has been the less cycles I put on the top the better but now I'm thinking maybe the window will last longer if it'stretcheded out the way it sits when the top is up.

[mcmike27]

Dale, our car which is a 98 Boxster lived many of it's early years in sunny So Cal so my wife's Uncle had the top almost always down like you describe. The only thing he did differently was to about once or twice a month put the top in up position for 2 or 3 days mainly when it was hot so he could run the A/C (which is also a good idea to lub the seals). The heat also allowed the top to expand and breathe. Also for extended periods in the 'down' position he would put a thin cotton towel between the plastic top in the 'fold' to keep the scratching to a min since the top still flexes and moves even in the closed position. It allowed the top to keep looking clean and scratch free for quite a long time. We also use the 'Plastix' both inside and out and that has made a huge difference in the suppleness of the plastic.

Good luck

m2