I've seen several posts from owners who would be willing to buy a hardtop for their ZR if one were available (including me). Just wondering why no one has released a hard top. Can it be that difficult to produce one for the Roadster?

 

It depends on where the top can be latched down securely.

 

The only place for the top to securely fasten would be at the widsheild catch points and on the tanau cover, the slot in the middle (if it could be fabricated since this is where the soft top secures in.

I don't think nissan plans for one, check the JDM site. They will get it first, then us. I found this out when I had a 2000 S2000.

I think in about 3 years Nissan will release one w/ a folding hard top. I spoke w/ an engineer last year at the Auto show and he said that they had produced one w/ a folding hardtop, but figured it would be too expensive to produce and charge consumers. My question is----then why is the roadster already about 5000.00 more (msrp) ? I think I would pay the extra, and I think concensus is so would other members.

 

I don't think the limited number of z roadsters on the road would be enough incentive for someone to take the time to develop one. Taking into consideration the r and d and the costs of producing it, they would not be able to make much profit unless they charged some crazy amount for them.

of course this is purely a guess and i dont have anything to base my opinion on.

 

I've been wanting one for my Z32 also and have never been able to locate one. They did a folding hard top in 92' only one was produced for show, it was a four seater and was way to long in the body. Never saw a proto design for the 33 roadster though.

 

Well, looks like I won't see a ZR until 3 more years so I hope Nissan will have a folding hard top! Actually I am glad I am waiting, looks like by then there may be a turbo and a folding hard top! One could hope!

 

Sometimes ignorance is bliss, I didn't even think of this until I read this post. A folding hardtop would be great but I wouldn't buy one a la S2000 since I don't have any plans on using my car in inclement weather anyways.

 

The people who have bought the hard top for the S2000 think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. There are even quite a few guys who leave the hard top on all the time (are they CRAZY?). But I see how it could be difficult to make a hard top for the 350Z Roadster with the hard cover in the way. You'd want it to secure well enough to not be an issue in roll-overs (heaven forbid) and make matters worse. The S2000 HT actually works so well that it increases structural integrity. I've also seen hard tops on Z4s, Boxster Ss, Miatas, and I believe I've even seen them on Corvette convertibles though Chevy doesn't appear to claim manufacturing them so I could just be looking at standard coupes.

I bet Nissan doesn't see a hard top as something that would pay off in manufacturing and development costs. If you wanted a hard top you should have gotten a coupe (:

 

S15 have hardtop folding, why can't they do the same in our Z33?

http://www.freshalloy.com/site/cars/...tta/home.shtml

 

An optional hard top for the ZR would probably not be lucrative. When I owned an S2k dealer, my dealership always BEGGED me to buy the one hard top they had in stock...they offered it to me at 1/2 MSRP at one time. Even at that price it was a cost-prohibitive option. Not to mention that removing/reinstalling it seemed like a royal PITA.

A hard-top that suited the Z well would be even larger and probably heavier than the Stook's...so it would be even more of a pain to put on.

NzZ

 

Yeah but that's what a ceiling mounted crain in your garage is for (:

 

All of the cars you mention are not sold as a coup as well as a roadster. I have a feeling that Nissan figures if you want a hard top then buy a coup.

The hard top for say a S2000 are for people that dont want or like a conv. (yes hard to bieleve but true) but they want the style and perfromance of the car.

 

Hard top would be nice. But, if you require one, buy a Coupe.

 

I think it would look good. I think Nissan would benefit more by designing a t top or targa top instead

 

I believe that we will see a convertible (folding metal roof) hard top within the next 3 years

 

Bah a hardtop for a roadster, whats wrong with you people

Only time my top is up, is when its parked and I dont want birds crapping in it.

 

Why buy a roadster if you want a hardtop. It would be nice for people in the east coast; however, why did you buy the roadster in the first place "To Be Topless"

 

after owning two convetibles, I would recommend a hard top. If I was to buy another S, I would get the hardtop. I will though get the ZR instead of the coupe--- i love the top down.