Question for spyder owners

[jkuga]

I am looking at a buying a super clean 97 spyder gst but I am just a little wary about getting a rag top due to the fact that it is so easy for someone to poke holes in it. Have any of you spyder owners had people cut holes in your top or steal gauges, a stereo, etc out of it? Any other advice for someone looking to buy a spyder as a daily driver? Thanks!

 

[spyderdrifter]

I have never had someone break into either of the 2 spyders I have owned. Yes, it is very possible for someone to cut the top, steal sh!t from it, etc... I personally haven't known anyone that this has happened to though. I'm sure someone has experienced it though. If you do buy it, make sure you always have the glove box locked, as well as the trunk latch (yes there's a key slot there for spyders), and never keep valuable items out where they can be seen. I even always removed the faceplate from my stereo and put that in the glove box to be locked up.

But also be weary of leaky tops. If you really want to buy the spyder, see if the current owner will allow you to take it through a car wash to inspect the canvas for leaks. If he/she doesn't want to let you (or accompany you to do it), that might be a good indication that the top leaks. Also, see if the top raises and lowers with the switch. If it doesn't, the most common problem would be the motors. However, they're not likely to need a replacement ($300.00 per motor anyway, and there's 2 of them). instead of replacement, they're likely to just need a pin replaced on the reduction gear as those were designed to break anyway. It's an easy fix.

 

[802gst]

Never had that issue either but I am constantly worried about it, lucky I don't think scum bags around here are that smart!
My biggest hang ups with my rag top is parking under trees here and sticky sap gets on my black fabric and ruins it quick. I believe my top is the original and still doesn't leak unless it really rains hard, then under my back seat gets a puddle usually on passenger side. But every convertible I've owned always leaks somewhere. The ac is very important if you have humidity. Good luck

 

[PlanZero]

Dsms are extremely easy to break into as hardtops, so I wouldn't let a cloth top dissuade you. My top is the original 20yr old, I just sprayed it with $5 tent waterproofer from Walmart as I'm sure it was never done. Now it looks blacker and water rolls right off. I also tightened the clamps down, added a little weatherstrip here and there, and black silicone adhesive in a few spots where the rubber was split and the back window was leaking from separating from the fabric . I still get an occasional drip I just haven't had a chance to locate it. Its not difficult once you realize how the weatherstrip and drainage setup is supposed to be. My only complaint is the top is noisy as hell on the highway. The floating rib wasn't working properly for years, so I think the canvas stretched in a way that no matter what I do this top will always flap a bit at high speeds. Overall it was a fun car (I'm about to sell it) but I would never have gotten it without a garage to keep it in.

 

[802gst]

Certainly a garage is the only place a soft top should be parked, but my spyder was too cheap to pass on, and no garage. My top held up fine even going through last winter with ice freezing to it and good foot of snow a few times.
Trunk space completely blows and mine is noisy on highways but I think that's a given. Spyder's are also awd friendly so they can be converted much easier.

 

[jkuga]

Ok thanks for the input guys!

 

[spyderdrifter]

If you do get the spyder and convert it to awd, and then decide to sell it, the awd is a good selling point. I converted mine last year and when I sold it, the guy who bought it did so because the conversion was already done.