ok so im on my way to see a movie. and i see in my rearview mirror some max headlights coming behind me. but when she passed me the maxima had a soft top??? and looked like i could have been a convertible?> do these exist?

 

not a convertible top. It's just a "landau" top.

 

sounds like a hard top that is coated in vinyl. it can be confusing and look like a convertible...but it's not.

 

Or somebody has just spent WAY more then a 3rd gen is worth to have a cutom drop top installed. Figure $20-25K for a one off drop top that actually works.

 

id rather stick with the hardtop and a sunroof.

 

20-25k for a working drop top no damn way

 

They used to have this thing called a "phantom top." It is like a landau, only it looks more like a convertible top. It was popular about the time the 3rd gen came out (late 80s, early 90s). It is a canvas fabric, metal bars and chrome trim pieces that make it look like your car is a drop top.

BTW, I think guys with a little bit of welding/fabrication skills can make a convertible, although it would be expensive to make such a long top and thick support beams.

There is a guy in my town that bought an older Porshe 911 (70s one) and cut the top, replacing it with a totally fabricated convertible top. He did most of the work himself and paid about $1000 for the fabric to be cut right and installed. I have owned two convertibles in the last five years and I know the guy in town that does convertible top work (he did the work on the Porshe).

I would think the total price to have a decent job done on a Maxima would run you in the $3k-$7k range. You would have to scrounge parts from other convertibles and probably use a frame off of another convertible with a long top (like a 60s full size Chevy, Ford or Chrysler). The more work you could do yourself, the cheaper it would be. With some measuring, a welder and some ingenuity, I am sure it could be done cheap by someone like ShavedMax!

 

I was entertaining the thought of converting my totaled maxima into a convertable, but I wasn't sure if it would compromise the structure/ rigidity of the car, I wasnt going to have a top made, or make one my self but i could still drive it around when it isnt raining...

could you fabricate a fiberglass hard top for less than the price of building a drop top fabric one?

 

yea 3-7k sounds a lot more realistic than 20-25k

 

Whats wrong with someone getting the top sawed off putting some of that soft crap over the hood and rewelding.

 

Nothing... if you LIKE that kinda thing.

 

if you dig weird floppy roofs...thats cool

 

soft tops are troublesome... have you ever seen those drivers that don't take care of their soft tops? When they drive on the freeway, it looks like a parachute is trying to open up!!!
just my opinion

 

Nupey... wheres that picture that was on here a long time ago? It shortly after I joined, but way before the limo one, VG...