Soft top vs hard top on 4 door
11-16-2011, 07:20 PM
#31
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: OHIO
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello ,
First post here so please don't shoot me if im messing up. I am currently in the search myself & just test drove a 2012 2 dr sport last night ! It was a soft top & i was impressed of how quit it was! I understand its new & tight etc ! I had a 2000 TJ & it was loud ! but hey its a jeep
my current search is a hard top , I prefer the look & i believe it will be cheaper & easy to buy that one on the vehicle & pick up a soft top later down the road ! MY TWO CENTS !
First post here so please don't shoot me if im messing up. I am currently in the search myself & just test drove a 2012 2 dr sport last night ! It was a soft top & i was impressed of how quit it was! I understand its new & tight etc ! I had a 2000 TJ & it was loud ! but hey its a jeep
my current search is a hard top , I prefer the look & i believe it will be cheaper & easy to buy that one on the vehicle & pick up a soft top later down the road ! MY TWO CENTS !
11-18-2011, 07:09 AM
#32
Super Moderator
I'll see your list and up you:
Hard top pros
- Quiet Comfort
- Freedom panels
- Security
- Don't have to worry about scratching windows in car washes/or trees/or bushes
- Rear window makes it much easier to access the back than the softtop
- Easy to add insulation for weather and stereo improvement
- Easier to clean, doesn't need special attention as it get older (think 303 protectant, etc)
- Slightly better highway mileage (about 1-1.5mpg I notice)
- Doesn't rattle when offroad
- Rear window defrost and wiper
Soft Top pros
- Convenience of putting top up/down when on the road
- More open air options (front folded back, back windows out only, rear window out only, fully down)
- No need to worry about storage place for it
- More headroom/ fishing pole storage
- Less likely to break or damage if you're offroad and tip into a canyon wall
- Doesn't loosen up when after a hard offroad trip with a lot of torquing of the frame or just a lot of bumpy dirt roads (have never had this issue)
- Less weight up high
Hard top pros
- Quiet Comfort
- Freedom panels
- Security
- Don't have to worry about scratching windows in car washes/or trees/or bushes
- Rear window makes it much easier to access the back than the softtop
- Easy to add insulation for weather and stereo improvement
- Easier to clean, doesn't need special attention as it get older (think 303 protectant, etc)
- Slightly better highway mileage (about 1-1.5mpg I notice)
- Doesn't rattle when offroad
- Rear window defrost and wiper
Soft Top pros
- Convenience of putting top up/down when on the road
- More open air options (front folded back, back windows out only, rear window out only, fully down)
- No need to worry about storage place for it
- More headroom/ fishing pole storage
- Less likely to break or damage if you're offroad and tip into a canyon wall
- Doesn't loosen up when after a hard offroad trip with a lot of torquing of the frame or just a lot of bumpy dirt roads (have never had this issue)
- Less weight up high
11-18-2011, 07:43 AM
#34
JK Freak
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have been told by my gf that my '09 JK softtop is quieter than her mom's '97 hardtop, even at highway speeds with a headwind... Of course it's a matter of opinion, but there ya go.
11-20-2011, 10:07 PM
#36
JK Enthusiast
11-20-2011, 11:51 PM
#37
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll see your list and up you:
Hard top pros
- Quiet Comfort
- Freedom panels
- Security
- Don't have to worry about scratching windows in car washes/or trees/or bushes
- Rear window makes it much easier to access the back than the softtop
- Easy to add insulation for weather and stereo improvement
- Easier to clean, doesn't need special attention as it get older (think 303 protectant, etc)
- Slightly better highway mileage (about 1-1.5mpg I notice)
- Doesn't rattle when offroad
- Rear window defrost and wiper
- Aallows you to use all hard racks and blackouts for rotopax
- Aallows other racks (crossbar type, think Thule) to be used
- Less likey to leak? ....maybe
- No concers of windows being lifted when zipped out and stored in rear. (covered by security above maybe)
Soft Top pros
- Convenience of putting top up/down when on the road
- More open air options (front folded back, back windows out only, rear window out only, fully down)
- No need to worry about storage place for it
- More headroom/ fishing pole storage
- Less likely to break or damage if you're offroad and tip into a canyon wall
- Doesn't loosen up when after a hard offroad trip with a lot of torquing of the frame or just a lot of bumpy dirt roads (have never had this issue)
- Less weight up high
- Easier to remove for one person
- Aallows you to use straps / screens without removal
Hard top pros
- Quiet Comfort
- Freedom panels
- Security
- Don't have to worry about scratching windows in car washes/or trees/or bushes
- Rear window makes it much easier to access the back than the softtop
- Easy to add insulation for weather and stereo improvement
- Easier to clean, doesn't need special attention as it get older (think 303 protectant, etc)
- Slightly better highway mileage (about 1-1.5mpg I notice)
- Doesn't rattle when offroad
- Rear window defrost and wiper
- Aallows you to use all hard racks and blackouts for rotopax
- Aallows other racks (crossbar type, think Thule) to be used
- Less likey to leak? ....maybe
- No concers of windows being lifted when zipped out and stored in rear. (covered by security above maybe)
Soft Top pros
- Convenience of putting top up/down when on the road
- More open air options (front folded back, back windows out only, rear window out only, fully down)
- No need to worry about storage place for it
- More headroom/ fishing pole storage
- Less likely to break or damage if you're offroad and tip into a canyon wall
- Doesn't loosen up when after a hard offroad trip with a lot of torquing of the frame or just a lot of bumpy dirt roads (have never had this issue)
- Less weight up high
- Easier to remove for one person
- Aallows you to use straps / screens without removal
11-21-2011, 01:09 AM
#38
JK Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Arlington, Texas
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
get'm both, you will be happy. both have pros and cons. like others have said. i use my soft top in warmer months and hard top in cooler months. getting in the back with a soft top is a drag but it is nice to be able to drop the top any time you want. changing out between the two is really easy. the only down side to having a hard top is having some place to store it.
11-25-2011, 04:31 AM
#39
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a 2011 4 door JK with both tops. Looking to sell the factory soft top. Never been used and still in the factory box. email at jeep13182@yahoo.com.
