-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Glass Roadster Top
I just installed the Visium hardtop on my 1.5. Wow! What a fabulous top. The fit is essentially perfect and the windows seal very well. Easy install. The car is now much quieter at speed and the view out is stupendous. The cabin feels bigger because the top lets in so much light. I'm sure in hot climates this top would be too warm in the summer but in the SF Bay Area that's not an issue. I love this top! I have briefly driven a Roadster with the factory hardtop but it was awhile ago and I can't offer an opinion on the difference in noise reduction between the two. Here's some photos:
I just installed the Visium hardtop on my 1.5. Wow! What a fabulous top. The fit is essentially perfect and the windows seal very well. Easy install. The car is now much quieter at speed and the view out is stupendous. The cabin feels bigger because the top lets in so much light. I'm sure in hot climates this top would be too warm in the summer but in the SF Bay Area that's not an issue. I love this top! I have briefly driven a Roadster with the factory hardtop but it was awhile ago and I can't offer an opinion on the difference in noise reduction between the two. Here's some photos:
wiztecy
Active Member
Looks great, I just threw my cleartop back on for the winter. It warms up the cabin from the sun on the cold winter mornings from the sun, solar cabin heater. Did they not give you the rear bracket covers? I see they're exposed in your last pic. I typically leave mine off anyways but curious.
Yes I got the rear covers, I had not installed them when I took that picture. I've since put them on, I like the look but realize they are just cosmetic.
I am extremely impressed with the Visium top. It seems to me that it is the hardtop that Tesla should have included with the car.
I am extremely impressed with the Visium top. It seems to me that it is the hardtop that Tesla should have included with the car.
Habious
Member
By coincidence, I received mine on Monday, and installed it.
I fully agree with ecarfan on how nice the fit is, and how...big...it makes the cabin feel (compared to the soft top).
I will say that it took me probably 45 minutes to put it on the first time, but most of that was just figuring out how it installed.
I fully agree with ecarfan on how nice the fit is, and how...big...it makes the cabin feel (compared to the soft top).
I will say that it took me probably 45 minutes to put it on the first time, but most of that was just figuring out how it installed.
Mark77a
Member
ecarfan & habious ... thanks for posting great pix .. really impressed & tempted 
Question: are these the basic or premium versions ?
I dont need a bag, and I thought extra weight of the premium would be a negative ? ... can you comment ?
thanks
Question: are these the basic or premium versions ?
I dont need a bag, and I thought extra weight of the premium would be a negative ? ... can you comment ?
thanks
Yes, the printed instructions that come with the top are almost incomprehensible. Fortunately it's a fairly simple procedure to figure out. It took me awhile the first time but the second time will be faster. That is, if I ever take it off.
Glass Roadster Top
@Mark77a, I got the basic version. I didn't think that the "premium" features were worth the money.
Note: the premium top is slightly lighter, I believe.
@Mark77a, I got the basic version. I didn't think that the "premium" features were worth the money.
Note: the premium top is slightly lighter, I believe.
wiztecy
Active Member
I do recommend getting a good cover for the top when you store it, otherwise its pretty easy to scratch it. Then you'd wish you'd bought the premium that came with the cover. I agree there's a big price difference. One thing is the premium top is really light, feels as light as the CF Tesla top. The cover that came with it is neoprene and gives a nice fit. I put the glasstop and my Roadster CF top inside the Tesla hardtop storage bag together in the summer. Its padded very well.
As for the instructions, I never read them. Its a top and rather straight forward. Where the top sticks up, loosen the mount, push down on the top, and tighten.
Curious how much Visium or Mr Fiat would sell the hard top cover for alone.
As for the instructions, I never read them. Its a top and rather straight forward. Where the top sticks up, loosen the mount, push down on the top, and tighten.
Curious how much Visium or Mr Fiat would sell the hard top cover for alone.
Last edited:
shrink
Member
Great pics. Great look. Congrats!
ecarfan, it looks great on very orange!
I'd probably get one but the climate here in Phoenix is just not right. It'd be way too hot in the summer, and when it's winter for the rest of the country, I have the top off during the day (e.g., today the high was in the low 70's with a low in the high 40's).
Anyway, enjoy! I love the look.
ecarfan, it looks great on very orange!
I'd probably get one but the climate here in Phoenix is just not right. It'd be way too hot in the summer, and when it's winter for the rest of the country, I have the top off during the day (e.g., today the high was in the low 70's with a low in the high 40's).
Anyway, enjoy! I love the look.
I may never take my Visium top off. If I do I will be sure to wrap it in a blanket.
The price differential is $700. For that it seems the only differences are 1kg lighter (6kg vs. 5kg) and a storage cover. Didn't seem worth it. I'm sure the storage cover is nicely made, everything about this product is outstanding except the English translation of the installation instructions!
The price differential is $700. For that it seems the only differences are 1kg lighter (6kg vs. 5kg) and a storage cover. Didn't seem worth it. I'm sure the storage cover is nicely made, everything about this product is outstanding except the English translation of the installation instructions!
Tesla sells (or at least did sell) a cover for Tesla's own top. I have one for mine (the Sig100s included the hard top). it would be a little larger than needed for this glass top since that top does not extend over the rollbar like Tesla's top.
Habious
Member
As much as I like the top, there is no technology yet in existence to measure the level of my ticked-offed-ness as how unbelievably cheap and "crappy" the case is for the top. For $700, I was expecting an oversized, padded, semi-formed zipper case.
It's a cotton gym bag, rolled up.
@Habious, thank you, I now feel even better about my decision to go with the lower-price Visium hardtop.
Habious
Member
So, here's a picture of the Tesla Hardtop Bag (that costs $250)
...and here's a picture of the Vision hardtop bag (I put one of Henry's CANs next to it, for size comparison). This is what your additional $700 gets you.
(Note: I came wrapped up in plastic and I haven't bothered to unwrap it - the top came out of the crate and went straight onto the car)
...and here's a picture of the Vision hardtop bag (I put one of Henry's CANs next to it, for size comparison). This is what your additional $700 gets you.
(Note: I came wrapped up in plastic and I haven't bothered to unwrap it - the top came out of the crate and went straight onto the car)
wiztecy
Active Member
Here's the neoprene cover that came with mine, these came with the earlier tops. That premium price makes no sense at all, especially with a crappy cotton cover.
Glass Roadster Top
Besides coming with the much maligned storage bag (which seems to have been cheapened as of late) the premium Visium top is stated to be 1kg lighter. Not sure what is different about it to achieve that weight reduction, but it hardly seems significant.
Cheap storage bag aside, the Visium top is awesome! I highly recommend it.
Besides coming with the much maligned storage bag (which seems to have been cheapened as of late) the premium Visium top is stated to be 1kg lighter. Not sure what is different about it to achieve that weight reduction, but it hardly seems significant.
Cheap storage bag aside, the Visium top is awesome! I highly recommend it.
Today for the first time since installing my Visium top I drove in heavy rain, for half an hour. I could not find any evidence of water leaking into the cabin. My soft top did leak just a bit at the top front corner of the driver's side window.
Habious
Member
I had my Roadster about a week before I looked up and saw the disclaimer on the softtop that essentially says "Yeah, the roof occasionally leaks. Please...deal with it."
Similar threads
