Factory or Aftermarket Convertible Top: What's the Real Difference

When it's time to replace a convertible top, owners usually ask us the same question first: factory or aftermarket? Both are good options, and neither one is automatically the wrong call. The right one depends on what you're after, whether that's matching the car exactly the way it left the factory or getting the most coverage and durability for your money. We install both, and we'll give you our honest read on which one fits your car and how you actually use it.

What factory and aftermarket actually mean

A factory top is made to the original manufacturer's exact spec, the same material and construction the car left the factory with when it was new. An aftermarket top is made by an outside manufacturer to fit the same vehicle, often using different material weights, weave patterns, or backing than the factory originally used. Aftermarket doesn't mean lower quality. Some aftermarket tops are built heavier or more weather resistant than what the car originally came with from the factory. It just means it's not from the original manufacturer's supply chain, and there can be real advantages either way depending on your priorities, your budget, and how particular you are about matching the car exactly as it was built.

Glass or plastic rear window

The rear window is one of the biggest practical differences between top options. Glass rear windows are more scratch resistant, don't yellow or cloud the way plastic can over years in the Arizona sun, and usually include a real electric defroster for cooler mornings. Plastic windows are lighter and typically cost less, but they're more prone to scratching and clouding over time, especially on a car that spends a lot of time parked outside in direct sun. We'll walk you through which windows are actually available for your specific top and vehicle so you can weigh clarity and long-term durability against upfront cost.

Warranty coverage

Whichever direction you go, the work is backed by a real warranty, not just a verbal promise. Aftermarket top installations carry a 3 year parts and 2 year labor warranty. Factory top installations carry a 1 year parts and 2 year labor warranty. The labor coverage is the same either way, so our workmanship is guaranteed regardless of which top you choose. The difference is how long the top material itself is covered by the manufacturer, and that's one more thing worth weighing when you're deciding between the two options for your car.

• Aftermarket tops: 3 year parts and 2 year labor warranty
• Factory tops: 1 year parts and 2 year labor warranty
• Glass or plastic rear window options depending on the top
• Fitted to all years, makes, and models

Every year, make, and model

We install soft tops on all years, makes, and models, from daily drivers to classics that are decades old and no longer in production, and from high-end marques like Porsche, Ferrari, and Bentley down to an everyday truck or sedan someone drives to work. If your convertible has a mechanical problem beyond the fabric itself, motors, cylinders, hydraulic hoses, cables, relays, switches, or frame components, we handle that as part of the same job rather than sending you somewhere else for the mechanical side of things. That's the advantage of dealing with one shop for the whole repair instead of splitting it between a fabric specialist and a mechanic.

Beyond cars: RVs, motorcycles, and aircraft

Soft top and cover work isn't limited to convertibles. We also service tops and covers on RVs, motorcycles, and aircraft, using the same approach across every vehicle type: real diagnosis of what's actually worn or broken, then a proper repair or replacement rather than guessing at what's needed. If you've got a cover or a top on something other than a car that's failing, it's worth a call before you assume it has to be replaced outright.

Talk it through with us

If you're deciding between a factory and aftermarket top for your convertible, call Upholstery Shop & Tops in Scottsdale at (480) 946-0817. We'll go over the material, window, and warranty options for your specific vehicle so you can make the call with real information instead of guessing at what's right for you.