2018 JL Roofing Inquiry

[Zomps]

Hello All,

New to the Jeep community here, I grew up restoring a 1945 Willy's Army Jeep with my dad and just recently bought a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport JL a few weeks back. Two days after said purchase someone was kind enough to smash in the back gate glass destroying the frame with it. Any and all JL parts are relatively scarce since the model is newer and I've been able to track down a new piece thankfully but my question is:
Is it worth getting a new hard top entirely or just replacing the glass on it?
And if I were to replace the glass entirely, does anyone think there'd be interest in my old top with the plexiglass make-shift repair I put in place?

The rest of the hard top is entirely intact and clean. The plexiglass fix is two panels of the glass (one on the inside of the window slot, one on the outside of the slot and clamped into place with 6, 3-inch screws. Overall it doesn't look too bad and the seal is effective for air and moisture control.
If not, i'll most likely just scrap the top entirely if I go with a new one.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated like I said, I'm new to the game here.

Thanks,
Maria.

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[RussJeep1]

Maria: my opinion may differ from other posters and that's perfectly ok.

If the structural integrity of the hard top you own, including the attachment points for the hardware that holds and flips the glass is sound, get the MOPAR replacement glass only, and bring the wiper and defroster up to standard: both for your needs, and to maximize trade in value.

In life, we really only rent things. Sure, I understand the difference between buying and renting a home, but taxes deductions aside, to the financially analyst, they both involve (monthly) payments, and hopefully with ownership you get some money selling at the end.

So even if you're in the "30 year ownership club" (and the odds say you won't be, especially in this day and age where computers make vehicles obsolete faster) you're going to sell the rig you love today at some future point, and get one you love tomorrow: maybe for salvage value, or maybe higher. Kludge fixes may hurt you on such transactions, and why pay for a full top you don't need if you can just replace its broken components? I think your replacement glass solution will command much less in the market than its worth. Some mechanic will low ball you an offer, fix it him/herself as described here, and sell it for nice profit: especially since I must assume you are sans wiper and defroster..

There's another thing. Insurance. Many people have zero deductible glass breakage policies, but making claims can get you cancelled from cheaper insurance and/or make your rates go up. It's not worth it to go through insurance for an entire top replacement, anymore than would I expect an adjuster to give you money beyond dealing with the glass. Unless really living paycheck to paycheck (in which case I might question a Wrangler purchase) we shouldn't be carrying a lower than $1,000 deductible anyway: meaning if your insurer actually pays for a replacement, about 1/3 is out of your pocket before insurance premium hikes.

I must admit I don't know the price differential between the glass replacement you found and the hardtop price.

Good luck.