Soft Top or SOT?

[sk00pie]

I've had both hard and now SOT. I can say the SOT is the best car "option" from any car I've ever owned. I use it constantly, all year round.

Hard vs SOT: Does a hardtop full removed look better? Sure. But the ease of use of pressing a button any time of year vs removing / storing the hard top meant I'd be going topless at least 10x as much.

Soft vs SOT: I don't particularly like the way soft tops look while up or retracted. The ease of use would likely have me choosing vs a black hard top, but not a painted hard top. The SOT gives you maybe 80% of the benefit and feel but just looks better.

Previous vs Current Pricing: My 2021 Willys came with the Sun and Sound package. For around $3700 it included SOT, largest screen, and premium audio. This was a no brainer. Now it looks like $3800 for ONLY the SOT.

Current state suggestion: If money no object, SOT. Otherwise I'd probably go soft.

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[truffles615]

Hey all,

Looking to build my 24 from factory this time instead of buying off lot to make sure I get everything I want this time

Just moved to south-central Texas and have been going back and forth from the Soft Top vs SOT and which I should choose

I don't want the hard top because it was such a pain to store/remove on and off during the summer. Since I am an warmer/sunnier climate, I want to take advantage of the weather as much as possible.

I only had a hard top on my Jeep last time so I don't know which one to pick this time. 4k seems like a lot but it is nice to just hit it and get that open air experience

Thoughts?

I effectively have both …. A soft top on the Gladiator and the SOT on my Wrangler. I ordered my JL and had the same back and forth conversation with myself about my top as well — It was going to be a very expensive mistake if I hated it.

Needless to say, I am SO GLAD that I added the SOT! I love it! It’s just so easy and you still get that open feeling … Don’t forget that the back side panels do come off as well. Another important item is that It’s much cooler and quieter than the soft top due to the construction especially if you add the HotHeads Skyliner.

I also look at it this way, there’s a reason that the SOTs are never on the car lots. When mine was delivered, so many people wanted to purchase my JL. You won’t go wrong with the SOT!

 

[Old Jeeper]

what is a SOT? when I google it, it says "a habitual drunkard" which seems like a bad option for a Jeep.

Its an opening in the roof that you can throw your Beer cans and whiskey bottles out of made for SOTs!

 

[running_man]

Bought my JLUR used and had never heard of the SOT when I was looking for my next Jeep. I had my TJ for 11 years, I ran it with the doors off with a bimini top for the last 9 years I owned it. That being said, when I found my '19, it had the SOT and I absolutely love it! I love the fact that I can be in the open air with the touch of a button but in the air conditioned comfort with the same ease. While you can't go truly 'topless', I can drive it to work on winter days where the temperature in the morning is 45 degrees but on the trip home when it's 80 degrees I can enjoy the weather with a touch of a button.

 

[Gruffid]

I had the Bestop super top for trucks on my Gladiator (they also make the wrangler/gladiator soft tops). I loved that truck, but there were issues (diesel) so I went Wrangler. I had the hard top with sunrider on it also. The biggest issue I had with the soft-top (I’m including the super top in this because from my experience the wrangler soft top rear window is almost identical) was that the rear window was too easily scratched and wouldn’t stay up when you wanted to get into the cargo area. I really wanted the functionality of the hard top with the flexibility of the soft top.

For my current wrangler, I got the SOT. The rear window stays up and cleaning them isn’t a chore like the soft top windows. If the rear window gets dirty, I activate the rear window wiper/cleaner fluid. I have rain gutters for light-duty roof rack attachment. I have the push-button convenience of open air driving up to 55 mph (let’s see the soft top crowd do that). And yes, I wheel more than just mall parking lots and Starbucks. Just did the SMORR jamboree last month.

You can put a RTT on it, you just have to get a specialized roof rack like the one ARS (metal cloak?) makes.

 

[JSFoster75]

I've had the Hard Top, the SOT, & the Soft Top...

SOT -
Pros: Easiest/Most convenient to get air in the Jeep, can open/close while driving at the push of a button.
Cons: Looks weird with the Doors & Windows removed, no option to remove the back glass, Sun can make it very hot inside, hard to cool. Very expensive to repair/replace outside of warranty.

Hard Top -
Pros: Easier to Heat/Cool the interior, can add the sunrider to replace the Freedom Panels, Easy to remove if you have a garage with a hoist. You can put decals on the rear windows...
Cons: If you are traveling, difficult to remove without a hoist, you are going to get wet if you are out and about in a rainstorm.

Soft Top -
Pros: Quick Up/Down if the weather changes, you can carry the windows & top with you wherever you go. Less expensive than the other 2 options.
Cons: Interior is noisier from the wind, harder to heat/cool. Life span is less than hard top, will have to be replaced at some point in the future. Windows can get easily scratched up if not stored correctly.

 

[mgarciaknight]

When I ordered my 2021 JLU80, my dilemma was: order hard top or soft top. I had a 2016 JKU hard top which I rarely took the Freedom panels off cuz they are bulky and not easily stored with you. And the complete hard top came off only TWO times in five years cuz you need three adults or a hoist to take off. It was a no brainer to get the soft top, I opted for the Premium soft top. That was the best decision ever. Takes about two minutes to pull it back to get open air Jeep experience for all passengers, front AND back. Which is probably what most people want. Once in a while all the windows come off too. But there are many here making it sound as if it is difficult to do and prefer pushing a button. Whimps! Also sound is similar to a hard top, there are many videos showing that.
In regards to SOT, all I gotta say is remember the Jeep Liberty retractable rag tops? They leaked big time after a couple of years! And without a fix!

GET THE SOFT TOP!

 

[rk911]

Just bought a new '23 2D JL with a hard top. I'm having the hard top removed and replaced with a soft top. Not keeping the HT...it's up for sale. No point in having a Jeep if the top can't come off!

 

[rk911]

I've had the Hard Top, the SOT, & the Soft Top...

SOT -
Pros: Easiest/Most convenient to get air in the Jeep, can open/close while driving at the push of a button.
Cons: Looks weird with the Doors & Windows removed, no option to remove the back glass, Sun can make it very hot inside, hard to cool. Very expensive to repair/replace outside of warranty.

Hard Top -
Pros: Easier to Heat/Cool the interior, can add the sunrider to replace the Freedom Panels, Easy to remove if you have a garage with a hoist. You can put decals on the rear windows...
Cons: If you are traveling, difficult to remove without a hoist, you are going to get wet if you are out and about in a rainstorm.

Soft Top -
Pros: Quick Up/Down if the weather changes, you can carry the windows & top with you wherever you go. Less expensive than the other 2 options.
Cons: Interior is noisier from the wind, harder to heat/cool. Life span is less than hard top, will have to be replaced at some point in the future. Windows can get easily scratched up if not stored correctly.

Our '03 TJ had a soft top and while the road noise was a bit louder than when the hard top was on (for the first few years I switched between the hard and soft tops, eventually running the ST full time and selling the HT) but heating the TJ in Chicago winters was not a problem with the soft top.

 

[Bulletbill]

When I ordered my 2021 JLU80, my dilemma was: order hard top or soft top. I had a 2016 JKU hard top which I rarely took the Freedom panels off cuz they are bulky and not easily stored with you. And the complete hard top came off only TWO times in five years cuz you need three adults or a hoist to take off. It was a no brainer to get the soft top, I opted for the Premium soft top. That was the best decision ever. Takes about two minutes to pull it back to get open air Jeep experience for all passengers, front AND back. Which is probably what most people want. Once in a while all the windows come off too. But there are many here making it sound as if it is difficult to do and prefer pushing a button. Whimps! Also sound is similar to a hard top, there are many videos showing that.
In regards to SOT, all I gotta say is remember the Jeep Liberty retractable rag tops? They leaked big time after a couple of years! And without a fix!

GET THE SOFT TOP!

The Jeep liberty tops are not even in the same league as the SOT. Comparing apples to oranges. You might as well try saying don’t buy a wrangler because the Liberty itself sucked.

Unless you have used a Sky One Touch I would stick to talking about your experience with the soft top and not promote pointless comparisons.

 

[Wulfgang]

I had a Liberty (bought new) with the SOT.
It was nothing but one problem after another.
Leaks, wind noise, motors burn out, out of adjustment.
Fixed several times under warranty.
I didn't even open it for the last 10 years I owned it.
(Other than that, it was one of the best cars I have ever owned, 220,000 miles)

 

[GATORB8]

The Jeep liberty tops are not even in the same league as the SOT. Comparing apples to oranges. You might as well try saying don’t buy a wrangler because the Liberty itself sucked.

Unless you have used a Sky One Touch I would stick to talking about your experience with the soft top and not promote pointless comparisons.

Yeah, @mgarciaknight , the Fiat 500 Cabrio seems like a much better comparison!

 

[Wbino]

JEEPs with the soft top look like a well dress man with a floppy fisherman's hat on.

 

[GATORB8]

JEEPs with the soft top look like a well dress man with a floppy fisherman's hat on.

I’d recommend rolling the well dressed man around in the mud and throwing some rocks at him. Makes the fisherman’s hat look better.

EDIT: In my haste, I feel like I missed a great opportunity here.
Fishing hat : Soft Top

Helmet: Hard Top

Toupe: SOT

 

[BXFXJeep]

If I lived in a mostly warm climate, I would go soft top and half doors.

I'm in a condo in Toronto, so the SOT is the best option for me.

Previously I had the dual tops + Sunrider for Hardtop, the cost of all 3, cost the same as the SOT.

Also with the SOT I have it open all winter as long as it is not snowing.

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