New Miata Owner Question - Top

I just bought a 2002. Although I anguished over the purchase, now I'm
smiling when driving. One question though....how long should I expect a top
to last before needing replacement? I'm not facing that yet, but figure the
day will come.

In article >,
"Prometheus7" > wrote:

> One question though....how long should I expect a top
> to last before needing replacement?

My '94's original top is still in pretty good shape--a bit worn, but no
air or water leaks. I've reglued a separated armature sleeve twice, no
biggie. I almost wish the damned thing would fail, so I could justify a
no-zip glass window top like yours. But it's against my principles to
replace a top that still works. It's hardly ever up, anyway.

If you want yours to last, get into the habit of using the boot
faithfully. UV rot of the inside fabric is the main cause of early
demise.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:27:38 -0400, "Prometheus7"
> wrote:

>I just bought a 2002. Although I anguished over the purchase, now I'm
>smiling when driving. One question though....how long should I expect a top
>to last before needing replacement?

Anything over five years is gravy.

-- Larry

"Prometheus7" > wrote in message
. ..
> I just bought a 2002. Although I anguished over the purchase, now I'm
> smiling when driving. One question though....how long should I expect a
top
> to last before needing replacement? I'm not facing that yet, but figure
the
> day will come.

My 1992 MX5 is still on its first top with wear and tear only really setting
in now. On the inside one of the flaps that's supposed to wrap around the
cage bars has come unstuck but I suppose I could glue that back on. Since I
usually have the top down, though, I haven't bothered. Only in the last 2
months or so has a tiny tear/hole appeared in the bottom left-hand corner of
the hood, where it attaches to the body of the car - it looks like that's
where a lot of folding takes place when putting the hood up and down. That
may well develop into a larger hole quite quickly, but still, 12 years isn't
bad.

As someone else in this thread has said, whenever I have the top down I use
the boot cover which I'm sure has prolonged its life by a fair bit. Apart
from that I just keep it clean by washing it (along with the rest of the
car) every week or two, and apply regular Kiwi shoe polish from time to time
to get it back to black again and to protect it from rain. Seems to work
very well.

Eric

Lanny Chambers > wrote in message >...
> If you want yours to last, get into the habit of using the boot
> faithfully. UV rot of the inside fabric is the main cause of early
> demise.

Which is one of the reasons I'm looking at a MR2 next time around.
This seems like such a simple problem to fix.

Mazda took the time to put in electric controlled mirrors; I adjust
the mirrors about 4 times a year.

Putting the top down requires me to open the trunk, position the boot
and fasten 8 snaps; I put the top down at least twice a day. (No, in
Indiana you can't leave it down. "It you don't like the weather wait
10 minutes.") So, I'll buy a new top when the sun finally burns out
the inside of the roof. (Some local punks poured used motor oil all
over my car one night, so the top is stained already.)

Joe

Joe wrote:
> Lanny Chambers > wrote in message >...
>
>>If you want yours to last, get into the habit of using the boot
>>faithfully. UV rot of the inside fabric is the main cause of early
>>demise.
>
>
> Which is one of the reasons I'm looking at a MR2 next time around.
> This seems like such a simple problem to fix.
>
Watch the dealers for deals- the MR2 has been killed off after this year
due to lousy sales.

The Miata's top may fold funny, but at least it has a trunk!

Joe
Silver '99

jchase > wrote:

>Joe wrote:
>> Lanny Chambers > wrote in message >...
>>
>>>If you want yours to last, get into the habit of using the boot
>>>faithfully. UV rot of the inside fabric is the main cause of early
>>>demise.
>>
>>
>> Which is one of the reasons I'm looking at a MR2 next time around.
>> This seems like such a simple problem to fix.
>>
>Watch the dealers for deals- the MR2 has been killed off after this year
>due to lousy sales.
>
>The Miata's top may fold funny, but at least it has a trunk!

And it does not look like an MR-2.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

In article >,
says...
>I just bought a 2002. Although I anguished over the purchase, now I'm
>smiling when driving. One question though....how long should I expect a top
>to last before needing replacement? I'm not facing that yet, but figure the
>day will come.

That will vary. If you keep your car in a garage all the time, it will last
a lot longer than if you have to leave your car out in the sun all the time.
I used to own a '95 that had les than 40K miles when I sold it earlier this
year. I kept the car in a garage the whole time I owned it and the prior
owner use to keep it covered with a car cover. The top looked great.
-----------
Alex