Miata Soft Top Replacement

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:59 pm

The plastic back window of our ‘96 Miata ripped out yesterday because the stitching had dry-rotted around the seam. The top is over 11 years old so I guess I can't complain. So now the top needs to be replaced.

I've always said that if I did get a new top I'd get one with a GLASS rear window. The stock zip-out vinyl window is teh suck. A new vinyl Robbins top with the glass window is $479 and that's the one I'm considering.

I did the research at lunch and discovered the following:

NB - $551.00 + shipping (no rain rail)

NA - $612.00 + shipping (no rain rail)

From Go Miata - Robbins Top w/ glass window $479 + shipping (rain rail included)

Now a top from Best Tops is cheaper even with a rear defroster, but their reviews on miata dot net are far from stellar. Most of the Robbins reviews (not all of course) are good.

99% of everyone I've read about recommends getting the new top professionally installed. A few of the installation how-to sections mention "I did it myself, but never again". Apparently if you're the man you can do it in four hours, if you're not...it might take two days.

So I called a couple of places recommended by Chuck and Aaron for a labor only quote:

Conner's in Durham $305-340

Aaron's recommendation in Raleigh $370

Looks like turnkey this project could be $900...ouch! Anyone have additional advice? Other places that you recommend for the installation?

Ashraf Farrag · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:27 pm

It took more than 4 hours but part of that may have to do with the fact that I had a rollbar to yank out and then reinstall and I tried to do everything "perfectly"...

I got a no-name brand off e-bay. One thing I had to deal with were some extra vinyl flaps that weren't trimmed. I had to call in an "expert" to de-stitch and back-stitch those bits so that everything would fit right. These were where the top mates to the rain-rail and I feared that leaving them would result in a poor seal.

$300 in labor? Hmm. They guarantee no leaks and warranty the install that it will be perfect and not come apart/etc? That might be worth taking them up on.

Turned out that in the end, it didn't really matter so much and after 2 years, the top is holding out okay but I made the mistake of not installing the interior in the back since I was chasing a leak and managed to get red paint to lift onto the vinyl window (I had a towel in there for a while and at some point removed it - big mistake). Oh well. Live and learn.

I guess my verdict is:
Yeah, I did it myself but I'd think twice about doing it myself again even though I know all the gotchas. It's not particularly hard...just time consuming and one or two steps were sort of "evil" in terms of accessibility to something or other. Read the miata.net howtos and see what you think about the job after reading through them.

Make sure you get new "cables" with it. New rain rail probably a good thing...I did some RTV repair on mine that has held out but you never know what you'll end up pulling out.

--Ashraf

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:31 pm

Vincent:

Way back when in the days when I had a top with a window, it cracked. I found a used top and put it on completely frame and all. I then gave the old top and frame as trade.

If you can find a wreck with a good top it is pretty easy to replace the frame

Rob

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:31 pm

We put a new top on over Thanksgiving and it went well. Actually, my boys did the work without really much, if any, supervision. It's not the toughest job, but it went well and I'm very happy with the new top. I'm guessing that the rain rail installed version is a must, I can't picture adding that variability to the mix.

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

I'd agree with a do it yourself install but with a factory installed rain rail.

Without a rollbar the top replacement should be fairly straightforward. Removal is easy but install probably requires two folks to get it all aligned. Getting the top lined up over the studs in the rear panel was the toughest part for me, but again a rollbar was part of that problem. If you're anal about appearance you're probably better off being prepared to replace the plastic carpet fasteners. Probably took me about 8 - 10 hours over the course of a weekend but I tend to be slow ...

I bought a Robbins top, only experience I have is Robbins and OEM. Both are very good.

Frank

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:23 am

ColinOConnell wrote:

We put a new top on over Thanksgiving and it went well. Actually, my boys did the work without really much, if any, supervision. It's not the toughest job, but it went well and I'm very happy with the new top. I'm guessing that the rain rail installed version is a must, I can't picture adding that variability to the mix.

What brand top did you guys use? Seems most of you are trying to talk Ryan into helping me do this. :twisted:

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:07 am

i think i know where there is a used one at. i am checking to see if it htere. i will pm you.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:33 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

What brand top did you guys use? Seems most of you are trying to talk Ryan into helping me do this. :twisted:

We used the Robins top w/ plastic window. So far so good. It's still a bit of a tight fit, but not too bad and I figure it's going to stretch a bit when it gets hot out.

http://www.gomiata.com/robvintopwpl.html

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