Top replacement

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John Matava - 22 Jun 2004 01:19 GMT

Will be replacing the top on a 96 in the near future. I am thinking a Robbins vinyl with glass window, but I am not set. Any opinions on the following subjects:

Vinyl vs canvas. I like the look, is it worth the money? It will see a lot of rain.

Plastic vs glass. Does glass restrict the rear view?

The zipless appear to have more viewing area. Is this significant? Does the plastic fold degrade the life of the window?

Does anyone know of a quality zipperless top with a glass window?

Any recommendations on brand or for a good retailer?

Thanks in advance
John

96 and very red.

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Eric Baber - 22 Jun 2004 08:41 GMT

>Will be replacing the top on a 96 in the near future. I am thinking a Robbins vinyl with glass window, but I am not set. Any opinions on the

following subjects:

>Vinyl vs canvas. I like the look, is it worth the money? It will see a lot of rain.

From what I've heard from various other owners glass isn't a good idea. The
hood just isn't designed to hold that weight, and on several occasions the
glass windows have been known to just pop out. Don't know if anybody else
here has had that problem.

Eric

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Roald Oines - 22 Jun 2004 12:40 GMT

:>Will be replacing the top on a 96 in the near future. I am thinking a
: Robbins vinyl with glass window, but I am not set. Any opinions on
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
:
: Eric

This is the first I've heard of that. I bought a vinyl, zippered glass
window Robbins top last summer (after my vinyl window cracked) and it
works great. I like being able to unzip the window and leave the top up
for the shade.

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pws - 22 Jun 2004 14:04 GMT

> :>Will be replacing the top on a 96 in the near future. I am thinking a
> : Robbins vinyl with glass window, but I am not set. Any opinions on
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> works great. I like being able to unzip the window and leave the top up
> for the shade.

This is the first that I have heard of it too, though I have heard that
the weight of the glass can be bad for the zipper.
Does the Robbins model require you to unzip the glass window to lower
the top, or do you have the option of leaving it in place to drop it the
way the top works on the OEM 1999+ models?

Pat
'96M

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Leon van Dommelen - 22 Jun 2004 14:55 GMT

>> :>Will be replacing the top on a 96 in the near future. I am thinking a
>> : Robbins vinyl with glass window, but I am not set. Any opinions on
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>the top, or do you have the option of leaving it in place to drop it the
>way the top works on the OEM 1999+ models?

I had an aftermarket glass window (Brainstorm) for five years,
and no problems with the OEM zipper half in the 1996 top.
(Nor the BS zipper half in the window.)

When I put in a no-zip 1999 Miata top, we moved the top
with the Brainstorm glass window to another Miata and it
is still fine as far as I know.

More importantly, aftermarket glass window tops such as
Robbins tend to lay higher when down. I do not like
how that looks and would not want a Robbins.

Leon

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Roald Oines - 23 Jun 2004 02:02 GMT

<snip>

:> This is the first I've heard of that. I bought a vinyl, zippered
:> glass window Robbins top last summer (after my vinyl window cracked)
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
: Pat
: '96M

Yes -- the window needs to be unzipped and the glass laid below the
stiffener bar before lowering the top. As Leon says, the glass does make
the top lay a bit higher when lowered, but not too much - barely enough
to notice, imo.

The zipper seems pretty stout and it works smoothly so far.

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