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Joe Cronin - 13 Feb 2005 11:42 GMT

Looking to replace my top with a new cloth top. Any ideas
Joe
99NB

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Jim_Horvath - 15 Feb 2005 22:53 GMT

I am new to this board so I'm not sure what the etiquette is for
recommending vendors. I don't see a "Reply Privately" option so I'll go
ahead and make a recommendation.

I just replaced the top on my 67 E-Type Jag with one from Autotop
superstore:

http://www.autotopsuperstore.com/

The contact is Vic, the quality, delivery, price, and support were great.
Another Jag owner had a problem - ordered the wrong, one and was able to
send it back and replace it with no problem. They supply both Robbins and
EasyOn tops, from what I understand the quality is equivalent.

Good luck,
Jim

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Ken Lyons - 15 Feb 2005 23:55 GMT

> I am new to this board so I'm not sure what the etiquette is for
> recommending vendors.

This just SEEMS to be a moderated newsgroup because we're all so civil.
Recommend away. Welcome to one of the best newsgroups around.

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Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
[Remove the first two digits to reply]

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Tom Howlin - 16 Feb 2005 00:25 GMT

Jim,

Welcome to the group and we don't mind recommendations, it is in fact
one of the best things bout this group and why I don't spend much time
on moderated forums - here real opinion is allowed and not monitored.
Fortunately, this is perhaps the only newsgroup I belong to that has
stayed civilized for all these years and so one can speak openly without
fear of harassment or childish attacks.

Tom
92 Red
05/06 Vette to be? (red, but of course)

> I am new to this board so I'm not sure what the etiquette is for
> recommending vendors. I don't see a "Reply Privately" option so I'll go
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Good luck,
> Jim

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bgt - 15 Feb 2005 23:45 GMT

Get a Robbin's from Moss Motors and do it yourself, I replaced mine with a
Robbin's and was pleased with the fit and finish (I bought the middle of the
road one) took about three hours to do.

> Looking to replace my top with a new cloth top. Any ideas
> Joe
> 99NB

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Leon van Dommelen - 16 Feb 2005 00:34 GMT

>Looking to replace my top with a new cloth top. Any ideas

Note that aftermarket tops like Robbins often lie higher than
the stock one, changing the profile of the car.

Leon

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

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bgt - 16 Feb 2005 00:49 GMT

Would you be thinking of the glass window top Leon? As far as I can tell my
plastic window top sits exactly as it did before, but I didn't really pay
too much attention to the way the old top sat.

Bruce

>>Looking to replace my top with a new cloth top. Any ideas
>
> Note that aftermarket tops like Robbins often lie higher than
> the stock one, changing the profile of the car.
>
> Leon

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Christopher Muto - 16 Feb 2005 06:29 GMT

i have been looking at tops and wondered about this... no mention of it by
the dealers, but i did notice at moss that they sell boots specifically fit
robbins glass tops... i think a glass window would be a great improvement
but don't like the idea of the tops sticking up higher than the factory
plastic window top. could this be a symptom of the 'ziperless' design? i
have no problem with unzipping the rear window, and i think the zippered
tops that i have seen look better than the ones that are the one piece
zipperless design.

so, my question is do all glass tops stick up higher than the original top
when in the down position or is that a symptom of the zipperless tops?

also opinions of kwiktops.com or convertibletopguys.com welcome.

and are new hold down cables recommended?

any insights on necessary rivet sizes and rivet tool would be most helpful?

many thanks.

>>Looking to replace my top with a new cloth top. Any ideas
>
> Note that aftermarket tops like Robbins often lie higher than
> the stock one, changing the profile of the car.
>
> Leon

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Roald Oines - 16 Feb 2005 12:01 GMT

Christopher Muto <muto@worldnet.att.net> typed:

: i have been looking at tops and wondered about this... no mention of
: it by the dealers, but i did notice at moss that they sell boots
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
: original top when in the down position or is that a symptom of the
: zipperless tops?

I have a Robbins zippered glass top on my 94 (love it!) and although it
sticks up a little higher than the factory top, I can still use the
original boot.

: also opinions of kwiktops.com or convertibletopguys.com welcome.
:
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
:: rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata
:: EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

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Please remove the under_scores if replying by mail.

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news - 16 Feb 2005 13:33 GMT

I have a 2002 SE, and I don't want to change the top, I just want it colored
the same as the body. Has anyone dyed thier top or know someone that does
it?

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Christopher Muto - 16 Feb 2005 15:37 GMT

duetto motors offers tops in a variety of colors. i have no opinion of
their tops vs robbins tops (which they also sell) and would welcome other
peoples experiences.
http://www.duettomotors.com/miata/catalog.htm

>I have a 2002 SE, and I don't want to change the top, I just want it
>colored the same as the body. Has anyone dyed thier top or know someone
>that does it?

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Christopher Muto - 17 Feb 2005 00:02 GMT

fwiw, i have received the following answers about fitting an oem boot cover
on replacement glass window ziperless and non-zippered tops on 90-97 models.
this is not an issue with the newer miatas...

duettomotors.com (clearly the most professional of the lot, descriptive web
site, prompt articulate email replies): "All of the Miata glass window tops
that we currently offer will work with your original factory boot cover if
it's in good shape and isn't shrunken. Robbins Glass window tops used to
come supplied with spacers that raised the level of the folded top and frame
making it necessary to use a larger boot cover for these tops. This is why
Robbins makes two sizes of boot cover."

kwiktops.com: "The difference in the boots is between the glass or plastic
windows. If you have the OEM boot that works with the plastic window it
might not work with the glass window top."

cabrioworld.com: emailed twice in the last week but no reply.

mmmiata.com: broken links to product information on their tops page.
emailed twice in the last week but no reply. main page says "under new
management" whatever that means.

>i have been looking at tops and wondered about this... no mention of it by
>the dealers, but i did notice at moss that they sell boots specifically fit
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>>
>> Leon

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Ken Lyons - 17 Feb 2005 02:06 GMT

> i have been looking at tops and wondered about this... no mention of it by
> the dealers, but i did notice at moss that they sell boots specifically fit
> robbins glass tops... i think a glass window would be a great improvement
> but don't like the idea of the tops sticking up higher than the factory
> plastic window top.

A comparison of the OEM top down and a Robbins no-zipper top down:
http://miata.cardomain.com/memberpage/334058/4
The original boot cover of the '90 fits the Robbins. I'd say we're talking
10-20cm height difference. I do need to reshoot those photos from identical
perspectives for a better comparison.

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Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
[Remove the first two digits to reply]

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