Which soft top looks better ?

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:29 pm

Hi, all

Opinion time - which looks better - the smooth "no zipper" top or the zippered top with rear curtain as per original ?

http://www.duettomotors.com/miata/miata ... _intro.htm

To go on an NA

Regards

WRW · Post by **WRW** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:40 am

My anti-virus shield popped up and said it didn't like that link for some reason

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:05 am

The no zipper smooth one is my choice.

----- Original Message -----
From: "GEEMCB" <mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz>
To: <mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 10:29 PM
Subject: [MX5] Which soft top looks better ?

[Posted via External Email]

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:49 pm

Thanks, Grant - that's the current home front opinion too. Nina - the site is fine (as far as I'm aware). Will see if I can post actual pictures.

m ex 5 · Post by **m ex 5** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:12 pm

worked for me, I would also go with the no zip look

[Posted via External Email]

Gordon Tucker · Post by **Gordon Tucker** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:54 am

I agree, the no zipper does look better with its smooth look. Howevever, you do have to be very careful when lowering the top to not crimp the plastic window (unless its a glass back window). The plastic window will get brittle after a while and you should always fold it around a foam tube or something similar to avoid splitting

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:10 am

Hi, Gordon

Yep - these options are both in glass - visibility rules !

Regards

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:35 am

I have a recollection that I had heard that if you fit the new hood with the glass window to an NA, the when you put the roof down it does not sit as flat as the original one and so does not look as good. Can anyone confirm or deny this.

peter · Post by **peter** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:45 am

the new hood with the glass window does sit as flat as the previous models, and my tonneau cover fits perfectly as well. Not that I ever use it!

I found however the roof doesn't open as fast with the glass window as it did with the plastic, it opens half way then I have to push above the glass to make it go all the way. Closing however is very fast.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:59 pm

Peter...

Tonneau is a bit of a pain I know, but highly recommended to protect underside of hood from UV rays.

Having spent serious $ on a new hood, I am doing my bit to make sure its the last one I fit!! Of course the sun down here in 'balmy ChCh' is something you may not have to contend with??

Cheers, Ian

m ex 5 · Post by **m ex 5** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:15 pm

I may know someone that wants to buy your unused tonneau cover

... so OK it's me.

[Posted via External Email]

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:51 pm

Hi, David

Looking carefully at the animation of the hood opening on the Duetto site, it looks OK to me.

They do say that the boot cover can still be used & looking at the top fully open it does seem to be pretty much as per plastic window position.

Regards,

Gordon Tucker · Post by **Gordon Tucker** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:34 pm

If you are going for the glass window, there is no reason to have a zip. In fact I have never seen a new zipped top with a glass window. Having owned 4 NAs with the zip/plastic window and 1 NB 2.5 series, I have to say that the glass is superior in every way - visibillity and ease of dropping and raising. If you dont use your cover, you should always ensure that the underside bit that is showing to the sun is covered in some way as it isn't UV protected and our harsh UV rays will soon start eating it away.

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:08 pm

Hi, Gordon

Thanks for the endorsement of glass ....

Seems that (from my research anyway) there are a couple of options (for NA cars) -

Robbins http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/ offer
1) A no zip glass window with a fake curtained look - arguably a point of weakness & potential leaks, or
2) A zipped glass window BUT the window has to be unzipped to drop the roof - a major pain by all accounts as the window is not that light.

Duetto (& I think others too eg. Cabrioworld) offer
1) A no zip glass window with no seams - the smooth look, or
2) A zipped glass window that DOES NOT have to be unzipped to drop the roof. Other advantage is that you can drive with the top up but back window open. (I've never done this though of course anyone with an OEM plastic window can do this too).

Both of these latter versions just require one of the hoops to be pulled forward as the top lowers. I've not seen it but I understand that the Robbins version has some straps that do this automatically. Wild conjecture on my part ...

And yes - ozone hole means that any unprotected underside won't last long ! When I lived in my native Oz the hole in the ozone layer seemed comfortably far away......now I warn my trans-Tasman visitors to be very very careful !

Regards,

GrubbyMX · Post by **GrubbyMX** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:19 pm

So has anyone out there bought a top direct from Duetto?

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:34 am

I bought a top from Duetto many years ago.... when they were a brand new company... maybe 8 or 10 years ago?

They were easy to deal with.

For what it's worth, I got the zippered glass window for my '90 and I love it.

Anyone who's seen my top recently will know it needs replacement again. I'm reasonably sure that this is more a reflection of my less than perfect installation and care over the years than of the quality of the roof itself?

Anyway, how long do you expect a piece of fabric to last anyway? I dont think I've got poor service for ~ten years?

Fletch.

GEEMCB · Post by **GEEMCB** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:24 pm

Hi, Fletch

Thanks for the information - indeed - 10 years for a fabric ain't bad. I'm seriously contemplating getting a top from Duetto direct - just sorting out shipping options at present (hopefully a friend can bring over with their household stuff when they return from the US). Gerry at Duetto has certainly been extremely prompt & helpful in the email correspondence thus far.

I also seem to recall that Chic did business with them & was also very happy.

Regards,