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Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:42 pm
by Old Dude
Hi guys
Does anyone know what is the best stuff to use on your soft top, to keep it looking good and lasting longer.

Thanks guys

Old Dude 8)

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:46 pm
by JBT

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:56 pm
by Hammer
Depends who you talk to.

I know a few guys here in the forum have said they use 303 Aerospace Protectant, and swears it's the bomb. But Meguiars do not recommend you use anything on the softtop. They simply say to wash it with the same car wash you use for the car. Then simply chamois off excess water and let dry.

Apparently what ever you put on the roof afterwards will simply wash onto the car body the first time you drive it in the rain - which makes sense.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:09 pm
by toymx5
Hey Old Dude,

The benefit with 303 is that it has no silicone in it so when your car gets wet there's no silicone to wash odd onto your paint work. I used some last week on my black softtop but wasn't really happy as it doesn't give a nice dark finish, it doesn't do anything to the appearance much at all.

If you just want something to protect your softtop it's ideal but if you want a nice shiny balck softtop like I do we'll have to keep looking !

Regards,

toymx5

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:40 pm
by JBT
Use boot polish if you just want to make it look shiny.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:39 pm
by sliq
JBT's advice is another alternative to the pricey 303.

shoe polish.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 11:07 am
by Old Dude
Thanks guys

I use 303 on the inside of the car and it seems to work pretty well ant isn't greasey, but I just want ed something to help make the soft top last longer :|

At present I do what Hammer said and just wash it down and shammy off the water and it looks good. I just didn't want to use something that ends up stuffing the top... :roll:

Regards

Old Dude 8)

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 12:37 pm
by lukey
I use the autoglym vinyl and rubber care. it works well and lasts if you manage to have 3 or 4 days without rain then it is fully absorbed and doesnt wash off and run all over my car.
The autoglym absorbs in fast but mind you the girl before me never seemed to use anything as it was not very good before.

I also tryed boot polish and hated the end result

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:39 pm
by Szemen
lukey wrote:I use the autoglym vinyl and rubber care. it works well and lasts if you manage to have 3 or 4 days without rain then it is fully absorbed and doesnt wash off and run all over my car.
The autoglym absorbs in fast but mind you the girl before me never seemed to use anything as it was not very good before.

I also tryed boot polish and hated the end result

I'm currently using that as well. Keeps the top shiny! I respray it every month or so.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:50 pm
by Jace
for plastic rear window
Image

for roof itself
Image

works a treat.
if only my rear window didn't have weird caked on garbage stuck to it...

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:48 pm
by Moto
Anotherr +1 for AutoGlym!

The result is nice and shiney! Except it can make your rear window greasing if you put the roof down just after treatment, nothing a wipe with a rag can't fix though.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:13 pm
by MX5CHIC
The standard vinyl top on my NB8A was never looked after by the previous owner and as a result it had shrunk from all those years in the sun, the end result was 2 X 6" inch tears at either side of the rear window. I think a regular application of a product that has UV protection would be a very wise choice.
My new top is Canvas and without protection it soaks up water, using 303 on it makes the water bead off. I only re apply it once every 2 - 3 months.

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:55 pm
by 1blue5
I use 303 when the hard top is off-repels water pretty good, and gives it the fresh black appearance. :)

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 10:30 pm
by CheyneX5
x3 :wink:

Soft top Preservation

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 2:58 pm
by Old Dude
Hey JBT
I had a look at that Waxit site and saw the soft top cleaner, do you recon that is just for cleaning then you go over with 303 protectant, or do you think its a protectant as well just for soft tops :?: :lol:
Regards
Old Dude 8)