mx5cartalk.com

The above post is actually mine, seems I accidently logged in with a waaaay older account I didn't even realise I had... oops

Darcius wrote:Also can anyone recommend some aftermarket tops they might have had experience with that should do the trick?

Plenty on ebay:

http://cars.shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?_nk ... m270.l1313

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAZDA-MX5-89 ... 2eb6958dde

Quite a few people on here have bought the Prestige ones from the UK on ebay.

Thanks 93_Clubman, never occured to me to look for a new soft top on Ebay. There's some pretty good prices and a nice range on there, thanks very much!

One other quick question, is it worth getting a new rain rail for a new soft top? Or should the current one be ok?

I would say yes get a new rain rail

Save doing it later
If you need a new roof chances are that it will need to be replaced

I'm no expert as my na is a race car with no roof

Darius wrote:One other quick question, is it worth getting a new rain rail for a new soft top? Or should the current one be ok?

rwf wrote:I would say yes get a new rain rail

Save doing it later

^+1
Soft-top replacement is a time consuming job - was quoted about 6 hours labour some years ago, so you wouldn't want to do it twice. If you search on "rain rail" or "rainrail", there's a few threads which should shed more light on the subject, indeed from memory there's even been some suggested replacements.

If I were you I would be looking at either a Stayfast of Mohair top, both these materials are worlds better than the vinyl top you are replacing.

I bought my stayfast top from seller: Davezhouse on US ebay, he now sells under the name Pamzhouse (which I think is his wife).

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/pamzhouze/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

They are very good people to deal with and always happy to help you out, the top still looks great on the car after 3 and a half years.

Here is the thread from when I fit mine.

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=29161&hilit=stayfast

so how long does a OEM vinyl top last if looked after or car regularly garaged? Vinyl is a very robust material.

green_comet wrote:If I were you I would be looking at either a Stayfast of Mohair top, both these materials are worlds better than the vinyl top you are replacing.

I bought my stayfast top from seller: Davezhouse on US ebay, he now sells under the name Pamzhouse (which I think is his wife).

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/pamzhouze/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

They are very good people to deal with and always happy to help you out, the top still looks great on the car after 3 and a half years.

Wow thanks for that green_comet, those stayfast tops are well priced and look great. He also sells them with rain rails too! I think i'll be grabbing one of those, so thanks everyone for your help!

Mr Morlock wrote:so how long does a OEM vinyl top last if looked after or car regularly garaged? Vinyl is a very robust material.

My old '89 NA6 still had its original soft-top in mid '04 when I sold it - little faded, but no holes or wear, although rear plastic window had been replaced.

Good one GC - must remember those soft-tops!

I recently (a month ago...) bought this

http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=78965

Robbins Streamline Sunfast Top - Zipperless Defroster Glass Window - Black
with rain rail

it costs $571 USD and $253 USD for shipping
I fitted it myself with the help of Geoff which took about 6 hrs and cost nothing to install...

I go my Robbins top (glass window) when on sale from Gomiata.com (invoice details below). Fitting at Moorooka Auto Trim was around $500. I am really happy with the new top and the service I received from both companies. The price included a new rain rail and tension cables. Easier to replace these during the new installation, rather than do them later.

Robbins Miata Convertible RBN-2919-RC-BKB 1 519.95 Need Top Side
Tension Cables? * Yes
Top - Vinyl Top Standard Additional
shipping cost will be
Glass Window, with Rain added, when
you order this with
Rail 1990-2005 - FREE Robbins Top =
SHIPPING Select Year &
Color = 1990-2005
(Shipped) TAN
USPS Tracking Number:
CJ217748645US
Subtotal 519.95
Shipping 129.00
Tax 0.00
Total 648.95

Hey Guys, thought i'd give an update to my original post since I thought it might serve as a word of warning.

I ended up ordering a Mohair Softtop to my MX5 off Ebay from Pamzhouse in the USA for my exact MX5 model, it was a duplicate to the vinyl one I currently had except fabric. It arrived a month late in a standard box and upon opening it actually looked fine, even though there was no indication on the box or inside as to the model the softtop was for and the instructions included were the absolute bare minimum. Not being skilled at all in fitting roofs, I took Noddycars' recommendation and sent it to Brett at Moorooka Auto Trim to fit it. Several hours later I got a call saying the roof didn't fit, they'd tried for hours to get it to close but it always stopped a few inches short not matter what, I was surprised and a bit pissed to say the least. Unfortunately i'd had the softtop sitting in my garage for a few months before hand and Ebay has a 90day contact policy after purchasing, so I couldn't even contact the seller. The Marooka guys were pros though, they ordered me a Robbins frabric softtop at cost price and didn't charge me for the original attempt at the Ebay roof which they spent hours on, so a big recommendation for them!

So in the end I got a wonderful fabric Robbins softtop which fitted like a glove and looks amazing. I almost never go for the cheap option when getting new things, so I definitely learnt my lesson here! Don't know if I was just unlucky or these tops aren't generally up to scratch, but take my experience on board if you're thinking about going via Ebay.

Goodluck!

Tks for sharing - what did you do with the US mohair soft-top?

Still got it! If anyone wants it, i'll give you a heavy discount. Cost me $800 from eBay