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Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:51 am
by Silvia
Have to have the top up these days unfortunately or you just fry in Qld. heat. Noticed Armor-all reads that it's good for vinyl car tops so gave it a go, having used it on the dash which seems to get very hot to the touch with even a little sun exposure. A little shiny, but seems to offer good protection where it's needed....
Anyway the soft top came up looking like a new one - very nice! And hopefully better protected against sun now....
Has anyone any long-term negative effects on the vinyl to report?
If not ,I'd highly recommend it........

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:32 am
by wassup
303 aerospace make a specific product to clean soft tops and also another to protect and restore. I find that armor-all leaves a slight residue that attracts dust and it washes off oily which is not ideal. My experience.....

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:12 am
by Basho
I use tyre foam , works great , restored my marked plastic rear window remarkably. :D

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:52 pm
by Muzdaman
Aerospace 303 or Mothers protectant. wassup is right about armourall, it is oily and attracts dust like crazy.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:12 pm
by Silvia
OK the 303 looks the go. I see it's $16 post free on EBay.
Can I get it somewhere in Brisbane?

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:47 pm
by Mr Morlock
search as noted before. You can get 303 from the usual suspects - Repco SCA etc. Why you would buy it on line is beyond me- better to have it in hand in 15 mins- leave some money with a local business. I also wonder whether it is in even legal to send air or does n't the Shipper care- ie an aerosol?? Armorall works ok- a very mature and proven product.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:02 pm
by Silvia
As you can see, I am trying to get it locally.
Can't find it at Repco or SCA
It is not an aerosol
Not being sent by air
Search was not mentioned
Armor-all is not ideal treatment it seems.Sticky and oily..
Did you even read the above contributions before jumping in? :roll:

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:30 pm
by manga_blue
Mr Morlock wrote:search as noted before. You can get 303 from the usual suspects - Repco SCA etc. Why you would buy it on line is beyond me- better to have it in hand in 15 mins- leave some money with a local business. I also wonder whether it is in even legal to send air or does n't the Shipper care- ie an aerosol?? Armorall works ok- a very mature and proven product.

You buy it online because you support a network of mum and dad online stores and logistics services across the country that provide the same products at lower prices. Importantly they deliver local employment to regional areas that don't have the benefit of being supplied the same products at inflated prices by national and multi-national conglomerates.

I'm frankly sick of your narrowness and prejudice that says people who work for major companies are more deserving of work than people who operate their own small businesses.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:17 pm
by Basho
Autobarn :lol: and they fit both profiles as I understand it being a national opperation with many local franchises.

Tyre foam is still better and cheaper. :lol:

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:52 pm
by Silvia
Al , my top is in good nick and I want to keep it protected, along with the dash. For protection I'm thinking the 303 with 40+ sun rating would be the go.
Armor-all looks pretty good to me right now but have to admit it's a bit shiny on the dash and I'm told can wash down onto the paint from the hood in future.
Anyway I've ordered the 303 Vinyl protection and at $16 from ebay with free post ,isn't too much to take a chance on.....but reports ( especially on miata.net) look promising.
I did contact local Autobarn afterwards and yes they do stock it too.....

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:10 pm
by wassup
@Silvia. You'll be happy with the results and as you've seen it's got a pretty good rep on the miata forums.

For others. You can buy it as a kit along with the soft top cleaner. I got mine from car care products which is located in Sydney (no affiliation). They have a great range of other products too but be warned you can get carried away and hurt the wallet.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:41 pm
by Hjt
Mr Morlock how is supercheapauto and Repco a local brand when you disregard an online probably small business that can get the same product for a lot cheaper?

FYI its not an aerosol can its like windex in a plastic bottle, there is two available one is the cleaner the other is for future protection.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:13 pm
by Mr Morlock
Search has been mentioned a number of times- there are a number of topics on this subject but some just do not bother to take a look. I think we are pretty well served by SCA, Bursons ,Repco,and Autobarn. They employ Australians and provide a full consumer rights process- back up on warranty, change of mind ( in some instances ) convenience etc - rights hard fought for. Point taken re not being an aerosol- should have looked in my garage.

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:47 pm
by Hjt
Point taken re not being an aerosol- should have looked in my garage.


It wasn't just to correct you, but I wanted to highlight you can buy these products online and send them to people via post :D

Re: Soft top treatment...

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:59 am
by and1
Major auto stores (Repco & SCA) don't carry 303 protectants nor can they get it in. Well in Perth at least.
Best bet is AutoPro whom can order it in for ya (if you have AutoPro over there)