mx5cartalk.com

Hi everyone,

I was searching through ebay for a new roof as I have a couple of minor tears in mine and soon needs replacing but I came across this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MX-5-Miata-s ... 3ccde1a524

Has anyone insulated their soft top roof with this? Are there any issues putting the roof down at all with this insulation in? If you haven't used this product but have insulated your roof what did you use? Could you please tell me about your experiences or any advice in order to reduce the heat in summer, trapping warmth in winter and blocking a little road noise out so the other person on the phone can hear me when I talk on my bluetooth. Or maybe I might be asking too much and should just sell up?!

I had a search through the forums here but couldn't really find what I am looking for.

Any helpful tips or point in the right direction would be great..

Cheers

Hi, first I've heard of it, & don't think we've discussed it on here. A hardtop helps with those issues, but then you haven't got the flexibility of puting down the soft-top when you feel like it, especially if away from home.

93_Clubman wrote:Hi, first I've heard of it, & don't think we've discussed it on here. A hardtop helps with those issues, but then you haven't got the flexibility of puting down the soft-top when you feel like it, especially if away from home.

Yes, I did consider the hardtop as I think it would make my car look a million times better (so would having some spacers), however, I bought my car originally because I wanted to own a car where I could drive with the roof down whenever I wanted. So getting a hardtop would kind defeat the purpose of why I originally wanted one. There were other reasons too apart from the obvious handling factor.

I had one of those on my 10ae when I first bought it.
All ok except for how it is secured at the front.
You have to glue it down in between the roof canvas and frame.
Problem is that, after some time the glue goes soft and the lining sags.
I ended up ripping it out, in the end due to frustration.
It didn't impede the operation of the roof though.
In my opinion it just needs to be longer and secure around the front of the frame rather than be stuck on.

If your soft top is on the way out a headlining is not going to help- it will not be waterproof or especially durable.

Sounds like it needs to be stitched on.

Mr Morlock wrote:If your soft top is on the way out a headlining is not going to help- it will not be waterproof or especially durable.

Obviously. I was looking at trying out some form of insulation for the new roof.

Looks like I can only try it out and if anyone is interested I am happy to report back.

Leeana wrote:...Could you please tell me about your experiences or any advice in order to reduce the heat in summer, trapping warmth in winter and blocking a little road noise out so the other person on the phone can hear me when I talk on my bluetooth. Or maybe I might be asking too much and should just sell up?!

Going by your statement, it seems like you have the top up most, if not all of the time? The MX-5 is a very compromising car, so if you are not willing to put up with it's lack of creature comforts as a compromise for it's original intention as a no-nonsense fun car, then it's not the right car for you.

I can see the big benefit in this, but can't imagine it folding properly at all.
I've helped install a couple of roofs (new fabric on old frame) and both times for the first few months the softop sits a good few inches higher when folded down, obviously because of the stiffness etc. The manufacturer of the fabric warns about this and so you expect it.
After about 6 months or so, the top still sits an inch or two higher.

If you do end up giving it a go, you'd want whatever bonding agent to be super-effective because the slightest kink will not allow you to put the top down at all.

To be honest, if it were me I would give this a miss as the lining would have to be millimeter perfect and I am dubious as to the fact there are no photos of the top completely folded down.... in fact, you can see in the fourth photo of what appears to be an NA, the roof just sits there, unsupported, in 3/4 position, which just means that that may be the limit of opening.

Have you looked at any US forums to see if they've done it?

Yeah.... the more I think about it, the more I believe this won't work and you'll have a non-opening softop.

Leeana wrote:Hi everyone,

I was searching through ebay for a new roof as I have a couple of minor tears in mine and soon needs replacing but I came across this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MX-5-Miata-s ... 3ccde1a524

Has anyone insulated their soft top roof with this? Are there any issues putting the roof down at all with this insulation in? If you haven't used this product but have insulated your roof what did you use? Could you please tell me about your experiences or any advice in order to reduce the heat in summer, trapping warmth in winter and blocking a little road noise out so the other person on the phone can hear me when I talk on my bluetooth. Or maybe I might be asking too much and should just sell up?!

I had a search through the forums here but couldn't really find what I am looking for.

Any helpful tips or point in the right direction would be great..

Cheers

Can't offer any advice on the headliner but I just got a new soft top on mine and decided to go with a robbins stayfast canvas one. It seems to insulate and offer better sound reduction properties than my crappy old vinyl one.

Bought it off ebay and installed it myself using this link. http://www.miata.net/garage/MiataTop2/index.html

Leeana wrote:Looks like I can only try it out and if anyone is interested I am happy to report back.

Please do and let us know. I'm keen on the idea for the warmer months.

crappy old vinyl? I do not think so. It's actually a mighty product - very durable very tough and pretty easy to maintain. A vinyl top can easily last 15 years and more if the owner takes care with it. Many other tops are more about perceived aesthetics than necessarily longevity or even maintenance. Marring is also not really a problem with vinyl. Vinyl in car interiors has shown its high performance over the years and still used selectively.

Mr Morlock wrote:crappy old vinyl? I do not think so. It's actually a mighty product - very durable very tough and pretty easy to maintain. A vinyl top can easily last 15 years and more if the owner takes care with it. Many other tops are more about perceived aesthetics than necessarily longevity or even maintenance. Marring is also not really a problem with vinyl. Vinyl in car interiors has shown its high performance over the years and still used selectively.

I was only referring to MY crappy old vinyl roof. It was stuffed! Had holes fixed with cloth tape, had shrunk and the inner lining was disintegrating on touch.

Agree that vinyl is very durable material for convertible roofs, apologies if my post made it sound like vinyl is the spawn material from the devil

Steampunk wrote:.... in fact, you can see in the fourth photo of what appears to be an NA, the roof just sits there, unsupported, in 3/4 position, which just means that that may be the limit of opening.
.

What?

Are you serious?

I dont get that impression at all.

Dann

This product is actually German and is available from IL Motorsport.
They do have a great reputation for MX5 related gear.
I believe it was aimed a owners who wanted to keep to just a soft top but have better insulation (heat and cool) as well as a more aesthetically pleasing appearance inside the cabin.

I would suggest contacting the seller and getting more information.

J.

From what you posted I think a hardtop is a much better answer. You don't have to replace your worn out soft top and put the money towards a hardtop (plus the lining money).