Hard Top

[1blue5]

I bought my Mx without hardtop, love it, but am glad (living in Melbourne with its unpredictable downpours) I was lucky enough to score a hardtop (black) from a guy willing to separate it from his Mx that he was trying to sell. Scored it for 500 bucks. Albeit doesn't have a demister and my car is fitted with the plug, the air con takes care when it does fog up in the lovely wet Melbourne weather. Have seen alot on ebay for around the $1200-1500. I think if you really want one, grab it and repaint it. Im wrapped I have a hard top to take off if I want!

[Alex]

I got a hardtop after getting my car so I had to get the bolts and side plates added as well. I paid $1200 for the hardtop from mx5mania with demister and the right plug for my car, forget how much it was for the side plates.
It's also alot easier to clean a dirty hardtop IMHO.

[Benny]

As my car lives on the road at night, I always have the hardtop on when it's at home doing nothing, but it's easy to take the roof on and off, providing Mrs Benny helps me, it takes only a few seconds.

If you do get a hardtop, also get yourself a stand for it that has castors.
You can then just wheel the stand up to the back of the car, lift off the hardtop, put it on the stand and then wheel it into the garage.

So easy!

Previous to my SP, I had an NB8A, and when I went to trade it, they only offered me an extra $500 trade in if I gave them the hardtop.
I bought my NB8A new, with the hardtop, and the hardtop cost an extra $4,000!!
I obviously decided to keep the hardtop, and luckily the 2 cars were both silver, so the hardtop looks perfect!

[NMX516]

I love my hardtop

Swapped all the fittings over from the NB8A to the new NB8B, last weekend. Fitting and removing the h/t when necessary isn't difficult, but best advised to get someone to help with the operation. They are a different experience with the h/t on - quieter, more headroom, and most importantly - the earlier the 5, the more the h/t will reduce scuttle shake.

[Old Dude]

Hey NMX 516
Slightly off topic, how does the Twin hoop roll bar fit under the hard top... does it have much clearance...???

Thanks
Old Dude

[NMX516]

I've got the single hoop, and suspect that the double hoop would run to a similar height, but yes plenty of clearance under the h/t... I'm considering getting the newer version which is slightly higher.

[Benny]

I have the RB 2 style bars on my SP, and the hardtop has about 1cm of clearance from the top of the bars.

[Old Dude]

Thanks for the info boys

Old Dude

[ringo]

hey all - i know Mania used to sell the hard top stands but i can't seem to find them on the website- will give a call in the morning but was just wondering if you knew if they were still around - have kinda limited space in the parking spot downstairs - so if i can store the roof upright when i'm not using that would be great.

cheers,

andrew

[Benny]

When I bought my NB8A in '99, I ordered it with the factory hardtop, and it cost an extra $4K.

When I traded in my NB8A, the dealer only offered me and extra $500 if I sold it withthe hardtop, so I kept it, and I'm still using it on my SP. Luckily, both cars were silver, so it's a good match.

I love my hardtop, as my previous Clubman had the roof rippied a couple of times, bu tthe hardtop, I've had no worries at all.

Try driving your 5 in 40+ heat topless, or just with the vinyl roof.
You'll wish you had a hardtop and air conditioning!

On top of that, Mrs Benny reckons the car looks really good with the hardtop on it.

Regardless if the car has it's hardtop on it, it's still a sprotscar.
A 911 or Ferrari hardtop is certainly a sports car, so why would an MX-5 with a hardtop be any different?

[emilmh]

So can anyone list anymore places and prices of hardtops?

It seems most people are getting them secondhand, but the original owners must of bought them from somewhere!

I'm considering buy a 5, but one of the cars im considering doesnt have a hard top and i will be using the car as a daily driver and parking in a bad neighbourhood at a train station!So i am very interested in seeing and knowing where i can get one and how much they are. (I'm in QLD)

[Boags]

The original owners bought them from Mazda for ~$4,000. You can still do that, I think.

If you want one second hand, you can wait for one to pop up on the forum or ask a forum sponsor if they have any in stock.

There is also a forum member in Melbourne producing some semi-permanent carbon fibre/fibre glass hard tops at a very reasonable price. They will be sold through MX5 Centre - although MX5 Plus in Brisbane may be able to get them for you.

Cheers,
Boags

[GS]

The original owners bought them from Mazda for ~$4,000. You can still do that, I think.

If you want one second hand, you can wait for one to pop up on the forum or ask a forum sponsor if they have any in stock.

There is also a forum member in Melbourne producing some semi-permanent carbon fibre/fibre glass hard tops at a very reasonable price. They will be sold through MX5 Centre - although MX5 Plus in Brisbane may be able to get them for you.

Cheers,
Boags

I was just going to say the same thing. I think you'd find 99% of the hardtops floating around Australia are factory Mazda items that were originally ordered and delivered with brand new cars.

There have been various aftermarket hardtops produced ocerseas over the years of varying quality, but i dont think many have made it here (probably as a result of shipping costs).

Just did a quick search to find a page that i'd seen before:

http://www.miata.net/garage/hardtop/