New Top Miata

[xenoina]

With the help of some online research I was able to find two places that could do the top installation on my Miata - Dave's Auto Tops and Just Miata.  The prices range from $550 for a vinyl top with a plastic window to $990 for a canvas top with a glass window.

Is it worth the extra money to go for the canvas top?  I'm pretty set on the glass window as the current plastic one is very filmy, which makes it difficult to see out of.  Does anyone have any feedback on either of those places?  Or know of an alternative that would do a quality job on the Tampa side of the bay (both shops are in Pinellas)?

[funky49]

From what little Miata reading I've done, the glass window is the way to go at least for safety's sake.

[The Renegade]

With the help of some online research I was able to find two places that could do the top installation on my Miata - Dave's Auto Tops and Just Miata.  The prices range from $550 for a vinyl top with a plastic window to $990 for a canvas top with a glass window.

Is it worth the extra money to go for the canvas top?  I'm pretty set on the glass window as the current plastic one is very filmy, which makes it difficult to see out of.  Does anyone have any feedback on either of those places?  Or know of an alternative that would do a quality job on the Tampa side of the bay (both shops are in Pinellas)?

Never heard of Dave's, heard of Just Miata (good and bad). It really doesn't take a miata specialists for an issue like this. I'd go check with the various local miata clubs (most if not all have forums) and ask the question there.

[funky49]

Tell'em "Miata Mike" sent you for a discount!

[Yosho]

You've already got my input about it... here's the local Miata club for you to get other opinions.

http://www.tampabaymiatas.net/forum/index.php

[xenoina]

You've already got my input about it... here's the local Miata club for you to get other opinions.

http://www.tampabaymiatas.net/forum/index.php

True dat.  I'm not keen on getting a hard top though.    I've been looking through the forums and haven't found much help yet.  Just people making comments on doing the replacement themselves.  While I'm sure it's something that's not super hard I'm just fine with paying for someone else to do it when they have the tools and the space that I don't.

[xenoina]

With the help of some online research I was able to find two places that could do the top installation on my Miata - Dave's Auto Tops and Just Miata.  The prices range from $550 for a vinyl top with a plastic window to $990 for a canvas top with a glass window.

Is it worth the extra money to go for the canvas top?  I'm pretty set on the glass window as the current plastic one is very filmy, which makes it difficult to see out of.  Does anyone have any feedback on either of those places?  Or know of an alternative that would do a quality job on the Tampa side of the bay (both shops are in Pinellas)?

Never heard of Dave's, heard of Just Miata (good and bad). It really doesn't take a miata specialists for an issue like this. I'd go check with the various local miata clubs (most if not all have forums) and ask the question there.

The prices I've been quoted between several shops are comparable.  Without any significant price difference then there's really no reason not to go to a shop that knows the car since they aren't charging a premium for their knowledge.

Not too happy with the good and bad news regarding Just Miata.  I'll continue to check the forums for more info.

[Yosho]

You've already got my input about it... here's the local Miata club for you to get other opinions.

http://www.tampabaymiatas.net/forum/index.php

True dat.  I'm not keen on getting a hard top though.    I've been looking through the forums and haven't found much help yet.  Just people making comments on doing the replacement themselves.  While I'm sure it's something that's not super hard I'm just fine with paying for someone else to do it when they have the tools and the space that I don't.

I hear you on the HT.  No, I was refering to your question about Canvas or Vinyl.  I would go with the Vinyl top/glass window for a car that sits outside and isn't exposed to the freezing temps up north.

Canvas is probably a little cooler than vinyl in the summer.
Vinyl is a little lower maintenance (though they both require some specific care).
Most people think Canvas looks better.  I have Canvas but wouldn't care if I had Vinyl instead.

[xenoina]

You've already got my input about it... here's the local Miata club for you to get other opinions.

http://www.tampabaymiatas.net/forum/index.php

True dat.  I'm not keen on getting a hard top though.    I've been looking through the forums and haven't found much help yet.  Just people making comments on doing the replacement themselves.  While I'm sure it's something that's not super hard I'm just fine with paying for someone else to do it when they have the tools and the space that I don't.

I hear you on the HT.  No, I was refering to your question about Canvas or Vinyl.  I would go with the Vinyl top/glass window for a car that sits outside and isn't exposed to the freezing temps up north.

Canvas is probably a little cooler than vinyl in the summer.
Vinyl is a little lower maintenance (though they both require some specific care).
Most people think Canvas looks better.  I have Canvas but wouldn't care if I had Vinyl instead.

Ah!  I must have breezed past that one.  Thanks for the input

[klassic]

sorry for late input. my wife had a miata, i tore that little car up, fun. i got her a hard top...easy to install, we could place it on the side of the house if she wanted to have the top down or the soft top up. i don't know what year your car is, but used miata hard tops should run around $500.00 and up, maybe can get one to match your car's color, but if not, should not cost over $120.00 to paint one.

but, if staying with a soft replacement, and you plan on keeping the car for more than another year, i'd also say canvas with glass, the plastic windows fade and crack in the sun, and no telling how long one will last if it's made by a third party (not a Mazda oem part/build).

2 cents worth.

[xenoina]

sorry for late input. my wife had a miata, i tore that little car up, fun. i got her a hard top...easy to install, we could place it on the side of the house if she wanted to have the top down or the soft top up. i don't know what year your car is, but used miata hard tops should run around $500.00 and up, maybe can get one to match your car's color, but if not, should not cost over $120.00 to paint one.

but, if staying with a soft replacement, and you plan on keeping the car for more than another year, i'd also say canvas with glass, the plastic windows fade and crack in the sun, and no telling how long one will last if it's made by a third party (not a Mazda oem part/build).

2 cents worth.

Thanks for the input.  I'm definitely going with a glass window whether the top itself is vinyl or canvas.  Yeah, it's a fun car to drive.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

i think you need to drop a sbf in there first

[klassic]

i think you need to drop a sbf in there first

SBF? small block ford? monster miatas!

my favorite is the turbo'd RB26 engine mated to a ford 9 inch rear end in a miata. that thing is baddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

ain't no drifting like a 2000 lb car drift, top down, smoke everywhere