Opinions of cloth soft tops please

[Theo]

are they worth it, how often do you have to treat them and how? Advantages disadvantages please

[boatshoes]

Advantage: they don't get brittle in the cold, so you don't have to worry about putting the top down in cold snaps.

Disadvantage: your neighbor's cat will sleep on them and leave drool stains if you don't stay on top of the cleaning/treatment regimen. Especially on a tan top. :violin:

[theothersawyer]

In my opinion, cloth is the only way to go! It just looks so much better!

[jester911]

A fabric top has chemicals in it that repel water. You need to make sure you get the right product to maintain it. If it lives outside you may find it necessary to treat it pretty often. I have used 303 fabric guard and it worked well. It also helps against sun damage.

[CAKELIE]

The ability to put the top down in the winter outweighs all other factors for me. These cars just aren't as fun with the top up :)

[Theo]

Ha! All these opinions hit home with me. There is an outdoor cat that thinks my top is a hammock. Maintenance (weather proofing) is not my strong suit but I do throw my top down in the winter also. What is a girl to do.

[kung fu jesus]

Hardtop for the win.

IMG_7960.jpg

[carnut169]

Cloth top all the way. Looks 1000x better. I love the look of the hardtop but not being able to drop it at will isn't great.

[jester911]

Retractable hard top for the win.

[Theo]

I just sold my hardtop! Loved the look and added visibility. But I swear the car was louder with it. Also much hotter, Black hardtop would cook the interior. I swear I could smell the interior plastics melting.
Have super cold r12, but it could not keep up after the car had been sitting for any length of time.

[oldgrayfrog]

Looks classier, feels nicer, easier up and down (I highly recommend an NB cloth top over an early top). Downsides: cats will shed on it if there are any in your neighborhood, outlay going in. I'd ask Miatastuff to put you on speed dial for the next nice cloth top he gets in.

[Fantasticmaxx]

I've had both on my miata, and I prefer the look of the cloth top more.

Also, when you treat the cloth top, it repels water, which just looks BA, like it has a nice coat of wax on it like the rest of the car.

Plus, my vinyl top was already tearing when I got the car used (9 years old at that time, not sure if it had been replaced before). I got my cloth top used off this forum used, not sure the age, but it has lasted me a a while! there is a little tear at one of the seams, but its not letting water in, so its still good!

Cloth looks nicer too, from a general stand point. I do prefer hardtops. I had a matte black one with 15% tint on it, and it never felt hotter than my soft top, or vice versa. And mine was quieter as well VS the soft top. Hopefully have another hardtop soon!

04 MSM for reference

[CMP]

In terms of soft tops, stayfast canvas rules over vinyl any day of the week. I really liked mine when I still had a convertible top.

[zzmx-5]

My NC came w/a vinyl top which was showing signs of typical wear when Zadnak pointed me to an ad on M.net early in 2016, where I scored a 2013 canvas top on frame from a Club being converted to a track warrior. It's far superior to vinyl; looks better, fits better, and much more flexible than vinyl when the temperature drops.

[Theo]

Installed today. It is beautiful, cant beat the look. A little more swishing sound of the wind above fifty than a vinyl top, easily covered with the radio. Water does no bead, looks like it soaks in, wondering if it needs to be treated? No leaks though!