How do you like your hardtop?
 

ive really been itching to get a hardtop for my turbo miata and remove the softtop. Those of you who have one, how do you like it and how often do you find yourself wanting to take it off. Also, what could I expect to pay for one that needs paint? I would paint the hood, hardtop, and trunk lid black and leave the rest of the car red ... saw a picture of one like that and was hooked :bigtu:

I love mine it totally tranforms the car. IT is almost like having a good alignment and hten with the soft top you dont so the hardtop stays on unless i need to work on something inside and need more room to manuever and comunicate. Convertables are overrated :p

sounds good to me. Also, its still a convertable, just a bit more of a PITA to convert.

anyone else?

I love my hardtop, it stays on the car almost 100% of the time.

Never really cared for convertible in the first place, but its nice to have the option every now and again.

Same as these guys, got a hardtop, nixed the softtop, couldn't be happier.

i only take it off when i autoX

I just got the top and my car is grounded due to unrelated tuning issues, so my response is based on little experience. The biggest factor to me is it has a real back window so you don't get that blind spot when you have to change lanes to the left. I also think it looks nicer, and makes the car look completely different and classier. I can't comment to it limiting noise, but the windows look like they seal much better than they do with the soft top.

I bought one recently for the sole purpose of losing 36 pounds of weight when I autocross. It IS a PITA to put on and take off compared to the soft top, but 36# is 36#. I'm guessing my car is now down close to 2000# and the next weight reduction will involve the driver's stomach:eek: At any rate, the hardtop does make the car look better (not that I care) and seems to reduce the noise level, too. Getting in and out of the driver's seat is still a chore with my MOMO Start seat that is mounted on the floor, but with the stock seats its no problem. Would I have ever bought a hardtop if I weren't "competing" in autocross? NO. I'd much rather drive around with the top down.

I love my hardtop and it is also on almost 95% of the time. Car felt stiffer and more in control with the top on and the noise level is awesome you can barely hear anything. Highly recommend it.

Hardtops are dumb as a screendoor on a battleship. My sister has one on her '92 Suburst and I hate it. It completely ruins the experience. The only upside to removing the softop and going with a "permanent" hardtop is that now you have extra space on the package shelf to store your purse and stuffed animals.

The ONLY time the top on mine goes up is when it's raining... "transforms the car" my ASS! I drive to work all winter long in the 30's and 40's with the top down. Good jacket, beanie, gloves, windows up, crank the heater and enjoy! Sack up and drive the thing as God intended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And happy Veterans Day!:bigtu:

heh heh i only use it when I track day, some autox's when it's colder out. and during winter.

I have a 99 with hard and soft tops. Ill never have another maita without the hard top. Im a road salesman 1000-1200 miles a week. The hard top lets me talk on the cell phone, car is MUCH cooler in the summer. I can take it off and on by myself no big deal. I have driven this car 111000 miles in the last 19 months. By the way, It is turboed, intercooled, lite flywheeled. heavy clutch, konis, gc coilovers,big swaybars. harddog roll bar. 200rwhp Who says you cant have your cake and eat it to ! 5 track weekends a year and want to do more

When I get a hardtop, its not coming off. If any of you local guys seee one laying around somewhere, shoot me a holler.

Like many others, as soon as I got my HT, it rarely comes off. And yes I think it really makes the car look good. The factory black top just looks bad IMO. Get one, you won't regret it.
-Michael-

cheers to that.

Thanks for all the replies. I really like driving top down just like all you guys who say nay, but I have two miatas (... no i am not rich lol, actually just a bachelor just out of college teaching special ed kids)

Does anybody regret getting a hardtop? Sounds like some peeps dont agree with the hardtop on the dd, but this will be for a weekend warrior and possibly a dd for a while.

Hardtops look nice but why would you drive a convert if you can't use it?
The whole reason I got a miata was because it was convert.
I am another one of the kids with the top down when it is snowing out!

This is really an opinion question, you should set-up a vote.

thats the thing, I could care less if the car is a vert. Actually I'd much rather have one of the NB Coupe Miatas if they made them here.

The whole reason I got a Miata was because it was the smallest, lightest RWD car available in the U.S....the fact it was a convertible never really concerned me one way or the other. Only in the nicest weather do I put the top down; maybe five or six times a year.

I'd rock one of these:

I'll take sloppy 2nds on rockin' that fine piece!

I sill prefer the vert option though.
I guess thats just me.

The new NC has a auto hard top option.
Has anyone tourboed the NC yet?

no matter how fast ugly is, I still wouldn't buy one

I landed a hardtop for free years ago, all I had to do was paint it. I used for the few months of "winter" here in Georgia over a couple years. It was nice when it was cold out, but for those random days when it warmed up outside, I hated it because it is a pain to take off by myself.

I ended up selling it once the miata was no longer my daily driver, it was just collecting dust hanging on the wall.

If you live in an area with a true winter, you'll love it... If you are in an area with mild winters and occasional temp. spikes to the 60's in Dec./Jan./Feb. like here in Georgia, don't bother.

I really really really really really really wanted a HT. But I also wanted a 1.8L. And I wanted something that wasn't white, black, or red. So, sigh, no HT.

But I'm not sorry in the least.

I have a HT for my 1994 BMW 325ic, and it's night and day. Chassis much stiffer, rear visibility is loads better, less noise, less rattles and creaks, etc.

The Miata, though, appears to be a much better composed chassis, so the rattles, squeaks, etc aren't present in the first place. And the glass windowed soft top is fine for visibility (yeah, there's a blind spot, but you figure that out quick enough). And the heater is excellent, so it isn't really hard to stay warm... plus, then when there's breaks in the weather, you can drop the top.

I do like the appearance of the HT, and might pick one up for track days and investment; but that wouldn't be until next summer, and only if I find one for $500-700. Screw paying wintertime prices for a HT. That $1000 would get me halfway to my turbo, or get a sweet suspension setup, or pay for a handful of track days.

Because its light, 50/50 balance from factory, and rwd ;)

I have a hardtop on mine and its getting fully bolted in and down. Will never come off. Car is being setup as a track car with ability to be street driven though... I definitly didn't buy it for its top down abilities ;)

I use my hard top when the wind is hot (texas summer), too cold, or raining. Its nice to have, but I wouldn't go out and buy one since I have a daily driver.

picked one up yesterday
 

I bought a 00 miata last week and picked up a hardtop last night. The ride home was dramatically quieter. Being a (mostly) daily driver and living in MN, it's a nice extra. Although, it will be coming off for the two weeks of summer we get up here.

I ended up paying $900 for mine. Probably high... but it was local, in perfect condition, in the right color, and with the right connectors.

hmm... I vaugely remember they could be picked up for a couple hundred when I owned my 96.

OK, first drive after getting the top. It was only 5 miles and I didn't get over 50. My initial impression is I like it a lot. There was definately less road and wind noise, though I could hear the car more. I never heard the Walbro wine while driving until now. I still had a little wind noise coming from the back of the side windows where they meet the tops c pillar that I hope spitime's striker plates take care of. The car definately felt more stable and makes me understand why people buy the FM braces. Visibility is greatly improved. And... I was able to LOCK THE DOORS.

I understand where SamNavy is coming from. I used to be an avid motorcycle rider. I would ride in heat, cold, mild rain, basically anything but a hard downpour or ice. There was a point where I didn't drive my car to work at all for 4 months. The only reason that ended was a bad knee and leg injury. So I don't mind driving with the top down when it's 30 deg outside, and I don't need the hardtop. But it's a lot nicer to have that option.

Ben

People buy the FM braces because they stiffen the chassis of the car. You may think it does because of reduced NVH levels, but the top does not stiffen the chassis of the car.

It's made of fiberglass. If it were a structural component it would not be made of of fiberglass, and it would have a sturdier mounting scheme.

What are "spitime's striker plates?"

Probably the user he purchased the hardtop from. Or from whom he purchased just the striker plates.

EDIT: Here he is --> https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/member.php?u=1199

Everything in your above statement had crossed my mind. Bear in mind my ht driving experience is limited to 5 miles of gentle driving.

splitime=a forum member and I'm buying oem side striker plates from him (the plates that attatch to the body behind the doors that the top's side latches lock into). He's permanately bolting his top down and won't need the latches and plates.

I really loved my hardtop ... loved the $1000 I got for it. :) I had my hardtop sold before I took delivery of the car.

The only time I wished I had the hardtop is when I have to autocross in the rain. I hate wearing a helmet in the car with the softtop on.

harddog sells side latches that are different that the eme latches. They are "thinner?" i think so that a roll bar maybe used.

I have them sitting in my garage and am using factory lathches. They look nice.

The hard top is made of fiberglass beocuse it is cheaper than alluminum and lighter than steel it realy does make a difference esp when installed properly.

+1 for getting the miata because it's light and RWD!!

The fact that it's a convertible wasn't the reason I was interested.

I just purchased a hardtop. Do you guys think it is a good idea to weld it on?

:dancegay:

I wouldn't weld it, but I also like easily reversible mods that include being able to take the top off. Even if it is going to be a track car, i'm not sure I would go as far as to weld it. Latches should be easy enough to come by. You can always try partsgroup.com and mazmart.com as well if you can't find them privately.

Now when you say "difference," do you mean, "makes a difference in lowering NVH levels?" Because I'll readily agree with you there.

But it certainly does not "make a difference" with regard to chassis rigidity. If it did, the fiberglass would crack :td:

If YOU absolutely love the idea of keeping it forever. It would kill the resale. I doubt you could sell it, even to a hardtop fanatic.

PS, I just calculated (based on checking under my wifes side of the sink) that you could fit approx 24 tampon boxes under the window on the package shelf with the softop removed.

I love the way my hardtop fits my car, a lot of people tell me how nice it looks and I almost hate them for saying this as I enjoy driving top down.

Agreed. The NA and NB hardtops are fan-fucking-tastic looking. The hardtop is very similar to my buddy's Triumph TR6 hardtop what with the wraparound glass shape.

By the way, the TR6's hardtop is aluminum, and it's still not a structural member of the TR6's body or chassis.

The hardtop for the new NC looks great, too, but without the old model's wraparound glass, it's lost some of the character.

No it helps in rigidity and overall chassis stiffeness. it doesnt crack becouse it is thick and fiberglass does have abit of flexibility to it+ the rubber mounting seals add a little leeway, to take up the slack.

If it has rubber mounting seals and "a little leeway," then it's not significantly adding anything to chassis stiffness.

The only thing it might be doing is decreasing a little bit of windshield frame shake, but that's not really the same league as chassis stiffening.

i was rocking the soft top for awhile, then it leaked. i replaced it and it stopped leaking, now its snowing....i bought a hardtop removed the soft top and havn't removed the hardtop since then.

i really like how the hardtop makes the miata look and also makes me feel that the car is a bit more safe then it was with the soft top.

mine is base model one from 1991, no defroster or liner and it fits with the hdhcht (hard dog hard core hard top rollbar)

Scott

What do you mean by weld it on? Weld the brackets?

no, he means magic fiberglass/metal welding, ftw.

:p

PaKMaN.

you could just get bolted into place with brackets in stead of welding it if you want it more permenant.

thats what SPEC cars usual do

so basically what your saying is that the miata is a big pussy machine? or that you can fit alot of pussy in it?

no he is saying with a turbo miata you can draw and keep pussy happy for a while, but you better use condoms becouse the pussy isnt on the pill :gay: