Lightweight Hardtop Owners: Chime In
 

Currently utilizing an OEM hardtop on my car. Given what OEM black hardtops sell for ($$$$$) I'm considering going with a lightweight top to not only shed ~29lbs from up high where I don't want weight but also put some money in my pocket with selling the OEM top. My question / concern is, is there any lightweight hardtop out there on the market that fits and seals well? The general consensus that I've received from a couple owners I've asked is, no..

I still daily drive my car, so it sees rain often. I can't have my interior get soaked every time the car gets caught in poor conditions. Looking for experiences of people who have already gone down the lightweight top path.

My lightweight top (treasure coast Miata sourced one) has atrocious fitment in regards to sealing.

I wouldn’t consider using one on a street car, not even for a minute.


I think for your situation an OEM top is the right choice.

I would say it is not going to be worth it. The cost savings (couple hundred if LW top is done right and OEM sold for the high price) vs full function (sealing rain out, road noise, fitment, etc) would not be worth the exchange. I have an OEM top for my daily, but will get a LW top for the car that stays in the garage and does not see the elements. My buddy has sold two of his OEM tops, has a LW top for his car that stay in the garage and only sees track days, and is now looking for another OEM top for the daily car. The light weight top he got was from Treasure Coast. Excellent quality, if I were to rate the fitment I would say 95/100% rating, and he got the street kit for the back window. However, he has not gotten side window seals since his car that it is on does not typically go out in the elements.

I used an assortment of home depot and mcmaster seals and got my old CCP top to seal decently well, but it still wasn't even close to what I would call acceptable for a daily driver. I wouldn't hesitate to put a lightweight top on a nice weather/weekend toy type of street miata, but definitely not on a true daily driver.

I have the Treasure Coast-sourced top, and well... you know the rest.

What an atrocious pile of shit. Which, is fine if marketed as a "race only" part and i should have known better. But to sell a "street kit" with the ad copy they have is just fucking offensive. When i asked for input as to how to close up thumb-sized gaps between top and window, the dude literally suggested i make shims out of wood and sink them into the top with wood screws.

To, you know...

... Make the "street kit" sorta almost water tight.

Miss me with that shit ever again.

With less than stellar reviews on the aftermarket hardtops, I think I just decided to pay the premium for an OEM one. Our application is both street and track with more than enough HP to compensate for the extra 29 pounds - not a luxury that everyone has I know and weight up high. It’s disappointing, to say the least, an aftermarket one isn’t available that is equally as good PLUS saves some weight. There’s a real market opportunity for someone in the fab business if they create a 100/100 rating design. Gotta be reasons behind the scenes that aren’t apparent to me. Too many “yes, it’s good, but.....”.

I have an aftermarket top on my S2000.

The quality difference between it and the pile of dumpster trash that Treasure Coast sells is mind-blowing.

It IS more money than the dumpster trash, but it's worth it.

Concealer404- you were replying at the same time. I retract the “yes, it’s good, but....” part of my comment and avoid the pain you have had by not throwing money that direction.

S2000 EWWWW dont you know this is miatakswap.net

I have also heard very few good things about the Ccp tops.

Since we are on the topic of crappy tops, DO NOT try the ebay ones or ones sold from Limbotic Motorsports. I took the gamble thinking "for $500, whats the worst it could really be?" FML, my buddy got his T-coast one shortly after and it was sooo much better that I wish I would have paid double for the T-coast top rather than the gamgle I took with the Limbotics Motorsports top.

I have a treasure coast but I don't run it with any weatherstripping or seals other than the front windshield to hard top one because racecar. I like it a lot, works great. Probably wouldn't use it on a streetcar though. YMMV.

I was contemplating the same thing as Padlock just the other day and was wondering about the quality of the CCP tops considering the Treasure Coast "quality". I have given up dailying my NB2 now that me and the ole lady are expecting because I nearly get T boned every single day I drive it... still, I would like SOME sealing for the occasional rainy track day. After running at Grattan in a torrential downpour, it would be nice.

Just so everyone is clear. CCP makes the tops for treasure coast

Does anyone make a cheap fastback top though? I think I could figure out solutions to deal with a crappy fit in exchange for the style. I would probably even consider selling my OEM one for it.

CCP is cheapest. That's also my play. If i'm gonna get wet, i may as well look good doing it.

I guess everyone's definition of daily driver is different. I have a silverado that sits outside while the miata is stored in a garage every night. If its raining outside, my RS4's are trash in the wet anyways, so I just hop in the Silverado. On sunny days, many times I take the miata and leave the hardtop at home entirely. If the weather is questionable in the morning, i'll still take the miata. Many times in that case it ends up raining throughout my work day where the car is out in the elements. The big question is if I can get a CCP top to seal like my OEM top does...

so far given the feedback from many of you, I think my answer is no.