I wonder if this is a current thing, or just time/heat related. I have a Robbins cloth top I bought from Leatherface about 10 years ago. He had it installed, and then decided he didn't like the black, so had them take it off and put a new one on. I haven't even looked at it since I got my hardtop.

 

Thanks for the responses

Mine is non-zipper. Friends has the zippered version glass. Not very old.

Will look into eBay top. Sounds like re-glue will be lots of work and iffy results.

May pay someone for installation.

DNM

 

I've installed several Sierra tops. They're made by gahh, the parent company of robbins. They use the same patterns as robbins, so the top fits well. They go on easy. Nice and tight. I think amazon is selling them now.

 

The glass on my robbins zipperless failed as well, however Doug Robbins was very helpful to speak with, and I received a replacement top pretty promptly. When I originally bought it I did have a lifetime warranty.

As large of a name that Robbins is, the customer service is run by Doug from what I can tell, so do be patient, maybe give them a call if you haven't had luck via email?

Edit: to add, this happened end of May, I believe I got the replacement in early July after I delayed the process a few weeks.

 

Does anyone not latch the top when parking the car? I have a habit of never latching the top when I park to go somewhere and it is nice out. It stemmed from replacing the top latches so many times (before FM came with the anodized latch locks). Also, I know if I leave the top down and it is nice out, a bird will take the opportunity to practice his aim. Pulling the top up but not latching has the glass sort of "hanging" but not taut.

 

Yeah, I do that, well I did until my top failed (just abraded because PO had allowed the top to sit loosely and vibrate where it meets the windscreen). Now I just use the HT, the old frame will be coming out shortly.

 

When I got my HT, I removed the jack, spare tire and the entire soft top and frame. Added side latches, and I swear it feels more solid, and just a tiny bit quicker.

 

I have left a message with a shop in West Columbia, SC “Finish Line” that claims to be able to reliably re-attach the glass. I may try them. 90 miles away.

DNM

 

Wow. Robbins being helpful? You have been very fortunate. That is the exact opposite of our experience. My friend and I have owned 5 Miatas between the two of us in the last 20 years. In the Texas heat, we have had all three Robbins tops drop the back windows within their "warranty period". The first two time Robbins berated us for not using an upholstery shop that they call "professional installers". The thing is the upholstery shops generally limit their scope of work to installing the top, while we use it as an opportunity clean out everything under the roof and inspect for leaks, water damage, etc., and sometimes we've installed roll bars during a top replacement.

But regardless of the reasoning, Robbins has insisted that not having a "professional" installer is the reason their glue failed in the heat and the windows fell out. In my opinion, that's a cop out. They just weren't glued in well or they need a better design for adhesion.

We've also noticed that Robbins warranty period has gotten shorter too. When the third top dropped the glass we didn't even bother contacting Robbins and we just went a different direction.

I'm glad to hear about some other top options.

 

My Robbins cloth, no zipper, proffesionally installed glass fell out last night. Top has spend the last 3 years in AZ heat, previous 7 years in New England.

Did you have any luck getting it re-glued or is that a lost cause? Gosh I am sure I long ago lost the warranty paperwork.