Rollbar/soft tops. Help me see through my rear view mirror.
 

My rear window is getting all toasty and gross. I can't really see shit out of it anymore. I want a hardtop but they're all getting stolen, and I don't really wanna lose my money. Also money could be used more wisely elsewhere on this car etc etc.

Option #1: see if an upholstery shop will replace just the plastic window.
Option #2: Buy a new soft top.

Has anyone had #1 done? And if so, about how much did you pay?

OR

What soft tops are you guys replacing yours with? Tops are the one area of this car that I don't know shit about, searching revealed that I should stay away from Robbins tops but there is contradicting information everywhere.

I need a plastic window and a zipper because of the roll bar (I think, somebody feel free to prove me wrong). It's a Hard dog DD HT.

If your rollbar has a harness bar then yes you need a plastic window. That's the only difference between M1 (for NA) and M2 (for NB) hard dog bars.

If I were you I'd go to a pick-n-pull junk yard first.

I got the cheap Robbins, it leaks a little but I just had to correct the pieces of foamish stuff that line the top of the window. That should stop the leaking issue.
Also, Revlimiter did a write up about securing his hard top against theft.
http://revlimiter.net/blog/2010/01/m...op-security-1/

I went to miatatopsource.com and ordered a glass window cloth top for my NB. the material around the window delaminated and they took FOR-EV-ER to get it handled properly--a replacement is finally on the way (OEM style instead of the economy top I ordered). They use KEE tops like many other discount top sellers so...

I suspect the vinyl tops aren't as much a problem but I don't know for sure.

Anyway, I'm not sure what combination of NB top, NB top frame, and NB rollbar you really need but using all three doesn't require a plastic window.

http://www.miatatopsource.com/1990_1..._Tops_s/24.htm

If he has an M1 roll bar, he can't use a glass window. There is not enough space to fold down the top due to the integrated harness bar. M2 roll bars have an optional bolt-in harness bar which apparently works with a glass window.

Derp, forgot all about this thread.
I don't have a harness bar, I have no idea if my rollbar is meant for NA or NB. I don't really have a problem with a plastic window anyway.

I know this isn't a place for spoonfeeding, but is anyone able to provide me with some direction on what will work for me and what won't? I can't see out of my window anymore, it looks like birds shit all over it. So from what I've been able to find from searching, NB tops don't have zippers and are all made of glass...but I'm not in the mood to experiment with it and find out that my top won't go down because of my roll bar.

I just replaced my NA top ('92) with a top from a NB ('04 Mazdaspeed Miata). I used both the frame and top from the NB with the M2 roll bar that was on my car. I can take some pics when I get home today so you can compare with yours if you'd like. Using the top off of a wrecked car seems to be the cheapest option and its really simple (I think it took me about 1.5 hours to pull out the old top and frame and bolt in the newer one.)

Shops in the NoVA area were quoting anywhere from 700 to 900 to put a new Robbins or similar on my frame (and that was a plastic window). I was able to get the NB top and frame shipped for $350. I'm sure if you find one local or look around they can be had for cheaper.

If you remove the panel that contains the plastic window and take it to a place that does canvas awnings and boat stuff, they should be able to sew in a new window for less than $100.

I'd try a plastic polish before spending the time and coin on a new top or window. I can't recommend any as I've never done it to the rear window, but I can vouch for the 3M headlight restoration kit and it's miraculous effect. It comes with both liquid and paper abrasives, and since I've got about half of it left I'll be trying it (the liquid abrasives only). Support the window from the back with something flat and put a little elbow grease into it. Will probably be giving it a shot by this Spring as my softtop is showing a little age itself.

This was suggested by a local guy, and I am down to do this, I just have no idea what to buy.

Yeah IDK. Maybe somebody on M.net has done it. Shit maybe even try a small spot using buffing compound and wax. You probably have some of that on hand.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but i tried it and it blew large chunks. Total waste of several hours and had absolutely no good results. I think the plastic eventually gets to a point of no return. Take some pictures of your rollbar so we can figure out if a glass window is in your future.

Sigh...:cry:

Will do.

What product/s did you try? Not questioning your results, just curious.

It's pretty damn simple.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1324586676

If you have this bar (circled) you can't use a glass top.

I've done several tops on my miatas. I always buy the cheapest top I can find on ebay. Fitment has always been great. They look great and last ~3 years (daily driving, top up and down multiple times a day) before they'll start to get a tear/rip and I buy a new one.

This always seemed to make more sense than buying a top of the line $500-600 top. They're all gonna look like crap after 5 years anyway. I'd rather junk a cheap one a year or 2 sooner than I would with a name brand top that costs 4x as much.

^^+1. My current E-bay special has a glass window, has been on the car since 2005, and still looks perfect. I'm garaged . . . that helps. I'm planning to buy a roll bar to fit the glass window (looking at BF DD Maxx) rather than vice-versa. Glass windows are a worthwhile upgrade.

Resurrecting this, again. I've been lagging hardcore on this and just got my tax return, so I'm using it to repair this.

Is the panel where the plastic window attaches to removable/seperate from the rest of the top? I'd be down to just replace the plastic window, otherwise I'm going to post a WTB for a top with a plastic window. Have no desire to deal with glass windows/fitment issues, glass seperating from the top, etc.

Also, are NA/NB tops with plastic windows interchangeable?

There are no NB tops with plastic windows. The glass-window NB tops will fit NAs if you use the NB frame, but there is a difference with one of the frame bows so you can't just use the NB cloth on an NA frame. Somebody will correct me if I am wrong, I am sure.

I had a feeling that was the case. NA top it is.