This will be my first convertible- never had to care for a rag top before. Has anyone had one before-ANY SUGGESTIONS??

JDS

 

Go to www.miata.net and do a search.Those folks are experts on ragtops.

 

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/coto.html

The above site has a good "how to" on taking care of rag tops.

Good luck.

Warren

 

Doesn't Miata have a cheap plastic top.

350Z comes with a cloth top.

You want to wash it in mild soap. (I only use Griots Garage Car Wash). I use a horse hair brush to wash the soap in then just rinse off. Do not use a towel to dry it, it will shed on the top. I use a synthetic dry towel to dry it off.

Never put the top down when it is wet. Dry it first!

Use a clothes tape cleaner (any Target or Hellmart would carry these - about $2.00) to remove loose lint etc... between washes.
It is a round tube with layers of tape on the end - the lint sticks to the tape and your top is clean, then you just peal off the top layer of tape and throw it away.

Also don't put the top down and turn on the rear window defroster, the heat will damage the top.

I currently have a 2002 Toy Solara Conv. and it will be traded on my 350Z Roadster when(IF) she ever gets here.

Good luck - Anymore questions feel free to PM me

Emmett

 

Miatas from 1999+ have cloth tops.

 

Keep the top clean at all times, Use mother's convertible top cleaner and the above. Also, I never got around to trying it, but goto to your Porsche dealer and ask for a top care kit. It also has a REPEL in the kit to repel water and bad stains like BIRDSHIT (worst enemy) Remember these tops are only good for about 4 years in direct sunlight, then fading sets in. Probalby a shorter time in Sunnier states. I hope Nissan comes out w/ a hard top!! Get an extended warranty--cost to replace a top whole sale runs about 1500.00

 

Miatas in the U.S. did not have cloth tops until the LS models in 2003. All others had vinyl tops - black or tan.

 

Check out properautocare.com.They have kits for roadsters.

 

Wrong, I had a 2001 SE with cloth top

 

Sorry, May be cloth on earlier SEs - not sure, but base and LS models were all vinyl until 2003 and then only cloth on LS and SE models.
I had a 2002 LS with tan vinyl and a 97 base with black vinyl.
I actually like the vinyl better in the lighter colors for keeping clean.

 

Ragster,I agree.The tan cloth top is a bear to keep clean especially in the fold areas.