So who's NOT having problems with their convertible top?
 

I'm new to Zs, I just bought my 2004 ZR from a forum member 5 days ago. Everything is great and I love the car. Drove it all the way from Maryland to Texas over the weekend in fact. I'm seeing lots of problem threads with the '04 convertible top. I see a handful of preventative maintenance steps to prolong its life though. I'm just trying to put the issue in perspective. The repair bills and the time its seems to take to get the tops fixed is unreal to me! Who out there has had their car the longest, uses the top regularly, and hasn't had any major issues with it? How concerned should I be about it? I know people usually post when there are problems, not when everything is going great, so I just want to know what to expect. Thanks and here's are a couple pics of my car.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...s/DSC07608.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...C07585--pb.jpg

Interesting choice of wheels. I guess we all have to have our 15 seconds of fame...

FYI there is no need to post pictures if it doesnt pertain to the topic which as you stated yourself has already been discussed.

Sorry sir but you fail.

^i think those are actually some rare wheels. Might be doable with a full VIP style setup.

AS for your other car...kill it with fire. Is that a chrome roof overlay?

IS the paint on your front bumper really that far off in person?

no issues with mine and I'd probably take the roof off at least twice a week, even more in summer. if it's a nice day I may put it up or down 4 or 5 times. Never missed a beat

For some reason the rear of the car looks great. I think its the combination of large rear lip (not the style of wheel), aggressive offset and the car being slammed.

Nice car, I think those wheels are made by fabulous (japan)

my top is fine...besides some wear but no rips YET

you say this yet your post neither pertains to his topic. you think because you toppled 1000 posts that you have some kind of authority around here...?

^stand clear! In 4 more post he will be 1337!!!!!

SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE



wait, this isnt /b

why is there always someone with some kind of stupid and ignorant comment. :icon22:


In any case, I never had major issues with the top. and it goes up and down very regurlarly since I live in FL. There is some protectant for the top itself.. as for the mechanism, well that is another story... I had an issue once with the original blue top... the mechanism was not aligned properly causing it to slip... and the top would have issues going up or down... i found the issue by just taking a look at all parts while the top was moving... I aligned it and placed a washer and that was it... :cool:

I did not like the blue top and changed it for a black one... but I changed the whole thing... so far no issues. ;)

Thanks for the feedback!

Thanks...they are 19" Work wheels.

I appreciate the feedback!

Good info! Helps me feel a little more confident about my top's longevity. I'll do the preventive maint and hope for the best! :)

Yup... just know that just like anything else if you do preventive maintenance you extend the life of the top... but eventually it will go...

I use water repellent spray on it. I never put the top down if it is wet.

When I clean it, I use a soft cloth...;)

When I wash the car I take the excess water out with a leaf blower... :cool:In fact I use the leaf blower to dry the whole car and take the water out of the mirrors, etc. then I dry up the rest by hand...:icon38:

:icon22: NEVER go on those automatic car wash from the gas stations and NEVER use preasure water on the top...:icon22:

Good luck and enjoy...

Thanks again A3VT 74!

no problem...

I have yet to have any problem. Of course, I only have 15k miles on my '04 so I can't really say it's been around the block. Although, I have experienced the window woes that every Z owner knows. (Wow, what a rhyme!)

LOL

Where do I begin... :icon22:

I have two rips on the top... right by the rear window, and one right above that one. They get bigger and bigger so it blows. I can't leave the car out in the rain otherwise I wake up the next morning and my seat is wet. Good thing I made room in the garage and it sits in there now.

Next... The top gets stuck while the top is going down. It will get stuck right when it's 75% down then all of a sudden it feels like something jammed. I have to hit the close button and make it go back up a few inchs then hit the open button for it to go down completely down. I might be the only one with this specific problem but it's annoying having a convertible but you actually have to work at it to get it down or worst worry about it ripping some more.

So I'm looking into that idea of the removable hard top :D