1. What are the Roadster's tops made out of?
2. What should I use to clean/protect it?

Please help..


Nagle

 

Well, you should really read some posts before asking (see Top Care a few down in the list).
Top Care

 

If we knew, we'd be glad to tell you. Nissan claims one thing in their manual, another on the phone. It's all pretty damn confusing.

 

From reading all the posts about the top, I have came to the following conclusions:

1. We have a top.
2. The Z looks great without a top.

One of these days we will finally get a straight answer to what the top is made out of.

 

We can put men on the moon but we can't get a straight answer as to what the top is made of.

 

We put a man on the moon 30 years ago. These tops are "new technology".

 

I asked Wolfstein's, the folks that make the highly acclaimed Raggtopp products and got this very interesting response from Rick Goldstein at Raggtopp:

John,

Thank you, for taking the time to inquire about RAGGTOPP products for your Nissan 350Z Roadster. Your convertible top has the unique appearance of looking like fabric. However, Nissan 350Z top is vinyl and you should only use RAGGTOPP Cleaner and RAGGTOPP Vinyl Protestant without harmful silicone.

RAGGTOPP Vinyl Protestant can also be used on the interior of your car. It’s very important that you do not use any products that contains silicone on your top, dash, side door panels and tires.

RAGGTOPP products have been tested and endorsed by The Haartz Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of convertible topping for virtually every American and European convertible automobile throughout the world. www.harrtz.com

Please find the attached instructions for vinyl convertible tops. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to call us at (800) 377-4700.

Rick

 

Yeah, John we've seen this and it's a nice explanation from someone in the ragtop business, but when the Nissan manual mentions that we should use a cloth based cleaner what are we to believe? You'd think Nissan would know what their parts are made from. Where does this leave us?

 

SmoothDome,
where in the manual does it say to use a cloth based cleaner? I searched the manual carefully and the only reference I can find to the top material is in the last paragraph on page 7-2: "Improper care may cause the top cloth's surface to stiffen, stain or mat". In this sentence, I don't think they meant cloth literally, although they may have (note that they didn't say "the cloth top's surface"). With all the controversy on this subject, and given the pinhole issue discussed elsewhere, I'm afraid to do anything for fear of voiding the warranty.

John

 

John,

page 7-3 states "When the top is quite dirty, wash using a mild detergent, such as a general cleaner especially made for a CLOTH top or a general purpose dish-washing liquid, mised with clean, luckewarm (never hot) water. "

 

Thanks SmoothDome, somehow that got by me.

 

No worries. Frustrating though isn't it? Wish we could get some consensus from the powers that be.

 

I just sent in my new car survey. In the comment section, I asked about the roof. If I ever get an answer, I will pass it on.

 

There is the potential issue of translation here, it may read 'clothlike' in native Japanese. It seems unlikely it is cloth or canvas simply because these natural fibers DO NOT hold up well in the enviornment, UV damage, chemicals raining down, etc. It is more likely a synthetic which hopefully means that it will last longer than cloth. In any case keep it safe by keeping the top down and in the boot!!

 

As I wrote in another thread, Nissan USA called me about a week ago in reply to my roof question in the survey I had returned to them. They said the final word on the top was CLOTH.

So, take it for what's it worth. I tend to think it's cloth material heavily treated with a vinyl-type substance.

Hope this helps.

 

I have the Raggtop Cloth cleaner and protector kit and it states right on the box that it does not contain silicone, so that point is moot. I think either type is usable.