Allllright guys, I have a dilemma, I've been trying to get my hands on an authentic mugen hardtop for the S but things kept coming up that I would need to take care of instead of a $4k hardtop. Welll I'm kind of forced into action now, Sunday my soft top literally exploded on me while on the interstate. I'm assuming there was a small tear that caught wind and the rest is history. My top wasn't in the greatest shape being the original top (10 yrs old), but I was trying to stretch its life by not putting the top down and I've been doing this for about a yr now. which leads me to some crossroads. I'm not in a position to purchase an authentic hardtop.... so my options are simple, should I replace the soft top, roughly $1100, or get a knock-off top for roughly $1600 (not including paint, but I can handle that). Ive been trying to weigh the pro's and con's for the past 3 days, and can't come to a conclusion. Buy a soft top with allllll the top down I want, and spend moooore money down the road on a hardtop (and another soft top I'm sure) or just go straight to a hardtop even though it's a knock-off ( it would be forbidden, which ive been reading is the better of the aftermarkets) do any of you have any experience with this company or aftermarket hardtop?
I know this decision is ultimately my own, just trying to get some opinions.



I'll post pics of my custom sunroof in a few

 

do you miss going top down or is it not important to you? i guess if you are looking for a hardtop then top down action is not your priority. i've never had one but as far as i can tell forbidden is making some pretty good tops. i'd probably go for one of their reps if i were you. you can always resell it in the future and get something more baller when you have the cash.

 

Well, I do thoroughly enjoy top down.... The question is, how often do I get to enjoy it? Thinking back, most of the time I would put the top down, I planned on putting it down prior to leaving the house and what not. I don't live far from work, so the 5 - 10 minute stop and go drive isnt a selling point for top down adventures. If I go out, I take the wife's car. If I take mine, it's not far out of sight. I don't normally get too many spontaneous opportunities to put the top down as I don't drive it everywhere.... Plus we being in new Orleans have to go out of our way for fun driving... which of course get planned and is not a lunchtime activity

 

sounds like it's time for a hard top! still would like to see some pics of you blown up soft top....

 

i have the infused forbidden hardtop, fitment is pretty good

i completely removed my soft top frame and all.. i do miss topdown but no regrets on the weight reduction, soft top frame around 70lbs or so vs hardtop 20 ish lbs

 

If topdown isn't a priority, I'd get the HT. Replace the softtop when the funds come in. I had a HT on my S briefly. Didn't like it. It creaked and squeaked while driving. I also had the forbidden top as well. Went back to softtop a month later lol

 

sucks that happened to you sir, but that top was old. If I were in your position I'd just replace soft top. 1) get what you really want and 2) when did P.O.R.N.O. start settling for Mugen knockoffs? haha

 

there's no replacement for topdown! lol

 

This is what I am contemplating, at least if I have the hardtop now, down the road I can replace the soft top. But I am also afraid of the fact that I may not like it and down the car even longer.

Nick.... There plenty of reasons why I haven't already replaced the soft top. And if this would have happened while I was in a better financial situation (I will be paying for the final half of 15 windows for my house at the end of the month once installed... Ouch), I would be buying authentic... You of all people know that i want to run my head into a wall for even contemplating a knock off top, but it seems more financially smart to do it. I love owning a house, but it is a expensive updating and maintaining, especially while the wife is in school. Will the board member of PORNO graciously forgive my blasphemy


This! I absolutely love it, but don't take advantage of it.... Is it because I was trying to protect the top? If I had a good top, would I top down more??? Or would a hardtop (albeit a knock off) suffice and be able to cure the need for top down, even if I have to spend 5 minutes at the house taking the top off prior to top downing?

 

Did u lube it up with shinetsu grease?