B serious

$4k?!?!

COT damn boy. For a replica?!?!

XBMAX

Well shipping isn't cheap lol and I bought their race brackets too it was around $3400-3500. All around it's 100% worth the money if it sealed around the windows correctly, they should have used the OEM rails and attached them to the top so that they hold the window seals correctly.

B serious

Race brackets are cheap, no? Like $80 for the set? They won't ever get the thing to properly seal with race brackets... even with OEM type seals.

You absolutely need OEM style rear latches.

If you still have the rear bulkhead....spend your money on OEM or OEM style latches, not rubber seals.

You can get aftermarket seals to seal...provided you have the right mounting latches.

Magic combo is OEM rear latches and race fronts with the proper shims.

All that extra stuff just puts you into to OEM top territory. An OEM top with the OEM hardware is like $4-5K today, right?

I guess you have light weight with the Ballade one. Besides that, I'm not finding a logical reason to spend so much on a replica. What am I missing that makes it worth the money? NO OFFENSE meant btw

The Forbidden double sided carbon top is like $2500 shipped. Add $400 for OEM style bracketing. And it would ...like "fit" too.

All aftermarket top fitments range from "LOL" to "fit".

XBMAX

It's just money lol. Perfect OEM replica, OEM glass, oem glass trim, OEM window seals, can still retain OEM defrost and you can put 100% of the OEM headliner in the car if you want. Like I said the only downside is their flaw in putting the window seals on which after I killed their sales for a year they released a TSB for everyone and then revised them.

XBMAX

You have to also realize every car is different. Just because something is the best combo doesn't mean it is for everyone. There's a bunch of variables that will make different "combos" better or worse than others. Aside from the slight drip from either side it's probably the best replica top ever produced I should've just waited a bit longer and let others experience the problems, I quite literally bought it the day they dropped them on their site and they told me I was like 1 of 3 in the US at the time. The fix around the windows seems simple enough just haven't cared enough to mess with it.

XBMAX

Won't let me post a picture but here's the text from 2017, at the time it was tough to find a OEM top in the condition I would be okay with most tops were still going for $4500-5500+ depending on spec.

"The Transaction was successful
Thank you for purchasing with Ballade Sports, any items to be shipped will be processed as soon as possible. All prices include tax and postage and packaging where applicable.
You ordered these items:
- 1 Ballade Sports CF/FRP OEM Hardtop for S2000 Version 2 (Carbon Fiber, Non-Painted) $2,699.99

- 1 Ballade Sports 00-09 S2000 Hardtop Race Brackets Combo (Race Brackets) $89.98

Total Shipping: $249.99
Total: $3,039.96"

Car Analogy

Another thought regarding oem top, resale.

If you ever want to sell it, its an oem top. Its never going to go down in value.

A used aftermarket top is always going to sell for less than that top is currently selling for new.