After 43k miles, my passenger side soft top is starting to rip. The car is 5 years old, it held up for a while; I'm not complaining that much. But, I am in a situation. I can get a Mugen Replica FRP HT for $1500 (glass window) shipped from BBPenterprise, or get another soft top. I want a HT, never had one; but I want top down still and I know I will miss my soft top.


PROS, HT

+ HT would seem more ideal, it is coming to winter soon enough, won't really be using top down too much anyway.
+ Theft on someone cutting ST open and stealing my crap is now zero.
+ Looks good with HT on and lowered

CONS, HT

- Don't know how hard it is to take HT off and have top down
- Have to get it painted NFR, its a FRP HT
- Have to get it installed
- Won't have a ST anymore
- $1500 HT (not including painting fees, glass install) vs. $700ish (not installed) ST

PROS, ST

+ Well....TOP DOWN!
+ Not as expensive, no paint job

CONS, ST

- Might have a theft one day?
- Might tear any day again



I need reviews on the HT, how hard it is to take on and off, and opinions from ST people. I really don't know which way to go. In the end, I know the HT will cost me about $2000 painted and probably installed. Who knows.

 

I would get a hardtop, doesn't take long to install or remove them once you get the process down. Also you can take the top off and leave it off during the nice months and just patch the softy since it wold be down most of the time while driving.

 

opinion really. HTs look sick and if my S was a show car then i would have one for sure. but one of my criteria for a new car was a convertible so HT doesn't make sense to me. not sure what you want people to tell you... basically comes down to whether you want a more secure and sleek looking car or a convertible in which the money you save over the hard top, you can use as your insurance deductible if anyone cuts it.

 

ST all the way...love having a convertible.

 

I don't know. My mind is in both directions right now. Someone said a pretty good excuse to me, "what if it starts raining when you take the HT off and go top down and you have a tear in your ST." I guess I could just put some black tape over it for the time being. It's just such a PITA. I have to get it painted, glass installed, and installed professionally w/ "custom hardware." I wanted to save the money to get this turbo I have laying around finally put on. But I guess I have to take care of this Horse crap first.

 

oh well then if you're trying to save for boost then DEFINITELY soft top. you'll appreciate the noises with the top down

 

With the whopping ten seconds it takes to remove the hardtop I don't miss having the convertible part at all.

Get or make a hardtop stand and take it off and leave it if you feel top down that week.

 

Patch the soft top, then get a hardtop. Rock the hardtop during the cold/rainy months, take it off during the sunny months. Best of all worlds

 

Need a both option! I'm a HT in the winter / ST in the summer guy. I.e.,

 

if i had to choose, soft top