Speaking of http://www.allroadster.com and rear window protector, there is a caution:

"NEVER! Leave your soft top down with the plastic window uncovered exposing it to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight shining through the clear plastic can set up a green house effect and burn the plastic causing permanent damage in less than 20 minutes!"

So does this means that we should never park our cars in sunlight with the top down? Can someone explain this in plain English to me, please. I tend to just leave my top down in warm weather, both while driving and parked (too much trouble to take the top up and down with every stop). What is the recommendation?

Also if you go to the allroadster.com S2000 page, what is a "Gear Shit Knob"??? :-)

 

Just leave your boot on, sun can't hit the plastic through it.
Mark
01/#0090

 

White, the statement is nonsensical and I don't think it is what they meant to say (although frankly speaking I can't figure out what they really did mean).

Think about it, what's the difference between leaving the roof up or down in the sun - you still get sun shining through the window.

I suspect the statement has something to do with the old plastic window Miatas where the window could be unzipped and maybe left out to lie uncovered on top of the trunk (but still attached to the base of the roof). Dunno??

 

I would respectfully disagree, a top up w/ the sun shining through the window heats up the interior but the heat is not absorbed in a concentrated fashion by the window. A top down with a folded window surface exposed to the sun would magnify the heat within the window itself. There is no doubt in my mind you could create enough heat to distort or destroy the plastic.
Mark
01/blk/blk#0090

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by drmark
[B]I would respectfully disagree, a top up w/ the sun shining through the window heats up the interior but the heat is not absorbed in a concentrated fashion by the window.

 

Isn't it more of a general statement on their part, not aimed specifically at the S2000? A warning for those with convertibles where the plastic window might be exposed when the top is down.

-Trevor

 

Knock,Knock?
This is cleary a liability statement so some guy with a 5-10 year old window, which rotted from exposure to the sun, can claim their product cuased the damage. Trust me Ultra V damages the chemical structure of plastic! Any chemist out there that can quote me the disassociative reaction of UV on vinyl........ But it is usually a longer term process.

 

Leaving the top down and the top boot off in direct sunlight in a Miata is BAD NEWS. Its not because of the window, but the top. The inside of the Miata top is not nearly as durable as the outside, and can be destroyed in a single afternoon. Not that you would notice that afternoon, but it accelerates the degrading of the top, and its ability to stretch with the weather (thereby making it crack sooner). Wish I knew if the Stook was the same way.

Andrew