I've read about a number of top replacements roughly 10 years ago, with plenty of people going for the Robbins Stayfast Cloth top. Anyone have an update for us, about how the tops have faired over the years? Has the top retained its darker-than-stock hue? Have the seams stayed in good shape? Has any odd creasing happened? Anything else to report? Be sure to share your MY, which top you chose, and whether you've been able to keep your car in a garage or under a cover. And thanks!

 

Robbins Stayfast cloth long term? Four years (March 2019) is all I can contribute. Still perfect. Professional installation (@2poor2mod). Garaged 2006 car (July 2006, just missed being a 2007!). Better looking deep black than my 13 year old OEM roof for sure.

My roof gets lots of cycles which is what wore a 2" tear in the OEM roof even after smoothing the roof frame and adding reinforcement patches inside the roof. (These patches are already fitted to the Robbins roof and the installer removed all the frame burrs.) Roof is up in the garage especially now in Pollen Season which seeps into everywhere. Down to drive, up when parked, back down to drive, up when back home at a minimum. Could be 6, 8, 10 cycles a day. Essentially down for driving (unless it's a named storm) and up to keep the interior clean and fewer prying eyes when parked.

You asked previously about finding an other OEM roof. Don't bother, If it's time for roof replacement don't bother thinking about anything other than Robbins Stayfast cloth. Skilled installation is paramount.

-- Chuck

 

MY '00 here. I replaced my vinyl window OEM top with a Robbins Canvas top in 2016. I, too had Jeremy install it (2poor2mod) in New Jersey. Top is still beautiful. I drive similar to Chuck -- Top Always Down to drive, top up when parked, car is garage kept (top up, but usually unlatched). Highly recommend professional installation, preferably by someone who knows the S2000. If you are anywhere near New Jersey/Philly, make the drive to Jeremy for your install.

 

Lately there have been a few reports of people having a window separation issue with Robbins tops. Glass loses bond with top.

Fixable with 3M windshield bond, some creativity, and cure time.

Its the only issue I've ever heard with Robbins, and appears to be somewhat isolated. All seem to have occurred a relatively short time after install. So if your top has been on a while, you're probably not affected.

One member attributes issue to having stored his top in his shed for several years, in North Carolina heat. Shed gets ridiculously hot.

So perhaps the other incidents were due to how a batch of tops were stored. In some hot corner of some warehouse or something.

Would be interesting to try and find some commonality with all who've had this issue. Like if they all sourced top from same place, or places they bought from all sourced from same middleman warehouse (not sure how we'd be able to figure that out).

I will need a new top in next few years, and I'll be buying a Robbins. But I'll probably be looking for a manufacture date on the box when it arrives.

 

Stayfast top on my car for 15 years now and still looks new

 

Thanks for the specifics, Chuck, and yeah, thanks to the s2ki community, Robbins is the way I'll go. -Chris

 

The longest I've heard about, and just what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

Heck yeah I feel pretty lucky about that. Reaching out to him after I finish this post!

 

Ask about shipping the roof to him. Barely fit in the passenger seat in the box -- I think I had to drop the roof to get the box in as it wouldn't fit thru the door with the roof up.

-- Chuck

 

I had my Robbins top installed by Jeremy back in 2018 - no doubt, he is simply the best - he is the Billman of tops.

I also ran into the bonding issue within a few months of the install. The top was under warranty and I reached out to Robbins and Jeremy. Robbins didn't balk and sent a new top directly to Jeremy. Jeremy also didn't charge me for the labor to reinstall, explaining that Robbins would reimburse him for the labor. I kept checking back with him about the reimbursement, and it took awhile, but he got paid.

I do have a minor issue - the two reenforced areas of the Robbins top where the OEM top eventually develops tears (13 years old in my case), worked there way loose early on. Jeremy suggested using contact cement to repair them and I bought some, but haven't had the "courage" to use it, being afraid it will seep through the cloth and be a visible blotch. Maybe one of these days I'll get brave and try it.