patch the ripped top, if possible. and use the insurance money to get a used OEM hardtop.

thats what i would do...

 

Thanks for your great feedback & links everybody!

To answer some of your questions;
1. Insurance paid about $1,300 after my $250 deduc and covered 9 hours of installation. The local Honda dealership actually subs out their top installs and referred me to that guy. I already talked to him and he charges $500. A bit pricey I think, but at least I don't have to deal with it.
2. I'm still weighing the vinyl v. cloth option and doing my due dilligence with respect to research.
3. I can't get a blue top b/c it will clash with my black seats.
4. No hardtop for me. I use my top waaay too much to be hindered by that. Plus, I don't think they look all that great *ducks*
5. Looks like Robbins will be the route I go. I've got a call into my local distributor to get their prices.

 

$500 isn't that bad to do the install. It's a lot of work. If memory serves me the OEM is about $700 so plus the $500 you're golden.

 

ez on tops are great as well. they run somewhere around the $600 range.

 

I have had a cloth top now for about 2 months , it looks feels and imo is much much nicer then any OEM top honda has ever made for the S ....Cloth is on most high end cars ...BMW , Porsche, etc ....nuff said ...best to you either way you go , life will be good ...always is when you own an S 2000 .

 

I was going to suggest a guy that i bought my OEM replacement roof from, but he is in the UK.

I recently changed my roof myself, it was not an easy job. although, i managed to do it myself and it looks great.