It appears the time has come to suck it up and replace the top on our '06 S. I have sourced a shop with experience doing such work on our cars recommended by the local Honda dealer. The shop says they only do Robbins tops because they are the best aftermarket. They are quoting a price of $1,950 (which I think is a bit high) for a "Robbins cloth top" with the shop guy advising the cloth option is more durable than a vinyl.

I'm curious to get opinions from those who have had this work done both on the price, and the cloth over vinyl option.

Thanks,
Rex

 

Wow!

that's high.

where are you located?

there are a lot of s2k members who commonly do toos and there maybe one in your area.

prices I seen are about 450-650 installed if you bring the too.

the robbins cloth top w defrost and glass is about 600 from topsonline

so about 1200 ish installed

 

Just had a new roof put on my '06 a month ago. Yeah, your quote is "a but high." But $1K is "a bit low."

Robbins Black Haartz Stayfast Cloth (heated rear window) from TOPSonline: $707.87 delivered.
Expert installation by @2poor2mod $550

Total: $1257.87

Buying the roof a couple months before the install cut a bit of the price shock. Watching my install and portions of two others convinced my it's a job for an expert with all the experience, tools, and supplies. Two hour drive both ways for the install. The roof has to go in the passenger seat as it won't fit in the trunk. Or ship it to the installer. Get recommendations here first. @2poor2mod gets my full endorsement. He's in New Jersey but another member convinced him to drive down to DC and he did three in a long day.

-- Chuck

 

You're right.

Mine came about to around your price. I rounded down to lie to myself haha

so around 1200-1500

and support the community

 

I paid cash for the install so the published cost to the CFO is the $700 for the roof. No record of any install expense. I just kept putting $100 aside every so often. Didn't miss it. Just rolled it up and put a rubber band around it. By that time the install came it was like pocket change.

-- Chuck

 

Thanks for the replies and thoughts on this. I'm an hour or so east of Indy, but the shop recommended by my Honda dealer and two different body shops I trust is only 30 minutes away. They specialize in auto restorations and when I spoke with them said they have done several S2K top replacements.

Honda dealer told me the "factory" replacement top would come in right at $2,000! The guy at the shop said Honda outsources their replacement tops and they are not as good as the Robbins. He said he's install whatever I want, but his opinion was that the Robbins was far and away the best option which echoes the majority of posts I've researched here.

Not sure where the shop is sourcing their top. TopsOnline is listing the cloth top at $715 plus $67 for the spring / cable kit for a total of $782. Not sure what additional shipping might be. They also list a vinyl top for $610 plus the cable / spring set. I just wasn't sure if going cloth for more money was the better option over vinyl.

When I've seen posts here about the job running around $1200, I wasn't expecting a quote quite as high as I got. That said, I'm less concerned about the total cost as I have been planning and saving for this. I obviously don't waant to get robbed, but I want the job done right.

Thanks again everyone. This forum is so great!

Rex

 

I am in Fort Wayne. Everyone around here swears by Fabini's. The guy I bought my AP1 from said that he was quoted (Robbin's top and labor) about $1600, but of course he never got around to replacing it... so now I get to! LOL!

 

I had two tops replaced.On my first S I went to the dealer and got a replacement on the recall notice "at the dealers discretion". They still ripped me off at a cost of about two grand and it took them two or three days.
Next top I replaced on my second S I bought the Robbins vinyl top. I drove to Jersey and 2poor2mod put it on in a couple of hours. He saved me close to 4-500 bucks off the dealer price. It was well worth the couple of hours drive. He is a true craftsman who knows his sh;t and has a passion for the S2000. I'm really fussy about repairs to my S. I was highly satisfied with his work. I wouldn't recommend anyone else for this job. I give him three thumbs up! lol

 

Oh btw the cloth top is kind of nice but the Stayfast vinyl will restore the like new OEM look.

 

Does the cloth and OEM (or close to OEM as you described) close the same way or does it take up more room when folded? I still would like to use the tonneau cover.