What is the "same spot". I suspect that for the top to fail in the same spot, the top frame is probably bent and has a sharp corner, or perhaps the fabric is being pinched between two hard points when down (excess weight on it?). Should be pretty obvious as to what is causing the top to fail. The next question is how did the failure mechanism come to be?

"I, of course, told him that there was no way it was me."

Is this some what bending the truth? Have you *ever* let someone sit on the area where the top is when it is down? I've got an 05 and it would be easy for a petite girl to sit in this area with legs between the seats and holding on to the top of the roll bars. Would look really cool! Things just don't fail for no reason. I've just a feeling that the whole story isn't being told.

 

"same spot" meaning the same spot that most everyone in the s2000 world is having problems with wear like in this pic (found on one of the other soft-top tear threads)

 

That damage could be caused by the fabric being pinched between the roof frames when somebody sits on the top when it is down. How come you are showing other peoples pictures and not answering the important question asked?

 

Is there a reason you're accusing the OP?

I've had the same EXACT tear twice.

I've never sat on it, neither has anyone else.

Hell I have a big windscreen.

Please explain why you think he is so different than any other person that has had this happen to them?

Lastly,

Do you work for a certain Honda Dealership....? I KNOW he says he told them to look here.............

 

I'm just asking direct questions which the OP appears to be avoiding (aka "Have you *ever* let someone sit on the area where the top is when it is down?). And there is probably a reason. The damage pictured most probably occurrs when the top is down (nothing to stress or ware on the pictured spot when the top is up). The most likely cause is the top being pinched between the roof bows for some reason. The reason could be somebody sitting on the folded top causing the pinch, or the roof frame has been misaligned/damaged by some event in the past.
Then you need to start looking at why the fabric is being pinched when the top is down. If you bought the car used, somebody else's butt may have bent the frame in the past causing the current pinching.
Just from the way he wrote his post I think something is not being told quite straight. After seeing the pix of the car with aftermarket rims and it apparently having a loud muffler, I think an employee of the dealership probably did see the person riding on the folded top (people who work at honda dealerships probably have a much more keen eye for hondas than most people). Did you notice the OP simply stated what he told the dealer and not necessarily the total truth (hell, he doesn't want to pay for a new top, and probably is clueless to the fact that any weight on the folded top can damage the fabric).
I don't work for Honda, but I am concerned about people damaging their cars and then getting free repairs, which you and I eventually wind up paying for in the end (there is no free ride - third law of thermodynamics). As part of my work, from time to time I work on investigations of "events". A lot of the time one can figure out what actually happended just by the way people tell their stories.

 

zoomkat you can't be serious. i'm a 3 week old s2000 owner and even i can tell you why the top tears. the metal loop wears away at that area of the top every time it is put up and down. as the top comes over your head and the fabric stretches back out that is where it makes contact before being pulled out fully across your frame.

on my top there are scuff marks in that exact area so it seems they have yet to remedy this problem

 

I'll have to observe the action on that part of the top fabric and see if I can observe the same scuffing/strain on the fabric.

 

after they fix it for you, place some duct tape on the spot this happens to.

 

There's another theory on the wear being from the sharp top edge of the L bracket underneath the hoops. I haven't checked to see if it is actually in contact with the canvas top when it's in the down position, but someone, I think on the UK forum, mentioned it. I know the mass accepted theory is the hoop issue, but just another thing.

I took a look at my car and oddly enough, the passenger side L bracket had a much sharper/harsher top edge than the driver's side. Took a file to it and then put some black duct tape on the top to check for wear. Maybe a manufacturing process, shrugs. Just another thing to consider.

 

I don't intend for this thread to be one of those that get out of hand

"I, of course, told him that there was no way it was me."

I told him this because I have NEVER had anyone sitting on my top and whoever saw "my car" was mistaken. I'm not avoiding any answers and I really don't have to explain every little detail on the boards. I simply went to the stealership to have them repair something that they've been unsuccessful in doing the FIRST time and what Honda failed to address. Why would I want to risk having the glass shatter or even bring the car to sit there for a week or more (the amount of time they told me it would take to fix the top) in there in the first place with?

There's one more little detail that I forgot to mention. My car is in there to get the rear bumper realigned so that the bumper sits flat with the right tail light. This is another issue they did not fix the FIRST time I brought it to them. I sent them links to pictures and threads regarding this issue before they make up another story that I backed into a little kid or something.
(once again, not my car but very similar)

zoomkat, if you don't have these issues with your '05 then good for you. You happen to have one that came out of the lot in good condition or you're not as meticulous about your car like some of us. I recommend checking where that joint rubs on your soft top and where the L bracket sits when it's folded. As for the rear bumper, maybe you should also check when it's really hot out and see if the bumper meets with the rear pass. tail light. Oh yea, my car was bought NEW in 2005 with the tape still on it. There are no bent frames on the top,and it's never been driven in the winter except 3 days ago so that I could get it back from the dealership before the nice weather gets here in a few weeks

Thanks for the support s2ki, i'll let you guys know what happens.