Well just replaced my top and rear window on my01 as when i put it down the other day and then put it up it cracked. Guessing old age being brittle.
The cloth part was still good condition as i always used 303 cleaner and protectant on it every 2 months.

When i toldthe guy i used meguires plastic cleaner and polish he said that's prob the problem why it was in poor condition and brittle said throw that garbage out.

He recommended using IMAR Strataglass Protective Cleaner & IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish. He just finished installing my top and used it and no swirls or smears total optical clarity. Any incites or familiarities with this product?

It says for cleaning strataglass Don't know what that means just thought window was plastic .

Just wanna keep up on this straight from the get go so i don't have this happen agian

 

clean it with plexus...
put a soft rag or a muz mat on the rear deck and when you put the top down, put roll up a rag and put it on the outside of the window.

 

Any reason you didn't go for an 02+ top w/ the rear glass?

 

I was thinking the same thing.. robbins makes a glass window top for 00-01 and you need need a extra strap I think..

 

Didn't wan't to spend the extra $. Most likely getting Mugen or oem hardtop.

 

Actually from what it looks like, the 02 top is cheaper:

01 Soft Top Parts List
02 Soft Top Parts List

The 02 comes with the window already installed for $801.29...with the earlier models the window is puchased seperately for a total of $897.38 (top and window)...

Am I missing something here?

 

man if that's true i'm pissed. I know you have to buy extra parts to make it fit and labor could be more.

 

I'm confused here. You say you just replaced your '01 top and window, and then the window cracked. If this is true, you wouldn't have had the window long enough for any preservative method to have been of any help. It instead sounds like you have a warranty problem with the folks who just installed your top and window!

 

Dolebludger, i think he meant the window cracked then he replaced it. Funny wording.

 

OK, then. If we are talking about preventing a plastic window from cracking, the key is to keep it soft, and not hardend and brittle. The way to do that is to put on a lot of 303 about twice a year, and let it soak in over night. Then wipe with a microfiber -- but there will still be smears. Then clean the smears with Plexus. Mine's six years old, and still clear and soft. And, oh, yeah, there is that problem when putting down the top. Shouldn't do it when it is below 60 degrees or so. And even then, it is still necessary to make sure the window is folding with no wrinkles in it. Sometimes, you have to bet out of the car with the top half way down and run your hand along the window to get out wrinkles. It is a PIA! But some of us short guys prefer the plastic window, because the glass one is smaller and the bottom is about 4" higher than the plastic one. Some of us have problems with seeing what we are backing into with the smaller glass window.