As a new owner, is there anything to look out for? Got a hardtop, so the softtop is down most of the time. Still have the OEM soft top. Since it's folded down most of the time, is there a particular maintenance schedule? How often should I wash and apply 303 to it?

 

I guess it depends. When I had my Ap2, I would only apply 303 if I washed the car while my hardtop was off, which was rarely. My top was still in good condition when I sold it but I only had the HT for a couple of years, before that my S2 was my daily and I would condition it at least once per year.

 

On our '06, we still have the original top and all we have done is wash it when we wash the car. We never pit it down wet and our top looks good with no rips. No garage queen either, have 170k miles on our S thats been in over 30 states.

Rod

 

I ran a hardtop for years. I would raise the soft top up a couple times per season , I would clean and treat it and I left it in the warm sun to get the wrinkles stretched out, then I would put it back down. It probably doesn't amount to a hill of beans but that was my routine. I always preferred Hartz softop vinyl treatment but 303 is a close second.

 

You could get UV tint for the hardtop and also put a blanket/towel over the soft top to protect it a bit more.

 

I have a HT but I never use it. All during the driving season I use my soft top. I stays down 90% of the time unless I park outside somewhere for a long time when it goes up to protect the interior. I give it a quick wash whenever I wash the car. I try to treat it once a season. So far so good. I leave it up for storage with the latches unlatched and windows down about an inch to take pressure off. It has a car cover for off season storage.

 

Same thing here,treat it with 303~once a month,still looks like brand new,after 20 years.

 

I live in Montreal, Quebec and am looking for someone to replace my damaged vinyl S2000 AP1-2000 rear window. Anyone know a shop that has done this job before in the Montreal area?

 

https://www.rembourrageautomobile.ca...ubert-brossard

 

When I wash my 2001 S2K I apply 303 Touchless Sealant to the rinse water all over, including the soft top. Then after I wipe it all dry, I apply Meguiar's Super Shine to the top and plastic back window. Both of these products have UV protectant. I don't have a hard top, but this car has been garaged all the time when it is not driven, and both the top and the plastic rear window are original and look like new. Back when I bought this car new, the only product with UV protectant was 303 Aerospace Protectant. Now, 303 and other manufacturers have different products with UV protectors. If I had a hardtop and had the soft top down most of the time, I would spray the soft top (and rear window if it is plastic) down with a generous shot of 303 Aerospace Protectant. It seems to keep plastics from drying out, which is the "enemy".