Arctic White 91 RS

Took 91 RS convertible in for oil change and a well meaning middle aged female employee cleaned rear plastic window against company policy and over the protest of several tech's. She ripped out the upper right corner of the window. Shop will cover half of replacement cost because window can't be repaired per two repair quotes.

What do I need to know about replacing a ten year old top?
Will the orginal weather stripping survive to be reused?

All relevant advise appreciated.

Please advise I have to make decisions or repair this week.

yankeecarman

iTrader: (9)

If it were me, I would take the money and have a new top put on. This time I would pay extra for a glass window one. I love mine. Also, It would probably be a good time to replace the weatherstrips. My opinion.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Just curious, but why are they only paying half the cost? If they damaged it, they should pay the full cost to replace it, including new weatherstripping if needed.

As to your question about the weatherstripping, I'd replace it. Partially as a "while you're in there" thing, and partially cause by now the weatherstripping will have worn to mate to the old top. It may not seal properly to a new top.

gt4373

Why Would They Even Be Touching The Rear Window If It Was Brought In For An Oil Change

Arctic White 91 RS

The top is eleven years old and shows its age. No holes but worn in spots and some of the stiching has deteriorated. Both shops that did estimates pointed out same issues. The lady was 'being helpful' despite violating company policy and being told not clean window. Case of her being a head strong know it all in my opinion. The store manager said he would replace with a top from another 91 vert from junk yard or pay half of new top.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

I'd be raising cane, personally. Any top you find in a junkyard is going to be, well, junk.

okfoz

Finding a junkyard top in good condition would be like peeing in a hurricane and trying to stay dry.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

"peeing in a hurricane and trying to stay dry"

Good One! Great timing John.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

And they would be replacing my top with a new one, they would also be paying for it in FULL.

muswp1

Tell that manager to pay for a new top or go over his head to his boss.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I would be more than happy with 50%.
The top is old. Thats a heck of a lot better than nothing.

Arctic White 91 RS

I have no idea why she decided to clean that fragile rear window...good intentions but clueless.

The company has been professional and reasonable so I have in turn been likewise courteous to the oil change manager. I think covering half of the cost of replacing the top is fair given that it's ten years old. Given that they were honest and told me about the damage upfront instead of trying to hide it is worth some good will on my part. They could have not told me and I might not have noticed until after leaving the shop.

Both shops that did estimates on replacing top commented half of repair cost for a new top was reasonable given condition of old top.

I will check into the glass rear window that's a good idea.

W72

iTrader: (9)

I lent my 92 'vert to a relative and they decided to be nice and have it run through a national chain carwash place. Against the companies policy, the 19 year old attendant waived her on in and the rinse jets blew the rear window out and flooded the floor and back seat.
They owned up to the employees mistake, and quickly mailed me (2) $50 gift cards to call it even.....yeah, right....well, like you my top was over ten years old too and I wasn't hoping for much help on the replacement top(same reasons yours couldn't be fixed) from the car wash, but I carry comp insurance and they picked up the cost of the entire new top and turned around and sued the car wash for reimbursement..

Long story short, I bought new weatherstrip because I didn't think it'd survive the changeover, but it did, and the new top is way more weather tight than ever before.
A good trim shop should be able to re-use your weatherstrip.

Arctic White 91 RS

Classic cause of destroying a weathered top sounds like good intentions + cluelessness again!

I'm happy that worked out well for you. I will check with my insurance and see what are my options. Cars insured as a classic and this was an automotive related event - maintenance is oil change.

okfoz

I would think that taking a convertible through a car wash would be akin to using an one of those tiny drink umbrellas in a hurricane in an attempt to stay dry.

John

carattini

Legally the person is only responsible to put you in the same plays you where before the wrong happened. This mean a 15 to 20 year Old TTOP. so the judge will put a price on the current TTOP before The Incident and that is what the person that did the wrong is responsible for.

This is why it's better to settle and not go to court 50% is a lot more than the court would give.

Know don't get me wrong Morally the shop is responsible for 100%

W72

iTrader: (9)

Agreed, and frankly I don't take any of my cars through car washes, but the "borrower" thought she was doing me a solid by getting it washed before she returned it....not being a car person she never considered the fragility of a 15 year old canvas top and stitching around the window, nor did the attendant who gleefully waived her on in.

And I'm no insurance expert but I deserved to be made whole as before, with a functioning ,sealed convertible top. A suitable used top is not to be found for these cars, but new ones are, so that's why my insurance company ponied up $1700 and subsequently turned around and collected from Delta-sonic...and they did pay, I followed up to be sure.

That location now has signs rejecting responsibility for soft topped cars in the entry lane, I checked that too.

okfoz

Convertible tops are great for blocking rain coming DOWN, not going up & sideways...

John

Arctic White 91 RS

Picking up the car tomorrow with the new top. Only one piece of weather stripping had to be replaced. Looking forward to getting this wrapped.

yankeecarman

iTrader: (9)

Glass window?

Arctic White 91 RS

Stayed with plastic due to cost. This wasn't planned and my white RS Camaro is in the middle of restoration at a shop so I have to be very careful about my spending. I hope I get reimbuse for half of top. The check is due this coming week...

I'm delighted with the new top and would recommend Historic Motor Car in Terre Haute to anyone that needs a top replaced. They also did a excellent job repairing the driver seat in my 99 TA.

Arctic White 91 RS

Deposited the check today

jharrison5

Im glad everything worked out. I dont take by babies to "chains" for this exact reason. Well that and the fact that Jiffy Lube messed up an oil change on one of our fleet vehicles with 3400 miles on it causing the engine to need replacement. Ya the driver got fired and Jiffy Lube was sued over that ordeal lol!

Justins86bird

If you dont mind telling, what was the price difference between glass and plastic?