I am selling my 88 IROC(see sig) but it needs a new top and i don't have the money to replace it, what do u guys reccomend for patching it(rips) and it has come unglued from the back, what glue should i use? I have all this work, new paint, converted to a stick, brand new 305 from GM and all that and now i need a top and can't afford it. Thanks.
-Tom

 

Just leave it and sell it as-is. The only right way is to replace the top. The car has fresh paint and a new motor- I'm sure the new owner will just put a new top on it. Who wants a nicely restored 'vert with a duct-tape top?

 

lol that reminds me when I first bought my car. The tp was ripped to shreds. Well, being as my buddy and I were a couple of real "smart" guys we decided to duct tape the entire roof lol Never once leaked, looked like crap, and you could never put the top down. I also tried "sewing" the pieces together on the top with 30lb maxima (monofilament) and that actually worked much better. Of course what worked the best was getting a new top installed.

I say you take a picture of it with the top down, explain in the ad that it has all this new stuff and all they need to complete it is a $500 top. That way you put a dollar amount on what needs repairing instead of selling the car for $1000 under blue book and than letting them talk you down an additional $500 because of the top.

James

 

If it is just a hole you could use iron-on canvas patch material that is used on clothes. Put it in from the inside and and put a sponge behind it. Then iron it from the opposite side.

My recommendation is to borrow the money to have a new top professionally installed, sell the car and repay the money. It will help to sell the car if it has a new top on it. It would be like trying to sell a house with ugly worn carpeting. Even with a carpet allowence in escrow, some people can't look past that to the potential. IMO you'll lose many potential sales if you try selling it with a bad top. A lot of the car car purchase experience is emotional. The car has to grab them and have them fall in love with it. Replace the top, fix any dents and known problems with the car, then spit and polish it. You'll have much better success following that method than by knocking the price down. People don't want the hassle of repairing a vehicle to make it relaible or one they'll be proud to show off to their friends.

Lon

 

well, i have re glued the top and it looks better already. I am just gonna try and patch it. If it does not sell for what i want then i will just go witha new top. Why should i shell out the money if i don't have to. if i put a $700(that is what it costs) on the thing and only make $1000 more it is not worth the hassle. I was was gonna see if i could get 6500 with the new top but with out the new top 5500 or around there would be fine. You never know, i have had MANY people come up and ask is i wanted to sell the car, at gas stations, and one guy even waited outside Wal-Mart untill i came out. For all he knew i worked there. Lol. I dunno, i am gonna clean it up the best i can and just drive put a For Sale sign in it and half-asses try to sell it right now.

 

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but someone cut my top right over the driver seat. It's a gash about a foot long, and up until now I've just covered it with black duct tape. Anyways, I'm kinda interested in the iron on patch, maybe to go over the ducttape for cosmetics. Make it look a little better anyway. So, does anyone have more info, such as if it would work, how it would look, where to get it? Oh, and if there's any other possibilites, please let me know. Oh, and something besides buying a new top. I really can't afford that right now. In the future, definatley, but not now...

 

Well the top is vinal(spelling). Anyone have ne ideas...i wish it was canvas, they seem much stonger.

 

$700.00 for a new top!!!

I guess because I have the stayfast top mine was much cheaper ($400.00 installed). I would like to see pictures of the vinyl tops, might be the next thing to do after the paint job upgrade.

 

vinal sucks....cloth is better.

 

duct tape