Its been forvever but I am now ready to replace the top on my car.

Looking for suggestions on where to buy one from as well as should I go with canvas (like original) or vinyl which is way cheaper.

I like cheaper but I know most of the time cheaper is not better. Is this the case here?

Maybe the case is that vinyl performs just as well but the material is less expensive so the cost diff is passed on to the buyer?

Thoughts?

Also has anyone used http://sethirdgen.org/convertibletop.htm as guidence when installing top. It seems to be very descriptive and straight forward.

 

While I haven't replaced my top, if I ever need too, I'm ordering it from http://www.topsonline.com/index.php?CarmodelID=830. From talking to many vert owners and from many of the experiences members from this site have had, they offer great tops, reasonable prices, and decent shipping.

Vinyl or canvas? Canvas hands down. I find that vinyl not only is cheap $$$, but looks darn cheap. I've only seen one 3rd gen with a vinyl top and it was not pretty. A new top is a great investment in your ride and you don't want to have to do it twice. Of coarse beuty is in the eye of the beholder.

To me, the question would be glass or plastic rear window? That is my difficulty.
- The plastic window is bigger and original looking. But ages and scratches easy. Also looks a little cheap.
- The glass window is smaller but sharp looking. Would last almost forever. And looks like the more expensive modern verts out there.

My choices would be narrowed down to these two . . .
- If staying original . . . Black Stayfast Canvas with Plastic Window
- If trying something new . . . Black Stayfast Canvas with Glass Window
Of coarse this is all just my opinion.

PS; what colour is your ride's exterior & interior? Depending on the colours a tan top might be a possibility.

 

Other things to consider:
Is if she's a daily driver and if she's garaged?
The plastic window can be changed out if it becomes cloudy / scratched.

Also, I don't recall a tan "stock" top. Was there and if so what years.


Topless - where's Mel?

 

This is a 87 GTA with its orig top. Sorry but these are some old pics. Some may have seen these already. Im not taking any pics till I get the new top on car and do some painting.




Car will be daily but will be garaged. I am torn on the plastic or glass window thing. I would believe glass looks way better. Anyone have pics of glass vs. plastic. Id like to see them back to back. I guess I outta keep an eye out to try to compare as I see verts on the road and compare as well.

Thanks for the continued input.

 

Here's a few pics . . .




Plus you can tint the glass rear window.
Not sure how this owner managed the defrost on the glass. They don't normally have that.



The best pic I've seen but can't find are from a member here named BlueZee28. He has a really sweet vert!!!

 

Sweeeeet

 

Really, the plastic can be changed out? Are you talking taking the top off and sending it to an upholsterer to be sewn or is there a do-it-yourself way to do it?

 

I am going to follow these instructions when installing my top.

http://sethirdgen.org/convertibletop.htm

 

My original top was 4 months shy of 20 years old when I replaced it. It looked good on the exterior but kind of shabby on the interior. Approximately 7 years ago an upholstery shop replaced the plastic. How they did it, I don't know but it looked as good as the original.

 

Thanks!


Mine is the StayFast top from topsonline.com, with the glass window, tinted. I like it much better than the plastic. There are many others here who bought the same top as well, I'm sure some of them will chime in on how great this top is.

 

Man, every time I see new pics of your ride, I need a cigarette!!!

I'm actually tempted to order a Stayfast top just to keep as a spare should anything ever happen to my original top. Especially when it's still easily available and reasonably priced. I plan to keep my car till I die and then pass it on to my son. I'm not sure new tops will be as easy to get 20 years from now, especially when I know they are right now.