After 7-1/2 years the Emperor’s top is looking a little worse for the wear. When it is down and you look at the window, it appears that the cloth that holds it in place is starting to separate. From the outside it looks just fine though and it is not loose when pressed on. There are several dark stain spots at points where the canvas is stretched tight over the frame. Inside a couple of the stains there are tiny little holes that look like they go all the way through. Even if they do go through, they are so small that they probably wouldn’t leak unless we get caught in a frog strangler. But because we have taken to only driving the Miata on nice days, the likelihood of that happening is slim.
A new top is on the horizon, but I’m waiting until we get the new shocks and springs installed. For that we are just waiting on our turn in the queue at Panic Motorsports. We are near the top, so hopefully it will be next week.
Then will come the top decision; what color and what material? The Emperor came with a tan cloth top from the factory. When that one was replaced in 2008 I went back with a tan cloth top. Because the Miata has become a fair weather ride nowadays I’m thinking that I could save about $125 dollars by going with a vinyl top this time. Trouble with that plan is I’ve seen some older tan vinyl tops and they get dirtier looking easier than the cloth ones (although this might not be a problem for the Emperor because he lives indoors.)
Then there is the black vinyl roof option. Black would not look bad on the car because it was standard on the lower trim levels of the car and I remember seeing a couple back in 2003. And it would give the car a whole new look on the few times the roof is up. Maybe even get some black stripe vinyl and black out the windshield header like Mazda is doing with the 4th generation of the car, that way stifling my desire to but a brand new Miata. 🙂
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1487