Personally if I could afford a hardtop it would be fitted permanently, I just don't like driving with the roof down. I wish Toyota had done a coupe version. Is there a market for second hand soft tops?
Some people do replace them like. I struck gold with my hardtop. I bought it from a girl who was desperate for the cash for £300 and that was about 5 years ago. Bargain
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your gonna get lynched on here asking that s:D :D s:D
I think you should ask how often do you have the roof up........................
Quote from: "wotugonado"your gonna get lynched on here asking that s:D :D s:D
I think you should ask how often do you have the roof up........................
It's a personal thing obviously, I had an MX-5 and felt crushingly embarrassed driving it with the roof down, I'd feel the same in any soft top.
Quote from: "Zonda_"It's a personal thing obviously, I had an MX-5 and felt crushingly embarrassed driving it
Think youve just redeemed yourself with the above (slightly edited) comment s:) :) s:)
Quote from: "Zonda_"Quote from: "wotugonado"your gonna get lynched on here asking that s:D :D s:D
I think you should ask how often do you have the roof up........................
It's a personal thing obviously, I had an MX-5 and felt crushingly embarrassed driving it with the roof down, I'd feel the same in any soft top.
Why embarrassed?
Personally i can't wait for a few good days to get the roof down again,although i do like mine with the hardtop on as well.
Mine's down when it's not raining...
It goes up?
When ever the suns out :-) :-) :-)
Quote from: "AmeR"It goes up?
^^ this ^^
When I'm in it.
Have to say the only time the soft top is used is overnight at car shows, its either hard top on or no roof on at all with me. I love having the roof off like, strange sense of freedom isnt it
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my hardtop never came off once last year ......
I hate driving mine with the top up, so nearly always drive top down, even in the rain, as long as I can keep going to keep it out. Never found the cold to be a bother either, with such a fantastic heater. I have enjoyed a few drives when I did actually own a hardtop, but have always sold them on fairly quickly on every 2 that I have owned with one.
Its horses for courses though, and I do understand how some might not want to have a convertible. For me, its the reason I own one, but everyone is different. s;) ;) s;)
Used the TWO for work today and drove in with the roof down. Was snowing which made it strangely more enjoyable s:D :D s:D
Its a better car to drive with the hardtop on, but a better experience with the roof down.
The only time my roof is up when I'm in it is when it rains.. Other than that hot/cold roof is down I love it
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I had my first "hood down whilst it snowed" experience today -- loved it. Got some VERY odd looks! s:) :) s:)
Quote from: "loadswine". For me, its the reason I own one, but everyone is different. s;) ;) s;)
I bought a convertible so I could have the roof down as well. s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
Every time its sunny what the point in having a soft top if you dont drop it s:) :) s:)
Quote from: "tomaky"Every time its sunny what the point in having a soft top if you dont drop it s:) :) s:)
I didn't buy it for the soft top, it there had been a coupe version I'd have gone for that.
Slapa 1 never had a hard top and there was no specific time to drop the roof, did it in rain, sleet, snow, made no difference s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Slapa 2 has a hard top and I love it but..............................
(http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/857422_10151752004607786_1766671743_o.jpg)
Taken today in Matlock s:) :) s:)
Zonda tres his best to irritate me haha buys all the mods i want... Haha
Quote from: "Zonda_"Personally if I could afford a hardtop it would be fitted permanently, I just don't like driving with the roof down. I wish Toyota had done a coupe version. Is there a market for second hand soft tops?
I'm with you on this, but certainly in the minority around here!
Understandable really as many purchase the MR2 because of the convertible nature.
I bought it for the handling above all else (having owned tin-top only MR2's of previous years for the same reason - still have the Mk1)... prefer the driving environment with the hardtop on ... and prefer the cars looks with the hardtop on!
To answer your question regarding the softtop market - YES there is a market.
If in really good condition £200-£250 is a typical rate.
If damaged or poorer condition, drops rapidly down to as low as £50.
That's good to know, it's in great condition, how big a job is it to remove them?
The storm has to have a name for the roof to be up! s;-) ;-) s;-)
Quote from: "jjr197"The storm has to have a name for the roof to be up! s;-) ;-) s;-)
LMAO, quality!! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "Zonda_"That's good to know, it's in great condition, how big a job is it to remove them?
May well take 1 - 2hrs the first time you do it.
Becomes quicker after the first time, but I still allow 2 - 3 hours to remove and fit a new one.
Take the seats out before you do anything. They're so quick to remove it's pointless trying to work around them.
Then its a case of:
- Removing the plastics (the rear bin covers, and the side ones you take off when fitting a hardtop fitting kit)
- Disconnecting heater cable
- Removing the cross beam that runs behind the back seats (couple of bolts)
- Taking out the parcel shelf section
- Undoing loads of 10mm nuts all round the sides and back of the roof
- May need to fold the roof up and down a bit as you go to get good access to all the nuts
- Lastly remove the couple of bigger bolts holding the roof brackets in near where the hardtop side strikers bolt up
- Lift it out and away you go
Watch the rear screen whilst you're unbolting everything, would be all too easy to crack it with the end of the ratchet!
I've never just removed one and not replaced it with another.
May want to check whether you need to retain anything to allow the hardtop side strikers to bolt in - I have a feeling you may well need to keep the side bits of the mechanism to bolt in the hardtop side strikers.
Don't forget about resale potential (only applies if you are ever going to sell of course!). Removing the softtop entirely have impact the saleability.
s:D :D s:D i pit the roof up when it sat in my garage, roof down apart from rain or short trips to wash to 2. motorway driving windows down all the time as well .
winter and summer nights are some of the best times i go out.
aim lucky i don't have to worry about passengers, when they do come out they no i always drive with roof, windows down, even have passengers bring blankets with them on days out s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Don't have hard top, don't want one, but then I drive my pug when the weather is bad. I drop the roof all the time, in mid-winter, in the fog, at night, etc. As long as it isn't raining (and drizzle doesn't count) I go topless. It puts a smile on my face everytime and I love the wind in my hair ! No point in owning a convertible if you don't convert it.....
Quote from: "Stephster"No point in owning a convertible if you don't convert it.....
Hence the original post. Doesn't wanna own a convertible s:wink: :wink: s:wink: just wanna MR2 s:mrgreen: :mrgreen: s:mrgreen:
It has many other characteristics that make it a winner in other ways!
Get a Celica.
Quote from: "Zonda_"That's good to know, it's in great condition, how big a job is it to remove them?
What if you wanted to sell it though,you would need to buy another roof s:) :) s:)
Nah the celica is wrong wheel drive lol. Never seen the point in removing soft top, just remove weight elsewhere to improve power to weight... or sell it and buy an exige lol
Quote from: "Stephster"Get a Celica.
Hateful cars.
I think the point here is, as with mods, whatever floats your boat go for it.
I accept the diehards that are top down at every opportunity will think its wrong and have had a few pops in this post, but its just personal preference, I bought mine with a hardtop as IMO yes from around April to Oct it's top down at every opportunity day or night but I also think the transformation in looks for the colder months means it the best of both worlds, convertible and coupe a car for all seasons, what we all have in common here is our love for these great little cars and "vivre le differance" as long as we are out there getting maximum pleasure for ourselves what's the problem ?
I'll get me coat, well it is chilly out !
Quote from: "Stephster"Get a Celica.
Quote from: "dj2k21"Nah the celica is wrong wheel drive lol.
^^ This!
I tend agree on the roof removal front - especially if ever considering selling.
Think I'd only remove it completely if caging up and prepping up as a track car.
Well said Bernie :-) :-) :-)
Quote from: "Stephster"Get a Celica.
s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
Hardly the same car is it
Let the man have his opinion
The MR2 is a unique proposition, there just isn't a fixed top equivalent
me thinks it could be this problem s:D :D s:D about 55 seconds in s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
m https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re_H-OLHMo0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re_H-OLHMo0) m
Buying an MR2 mk3 and moaning about it being a soft top is like those people who buy houses near pubs then start campaigns to get the pub closed due to being a nuisance!
I bought the MR2 because I wanted a convertible. I drop the hood whenever I can. If you're embarrased by the car (people see sports car, IMHO, not soft or hard top) then buy a Micra s:) :) s:)
Always have my hard top on. Feels safer, less noise, doesn't leak and most of all looks better. I'll likely take it off for outings in the summer of course, but there's no point at the mo due to the terrible weather!
Think the main reason for keeping the hard top on is it's a PITA to take off/replace back on your own, spesh with a buggered knee it doesn't really go down too well. I don't have a stand for it either.
with hardtop;
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/11450303804_fbc4fa0846_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/95652189@N08/11450303804/)
IMG_4413 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/95652189@N08/11450303804/) by Tomparker455 (http://www.flickr.com/people/95652189@N08/), on Flickr
Without;
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/11450306024_9a0aac82b4_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/95652189@N08/11450306024/)
MR2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/95652189@N08/11450306024/) by Tomparker455 (http://www.flickr.com/people/95652189@N08/), on Flickr
I personally prefer it with a hardtop. But hey, I'd rather it had 4 seats and a 2zz engine in it haha.
Nothing like driving around on a clear December night with the roof down, so I get mine down as much as I can, although not that often on the morning commute.
I had a hardtop and sold it due to having to get some repairs done to the '2. The main thing I miss is the stiffening to the car, so if I was to have the money for hard top again I'd most likely just get some bracing instead.
That said, it's a very capable car with or without the hardtop, so I can understand people running it as a coupe. Each to their own, it just shows how good and versatile our cars are!
I do enjoy the roof off, both in summer and winter as you get different experiences from them. Roof off in the winter when there's snow on the ground is great.
Like others though I didn't buy the MR2 because it was a soft top, but because of the driving experience. I would still have bought it if it was a coupe as the driving experience was what I wanted most (as most of us do, otherwise why would we put up with 2 seats and no boot?!)
Quote from: "Mightyquin"Buying an MR2 mk3 and moaning about it being a soft top is like those people who buy houses near pubs then start campaigns to get the pub closed due to being a nuisance!
Only if that was the
ONLY house they could buy.
That's the point with the '2 it's totally peerless. Even an Elise can't hold a candle to its reliability, practicality and running costs.
Let people have their opinions
In answer to the original question, as often as possible. like today for instance.
Quote from: "chris3boro"I do enjoy the roof off, both in summer and winter as you get different experiences from them. Roof off in the winter when there's snow on the ground is great.
Like others though I didn't buy the MR2 because it was a soft top, but because of the driving experience. I would still have bought it if it was a coupe as the driving experience was what I wanted most (as most of us do, otherwise why would we put up with 2 seats and no boot?!)
Totally agree. I bought it for the driving experience - the fact the roof comes off is just a nice benefit!
Seriously? This is a purpose built roadster - not a cabriolet. Driving with the roof off IS the driving experience. Its a cracking looking and even better handling roadster. The latter you don't discover until after you've purchased it unless you've got a really fearless salesman on the passenger seat. Driving night time, summer, lights on, roof down, nothing but wind and exhaust - worth every penny of ownership
Absolutely agreed, it being a proper roadster is a fantastic thing, but if it were a coupe, it wouldn't have stopped me buying it.
I still feel it should have been made with a folding hard top, would have been epic then.
Too heavy I suppose?
For the same reason the folding tin-top MX5 is supposed to be inferior to the ragtop...
I'm just waiting for prices of the GT86 to plummet - that's what I'd replace the MR2 with!
When I was talking with the service Manager at my local Mr T about the then new GT86 and the fixed roof he understood that Toyota had decided against a folding metal roof for the GT as they could not get the system to meet their trouble free requirements.
If folding metal roofs had been in vogue when the 2 was developed and had been incorporated the 2 would not have the same power /weight ratio and the MR2ROC would be a very different place!
Quote from: "trickyD"Too heavy I suppose?
For the same reason the folding tin-top MX5 is supposed to be inferior to the ragtop...
Makes sense, surely they could use a fibreglass folding one. I'm no engineer but would be good if they did.
Nice idea, I wonder why it's it been tried?
As an engineer I can't think of any reason, apart from the question of what it would give you over fabric?
More security I guess?
Quote from: "trickyD"Nice idea, I wonder why it's it been tried?
As an engineer I can't think of any reason, apart from the question of what it would give you over fabric?
More security I guess?
More security, maybe toughen up any body roll. Guess it has potential for safety if the cars rolled (bracing etc). Haven't fully thought it out but that's my initial thinking.
Quote from: "parker455"More security, maybe toughen up any body roll. Guess it has potential for safety if the cars rolled (bracing etc). Haven't fully thought it out but that's my initial thinking.
I don't think a panelled fibreglass hood wouldn't give you any rigidity or safety benefits over a soft top. Would stop roof slashing I suppose.
I think the downside is the mechanism to make a fibreglass section hood fold will be cumbersome, heavy and probably remove even more of the valuable bin space as it won't be as compact as the vinyl.
Agreed.
And we need to stop saying fibreglass sorry s;) ;) s;)
Only two bit kit cars and canoes are made from fibreglass, it's not a volume automotive material, sorry to be a pain
It would be some kind of plastic, there are some very high performing ones now.
/pedantry
I disagree. It would be made out of a composite if some sort. Which is what fibreglass is. It is unlikely to be hand built in a jig. There are plenty if modern volume cars that use composites in this way. They are generally cheaper in tooling costs and also lighter than their metal counterparts.
Pretty sure fibreglass isn't a composite.
A composite is made up of one or more material.
Also composites are quite rare, I know Aston use them for their body parts, but it's very labour intensive. The curing process takes longer than it takes to "make" a whole Fiesta.
Also sure I've never ever heard of fibreglass being used by a volume car manufacturers - quite happy to be proved wrong though! s:) :) s:)
Anyway, fibreglass it is s;) ;) s;)
It's our invention!
Quote from: "trickyD"Pretty sure fibreglass isn't a composite.
A composite is made up of one or more material.
So FIBRE and GLASS are not more than one component??? s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
I work in the industry and every OEM I have worked for have used composites. Be that glass filled or carbon or something else. They are not as rare as you think. Some of their processes make some of then very expensive to use. I.e. Carbon fibre.
Lots of plastics in high volume cars also have extra stuff like glass and talc added for different reasons. Take the sills plastics on the roadster. They turn white when scratched because of the talc content.
I also work in the industry; automotive design.
Still don't think there is any fibreglass on a volume car...
But I'm done with this
Quote from: "trickyD"Also sure I've never ever heard of fibreglass being used by a volume car manufacturers - quite happy to be proved wrong though! s:) :) s:)
Ahem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant#Car_production) s8) 8) s8)
Jesus holy Christ!
Hang your head in shame, what an abortion.
Anyway we've already agreed the folding top would be made from fibreglass!
For good or bad
Well.. that escalated quickly lol
Yeah sorry s:( :( s:(
I take all your points on board chaps
Thanks for the lesson
Quote from: "trickyD"Yeah sorry s:( :( s:(
I take all your points on board chaps
Thanks for the lesson
How long have you been a design engineer then?
Which areas have you worked in?
Body, trim, electrical, brakes, suspension, engines, transmissions?
I don't do it any more but I was for 10 years
Powertrain mostly and a bit of body