Miata top options

I'm about to buy a 2000 Miata w/ hardtop and hard dog roll bar, but with no top at all, no vinyl and no frame.

I could go without any sort of soft top, but I think I'd just never take the hard top off it I did that. The car wouldn't really be a convertible.

There is the bikini top option:

Or I could buy a frame (somewhere) and a new vinyl top, or thirdly, it looks like I can get a used top from planet miata for $350-400.

What would you do?

Having lived with a '99 since new, I would lean toward getting a frame and cover. While not quite as easy as the NC's top, the abilty to keep out or let in the weather as easily as it does is a huge thing with the Miata.

My hard top was saved for winter. And now that I don't have to drive it in the winter anymore- I can sell it for the same price I bought it for back in '97. Which is to say you can sell your hard top for more money than the used frame/new top that is an option.

Jeeeeez I just scrapped a hard top frame. Granted it was for a NA, but it may have worked for you.

I would go with the used top option

+1 on the used top. I loved the zip open rear window which would get you nearly the same effect as the bikini top and you could close everything up if you needed to for weather.

A decent used top is probably the way to go. I ended up just getting a cheap Robbins for mine and, three years in, its still fine. I already had the frame though. Once you add in the cost of the frame, latches, etc., you are probably deeper into it than the cost of a good used top, which may well last you longer and will certainly be easier to install.

Carl still have that miata? It should make an excellent parts car at this point if it's still around.

"good used" tops are pretty unusual. We got very few of them in our salvage operation.

I'd go with an NB top, they're lighter and more weatherproof. Definitely find out what kind of roll bar is on the car, it may preclude certain tops.

PubBurgers wrote: Carl still have that miata? It should make an excellent parts car at this point if it's still around.

Yeah, he has a 2000, which I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy, and he still has that '90 that looks like a batmobile. He says the actual top on the '90 is probably in tatters, but the frame should be good. That's where I think I would get a used frame to put a new top on.

EDIT: Quoted wrong person.

Keith Tanner wrote: "good used" tops are pretty unusual. We got very few of them in our salvage operation. I'd go with an NB top, they're lighter and more weatherproof. Definitely find out what kind of roll bar is on the car, it may preclude certain tops.

I will make sure I know which roll bar it is before ordering anything. Are the frames different between NB and NA? So your suggestion would be to find a used NB frame and buy a new top?

Yes, the frames are different. You can interchange the complete tops, but the vinyl has to match the frame.

If you want to be able to unzip the rear window, you'll want an NA top. Otherwise, the NB is a better piece.

Thanks Keith, sounds like I'll at least want to keep it NB, new or used.

I've got the top from my 99 Miata. I pulled the top and frame as a complete unit from the car and it's just been taking up space in my basement since. Prior to that, the car was garaged most of the time so the vinyl is in pretty good shape. I think shipping would be prohibitively expensive from Georgia to Ohio but if you don't have any luck elsewhere, let me know and I'll see what it would take. I'm not looking for much so it might be worth it too you. I'll post pics if you're interested.

In reply to mapper:

I might be very interested, looks like it would run me $100 in gas to come get it, but I don't have a line on a local one so it might be my best option. Thanks!

Pictures of the top. It is dusty/dirty but you'll get the idea. Also, it's a rare Penske model because it's had the rears of Hélio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe sitting on it.

The only damage on the top. About 6-7 years ago something flew up from the road and hit the rear of the passenger window surround. I gave it a dab of clear silicon and it's held ever since.

Front seal area.

PM me if you get to the point where you might want the top. It's not going anywhere in the meantime.