Ive just (today!) taken delivery of a 2015 Mk 4 SE-L and looking for tips on taking care of the hood. This may be a stupid question but is the hood mohair? Just asking as ive seen some hood proofer on MX5 car parts that is for mohair and a different one for vinyl.
Any general care tips and what should i be doing as an annual minimum? If theres already a thread on this topic please excuse me.
Yes though Mohair is a much abused term, what you have is a soft top made from Haartz Stayfast C.
Technically it doesn’t require reproofing though doing that does help with water dispersion. Cleaning is also worthwhile for appearance purposes.
Ah right thanks Ian. I’ll probably still do it if only for the placebo effect!
Hi John,
I’m returning to the soft top club following a few years with an NC folding hard top.
I had an NA for 7 years before that and used Renovo products on the ‘mohair’ to good effect. Cleaner, Reviver and Proofer respectively.
So that’s what I’ll use on the ND I’m picking up later this week, similar age to yours.
Cheers
Steve
Thanks Steve ive just ordered some of the Renova hood cleaner and ultra proofer.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush every time you clean the car. Do it before applying water to get rid of the grit and dust.
I swear by Autoglym Convertible roof cleaner. My roof is light grey and owing to the crappy winter we’ve had as well as the fact that the car lives outside, traces of green algae were very obvious. After using the cleaner, the roof looked brand new and the hydophobic properties of the cleaner are amazing with water just beading off!
My tuppence worth, use soft brush with Autoglym roof cleaner, rinse & dry thoroughly then three coats of Fabsil gold drying throughly between each coat, apply another coat of Fabsil after clearning six months later and repeat at the start of the following year.
Thanks all for the tips. Ive now got a job for the weekend!
I’ve used the Mazda half cover ( I’ve got through a few, as I find I only really get a good year out of them) in the near 6 years I’ve had the car (since new). Granted I don’t get it wet with rain, unless it’s unavoidable like a pre booked service or MOT, turns out raining on the day, after an advanced weather forecast when booking turned out wrong- again. Of course not everyone has that luxury of being picky and choosy when they drive theirs, but if I say so myself, mine looks like a new top. Not a touch of green. It also lives outside.
Maintenance is no ‘proofing’ artificial products, just a vacuum about once a month, and regular going over with a lint brush. The Mazda half cover is superb. Of course it also gives almost total protection from leaf bits, anything from trees, dust, pollen, bird poo, hideous stinking neighbourhood log burners, decent UV protection etc etc
It’s interesting that Autoglym say on their website:
What types of soft top materials can I use this on?
The Soft Top Clean & Protect Complete Kit is ideal for use on mohair, double duck, fabric or canvas fabric hoods.
My roof is vinyl what can use instead?
Wash with any Autoglym shampoo and protect with Bumper & Trim Gel.
So the Haartz Stayfast is NOT vinyl, right?