I would be interested to hear other members opinions on their preferences for either a soft-top or a hard-top on their MX-5s.
Not only their particular preference - but why ? And when searching for an MX-5 to buy, do they only look for one version or the other ? Also their preference between a detachable hard-top, and an electrically-retractable one.
When my wife had the opportunity to have an MX-5 as a company car back in 2011, she chose the electrically-retractable hard-top version, because we do not have a garage, and she thought it would be more secure, and also less likely to suffer vandalism (of the jealous-moron-with-a-Stanley knife on the soft-top kind !).
Neither of us have ever owned soft-topped cars, and I suppose concerns about the weatherproof abilities of such a vehicle came into the equation too.
Once the car had gone back (after the end of the lease-hire period), we got a different company car (VW Scirocco), but we missed the ability to go topless so much last year, that we decided to get another MX-5, and we opted once again for a coupe - 'cause we liked the previous one !
Anyway, it would be fun to hear other owners views.
I have used a detachable hardtop on my NC since November. The car lives outside in all weathers so for winter I prefer it. It’s also more secure that way.
Storing the roof in spring will be a pain however as I’ve no garage. To avoid the hassle of roof storage I think my next car will have to have a retractable roof. Reluctantly so as I don’t like the look of them. To my eyes the NC looks better with a detachable hardtop fitted than an NC roadster does with the retractable roof up. It has better lines, the roadster looks a little stumpy in comparison.
This is my first convertible and I opted for the PRHT for the simple reason of being more secure/less tempting to vandals. I don’t have a garage or driveway.
I think the soft tops do look better, but that’s a sacrifice I was willing to make.
Same, the detachable hard top hung on the garage wall in a purpose made cover.
I looked at a few retractable h/t Mk3s but the short appearance, small rear window and possible expensive mechanism problems put me off. Instead I bought a soft top and added a matching colour (black) detachable top later.
The car is kept overnight in the garage irrespective of which top’s on for insurance purposes. I always feel more comfortable leaving it parked in town with the hardtop for added security and possible vandal attack.
I have an ND soft-top which is kept in a locked garage at the end of my 20 metre drive. If I had to park my car in the street or on open frontage I would never consider a soft-top. Being in those exposed positions it would be a sitting duck for any thrill-seeking moron especially as it seems a large number carry knives to try out on anybody or anything that takes their fancy.
I bought a hardtop for my NC two years ago because mines a daily drive and lives outside in the winter, my opinion is, the car looks so much better with the hardtop on and I get so many more compliments as well. It only take two minutes to take it of, so if you get a nice sunny day at the weekend and you want a nice drive as a converible that’s not a problem, apart from the turbo it’s the second best mod I’ve bought for my five
I bought my NC with a hardtop. Absolutely love the look of them fitted. However, my problem has always been where to store it off the car. My garage with all its associated stuff, just wasn’t big enough to accommodate so I sold the hardtop on last year. I don’t regret it, car lives in the garage, integral to the house so is relatively secure for most of the time. Mazda soft top is a quality product, also looks good raised and is so easy to drop down when the opportunity arises
Thank you gentlemen, for all your comments on the soft-top vs hard-top debate.
The common consensus seems to be that a soft-top is rather vulnerable, not only to winter weather, if left outside all-year-round, but also the jealous, moron-type who may take it into their feeble heads to vandalise it.
I must admit that I never considered the soft-top MX-5 looked better than the electrically-retractable hard-top when they were both ‘up’. When ‘down’ of course, there is no real difference.
I am of the same opinion as Mac5 - the retractable hard-top of the Mk.3 gives us the best of both worlds. And of course, it is more secure.
I’ve never seen a Mk.3 with a detachable hard-top - must look out for one on the road in future. One question that immediately springs to mind though is: doesn’t it take two people to remove a detachable hard-top ? And of course, there is the problem of storing it. When I worked as a motor mechanic for Rob Walker’s in the 1970s, a few customers with Mercedes Benz SLs (the ones with the Pagoda-shaped hard-top), would store their lids in our garage during the summer, and come November time, would come in and have us fit them again for the winter months. These lids were very heavy and quite bulky too, and indeed needed two people to safely remove / refit them without risking damage.
I prefer the soft top, they are designed and made to live outdoors and are not at all vulnerable to the weather.
Now had MK1’s and MK2’s for 10 years and only for 3 winters did we put a hard top on Janes MK2 as she was commuting. That hard top has been sitting in the garage now for 3 years.
Detachable hard tops are a 2 person job to fit and remove in a few minutes. Being made of some sort of plastic they aren’t very heavy. Other benefits in addition to the wide heated rear window is the extra space behind the seats, the folded hood doubles as a handy parcel shelf.
If you haven’t seen one on the road, have a look on Google images.
When we bought our Sport in 2006,don’t think the electric roof had been introduced,but still prefer the look of the softtop.
Went softtop again in 2015 when we bought the Sporttech so we could continue to use our bootrack(MX5 Parts with built in centre brake light) when needed(trips abroad when we need to take bedding etc)
But took us a long time to find a softtop with cruise(factory fit)which was our only reason for changing from the Sport.
Interestingly I think the ND also has the centre brake light on the rear deck forward of the boot lid,but looks as if the Fiat version has the CBL in the rear of the boot lid which, if correct, would enable a boot bag to be used without a rack.
Don’t know the legality of obscuring the CBL,but seems likely there are rules about it.
Sorry ,drifted off thread a bit!!
Our MX is parked on private land under a carport–but do agree with others that if it had to be parked on the street or where tree sap could be a problem,then the electric roof would be easier/safer.
I bought my MK2.5 Sport in November 2014, it came with the hard top fitted. I actually think the car looks better with the hard top, and as said above, there is slightly more headroom and the extra space behind the seats is accessible when the style bars and windbreak are not in place.
I don’t have a garage but the hard top resides in my garden hut from March to November. It’s definitely a two person job to remove, not that it’s particularly heavy, just that you need to lift it clear of the car and you wouldn’t want to scratch any paint.
However most fun is definitely had with the top down, I can’t wait to store my hard top away again next month.