Guys,
Looking at a couple of cars this week and they have a mixture of tops. Are there any strong feelings on which is best? I’d like a hard top for the winter, so if I buy a car without one are they reasonably easy to come by? And what about the electric tops, are they ok or problematic/not worth the hassle?
As always, any advice gratefully received!
Horses for courses…
I have electric top Mk3 (PRHT) and love it, especially since I fitted SmartModule roof control. Roof can be up/down at press of a button to match changeable weather conditions.
I have folding softtop on my Mk1 and love it, it’s how the car was ‘imagined’. Been caught a couple of times in rain, but as long as you can keep reasonable speed, very little water enters the cabin.
I have hardtop on my Mk1 project car and love it. It seems to slightly stiffen the car and reduces rattles, more civilised in winter, but needs 2-people and storage space when not required.
You’ll enjoy whichever you get…
It is quite easy to pick up a second hand hard top for a Mk1 to Mk2.5 the same units fits all cars from 89 to 05. Say £300 and budget £100 if you need to get it resprayed.
If you buy a soft top MK3 then there are not as many hardtops that come up second hand and they can be quite expensive. Very expensive new.
The electric hardtop on the Mk3 is reliable but a very small number of people say 3 or 4 have had a £1,500 bill to sort problems. If you are buying an early Mk3 they are 10 years old and a new soft top can be say £750 and after about 10 years soft tops can feel their age but some are still in great shape at that age.
Again do your own research on second hand prices and availability.
If you are even thinking of buying a separate hardtop for a Mk3 it seems a bit daft not to get a car with an electric one instead.
Assuming Mk3 here…
When I purchased my car I went only for a soft top. Maybe if a PRHT were available at the time and the price within my range also I could have been swayed.
I’d only definitely want a hard top if security is an issue where you park and/or you leave it outside 24/7. If you have a garage to keep the car in then I’d go softop. You also need to think about storage for the hardtop when not in use if you wanted to add one later.
If you definitely need a hard top go look at the PRHT models as to buy a separate hard top would set you back SH anything from £600-£900 + fitting kit and they aren’t cheap if bought new.
From a Mk1/2 perspective:
I use my Mk2 as a daily. It has a gradually-degrading vinyl roof on it, and that’s fine in the summer. Roof down in under 3 seconds.
However, vinyl roofs dont take well to being opened and closed in the winter, so I found anyway. To make the car more hospitable I slap a hard top on from October to…whenever spring arrives.
The only drawback is storing the top. Be sure to have some spare space in a garage or shed.
I have a power hard top and really like it. My 5 lives mainly in a car port seems to atract less cats than a soft top.
If I had the cash, and the ínclination, I’d go for an NDRF - I love the shape of that top! However it’s irrelevant as I can’t afford it, and I’m quite happy with mine. My hardtop is on all year round - why? I can’t get it one or off without help, and my other half is incapable of lifting a pan of water these days. When my son was at home, not a problem, but storage became an issue when my missus demanded full use of the garage, as she’d paid for it. Several other personal problems - I get rheumatism in my right shoulder if I drive with the top down - especially in this sun starved country, but it comes off when we (my son and I) go to France, as we are lucky enough to find adequate space to store it when we go - in France of course.
Also - the cars stored outside, on the drive when at home, and I’m always aware of two things - the neighbour’s leylandii hedge, and rain. - the two go together to block my rain drains. The hardtop prevents that.
Then there’s rearview vision, much improved with a hardtop, less so when the softops up. And the car looks better with a hardtop IMHO. It’s also quieter in the cabin. And warmer in the winter.
So - overall, yes I love the opportunity to get the roof down, but a rarity in England, the weather isn’t welcoming, and putting the top up for security when shopping is a pain in the neck - though I finally overcame that by getting a micro-wave alarm fitted in the car, which now guards the hardtop very nicely - just in case some yobbo fancies it. So that’s my take on the question, though most members have already answered well, I just have a differing POV.
Yes - you can drive in the rain IF you are doing 40+ mph, but I live in an urban area, so restricted mainly to 30 or less, depending on traffic. (Try stopping in traffic if rain is poring down your neck!)
^^^ Is the weather really that bad in your neck of the woods?
No, but we do have a lot of trees around the drive and parking area, and I don’t want to have a constant battle with tree sap and bird lime on a fabric top. I’m also led to believe that it makes a more enjoyable experience in the depth of winter, unless you can educate me otherwise! I am really open to all thoughts!
I’ve owned several 5’s over the years, generally with mohair hoods, HRW etc. I’ve also had a couple of removable hardtops, one on a MK1 and currently one on the mk3 roadster. I really like the look of the cars with hood down or hardtop fitted, not as keen on the look with soft top up although in summer it’s generally roof down so that’s fine my thoughts are that ( in my case ) I don’t have much room in the garage to store the hardtop and in fact have just put it back on the car, a bit early maybe but there you go. I’ve put it back on as it was on a trolley, in a bag but was in the way in the garage and rather than the inconvenience of lack of space and potential for damage, it’s back on the car! The car “feels” better with it on, looks really nice ( IMO) offers better rear view compared to soft top up, possibly more secure, no chance of drain holes clogging and I like to think that through the winter, the soft top gets a rest and possibly extends its life? etc. BUT, storage for me is an issue, if I’m out with the hardtop and weather picks up, I can’t ditch the hardtop and drop the roof. In hindsight, a PRHT model might have given me the best of both worlds but at the time I never even considered it as an option.
Im actually considering selling it on with the fitting kit as I have all the original trim that came off when the hardtop was fitted and just stick with the mohair roof.
Anyway that’s my take on it
barrie
Weight is a factor. In the 2012 model brochure, the retractable hardtop model aka Roadster Coupe is 80kg heavier than the soft top.
thats interesting! Never considered the extra gubbins on the PRHT models. Thank you for highlighting that.
barrie
PRHT all day long - Ive had two of them and wouldn’t have any other type now.
Best of all worlds - the roofs are super reliable and not much of a price premium over an equivalent age/spec car without one.
Only reason I’d shy away was if I was intending to seriously track the car and needed a rollcage etc - but if used mainly on the road, even with the occasional track day, I’d be looking for a PRHT.
Main reason I’m not even tempting myself to a test drive in a new one - no PRHT option, and no, the RF is not a PRHT ??
I think Micks question was aimed at me - more than Tinmy, but yes, overall - we may only live a few miles apart but the old myth about good weather at this side of the Trent was down to the number of power stations up stream, and they.ve gradually dissapeared in the last ten years.
I still remember a glorious summer back in the late 40’s, when I was still at school (left in 48) and for the whole summer holidays the weather was great. I remember that as while the weather was great, most of my mates were away spud bashing, so it was also a lonely time in my life. While I spent nine years in Canada - where summers are fantastic, weather here has gone downhill since I came back. There’s no comparison between the two countries, believe me!
Me - I don’t see the point in putting the top down when it’s just another cloudy day, when you have no idea what the weather will do, and I read two many reports of having stuff dumped in the car from passing yobbos which was enough to put me off. I also have a glass rear screen (standard on the NB) and it takes care to fold the top carefully when dropping it, though putting it up is less effort, but when you are making short trips it’s still a pain in the neck, whereas the hardtop solves many problems.
When you’re 82 (83 in a fortnight) life is simpler. Call me idle if you like, but there are good reasons for keeping it on, and it doesn’t change the fact I’m driving a real sportscar, and not just another convertible. - Which is why I say so, down there -
Yes sorry Timmy T question aimed at Gerry.
As we live just few miles apart I can’t think why the weather is so awful over there. However I fully get the reasoning behind him keeping the top firmly on.
Keep on mx5 iing Gerry, hope I’m going strong and in mine in many years to come.
Thanks Mick - do you attend NEM meets BTW? (I don’t).
I used to work nights so could never get to those type of meets in the evening. However now retired I have never felt the urge to go. We also really prefer to do our own thing, just take off whenever, wherever, not much planning, usually on a weekday.
soft top - water and winter crap runs off through the cars drain tubes. Essential then, that theyre clear.
hard top - doesnt. So drains were cleared before the top got put on for the winter, ready for the next summer, and not worried about. Drawback here is that actually driving with the top down and the heater on when its a lovely crisp winters day is arguably more enjoyable than going topless in summer. and you can’t just drop the top in seconds at the traffic lights to prove it!
I bought one for my roadster and now my mk3 for winter after years of wondering what the point was! Horses for courses as has been said.
There are some ropey examples of used hardtops so watch out. And the just the fitting kit for the NC can cost as much as the hardtop for the NA/ NC. Then you have to store it safely
Roadsters vinyl soft top was a cheap ill- fitting replacement that let the car down. I very rarely had it up.
I don’t like the shape of the PRHT when its up, but you have the best of both worlds. Unless it goes wrong and then its the price of a hardtop to fix it.
I’ve had Cariad from new in 2010, she has a PHRT , I haven’t had any problems with it, I always keep the engine running when operating the roof, up or down as advised by the Furrows garage when I purchased her.
The roof is brilliant, it converts the car to a comfortable , warm space in cold rainy weather . and at a touch of a button in approx 10 seconds you have a superb open top sports car.
Extra weight? Well I don’t know , unless you are in competition on a track I don’t think it matters, however, I don’t do track driving so what do I know.
If you want track use, then get yourself a cheap Mk1 banger, and keep your Mk3 PRHT for your daily relaxed enjoyment. Just a thought from an elderly user.
Cheers Gales