Convertible Tops...Again

[KevAndAndi]

I know that this is a well-worn topic, and I have checked out relevant threads, but I would appreciate any opinions and assistance. My objective is to purchase a tan canvas top that I will have professionally installed. (Coincidentally, there's a guy about a mile from my house who is a well-known and respected regional installer who works out of his home.) Here are the options I'm considering (and all appear to be made of the same StayFast canvas material):

1) CabrioWorld. [Addendum: Eliminated. Their Robbins-made top is more expensive than Topsonline's.] Convertible top website for Bill Hirsch Auto, a distributor located in Newark, NJ, a short drive from my house. (If they charge for shipping, I could go pick it up. Plus, it's nice to have a somewhat-local place to go back to if there's a problem.) It's not entirely clear, but I think their offering is made by Robbins. The price is $461.

2) GAHH. Manufacturer/direct-seller. I know that they are highly-regarded, but $660, plus shipping? I don't want to say that money is no object, but if this truly is the best product, I might be willing to pay this exorbitant amount.

3) Convertible Top Guys. [Addendum: Eliminated. Inadequate information provided in email response.] They appear to be both manufacturers and distributors for other manufacturers such as Germanex. It's not clear who makes their Spider offering, but the price is reasonable at $360.

4) Topsonline. Distributor offering a Robbins top for $339.

Thoughts? In addition, is it necessary to purchase new tension cables? Do any of you with canvas tops have any tips on keeping one clean? Is Scotchgard or something similar a good idea? (I'm just imagining the first bird dookie plopping on the brand-new top.)

Thanks!

[wizard124]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 15&t=29004

Satisfied. Tight fit, looks good!

[KevAndAndi]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 15&t=29004

Satisfied. Tight fit, looks good!

Thanks. I have added Topsonline to my list. I see that they offer E-Z On and Robbins. Which did you purchase? Their $339 price for the Robbins canvas top is significantly lower than CabrioWorld's.

[Jmsossi]

I purchased mine from the convertible top guys , came with cables glue ect. And was very satisfied with the quality of their product.

[Exit98]

Hi Kevin,

I got mine from topsonline.com. The EZ Fit Canvas for $300. Here's their website:

http://www.topsonline.com/model/Convert ... 00%29.html

Here's another link with a picture of mine. I had it installed in East Brunswick at a Rayco place George knows. They did a good job.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... s&start=15

[KevAndAndi]

Disappointing response from the Convertible Top Guys. Their website said, "We, at M & T Manufacturing Co. of Rhode Island have been manufacturing convertible top specialty items for the industry since 1975."

When I asked who manufactures the Fiat Spider top they offer, they replied:

"We represent all of the manufacturers of high quality convertible tops. We select the factory according to our experience rating with the car. We do not manufacture convertible tops here."

OK, fine, they don't do any manufacturing (contrary to what their website says). But it's unacceptable for them not to provide the name of whoever does do the manufacturing.

I crossed them off my list.

[KevAndAndi]

Strange: Why would Topsonline put the picture at the link below on their website as a representative example of a Fiat Spider top. The wavy rear window doesn't inspire confidence in the fit of their product.

http://www.topsonline.com/model/Convert ... arina.html

[baltobernie]

In addition, is it necessary to purchase new tension cables? Do any of you with canvas tops have any tips on keeping one clean?

A professional installer will have cable material and Nicopress components on hand, and yes, you should plan on replacing these.

Cleaning: If you are storing your car outside without a cover, consider a vinyl top rather than canvas. Save the soft cloth packing sheet that was in the shipping box; you can lay it on the outside of the rear window while collapsing the top. This will delay the horizontal wear line on that window.

Spider-specific: Make sure you or your installer orders the correct top. Early cars have a front bow that curves outward (forward), late cars more square. But, you don't know if the bow on your car is original. Order by size, not model year. Bows often require rust repair or hammer-dolly-filler work. Your installer can determine if this is necessary. Installation tips: replace the sheet metal screws securing the top hoist strap with floating backing plates and machine screws. The sheet metal screws often pull out with use. Use a full strip of Velcro on the quarter window frame; helps keep wind and rain out.

[DieselSpider]

I am facing the same.

Called a local installer that comes to you with Discount in his company name and he wanted over $1,200 to put on a no-name Pinpoint Vinyl Top with a 90 day warranty. Said he would do it at my place of employment or driveway in less than 4 hours. I am not seeing the Discount part of it.

A local boat upholsterer will do it for $800 providing an Easy-On Pinpoint Vinyl Top with a 6 year warranty however they will keep the car for two days in their shop. They spoke very highly of the Easy-On for quality, ease of installation and great support with very quick response times in the rare event that there is a problem with the top. The will also provide the correct materials to clean the top and maintain it to ensure long life despite the Florida Sun.

What is the typical charge for installing a top?

Convertible Top Guys has a 5 year CS1 top in Vinyl for $249 including the cables, adhesive and tools
http://www.convertibletopguys.com/conve ... ders-#boot

While Tops On Line has the Easy-On Pinpoint Vinyl Top with a 6 year warranty for $199:
http://www.topsonline.com/model/Convert ... 00%29.html

The kit looks appealing however the extra year on the warranty and known quality of the Easy-On Top is not something to take lightly considering the brutal sun here in Tampa Bay.

Try to install an Easy-On myself or call a Pro? Is it worth the extra $600? I know for sure that the $1,200+ guy in the Gypsy Caravan is not going to do it.

[RRoller123]

My local Auto Upholsterer put a new EZ On top on mine, with new cables, for just under $500, materials and labor. Took a day.

[seabeelt]

+1 for Convertible top guys. I bought my top and boot from them. Even though they don't make all models there, the product I received was exactly as described, fit well and came with everything listed in the kits. Top had new cables, tool and glue. Boot came without hardware (rear bar hooks) as described and I transferred the old hardware to the new boot. Very satisfied with the product and the price. And I am fussy
R/

[vandor]

>2) GAHH. Manufacturer/direct-seller. I know that they are highly-regarded, but $660, plus shipping? I don't want to say that money is no object, but if this truly is the best product, I might be willing to pay this exorbitant amount.

That top is $539.90 from us. I think it's one of the best out there.

[KevAndAndi]

Update: I got a quote from the guy in my town who has been installing tops for about 40 years. (As a matter of fact, his father who started the company back in the '50s used to manufacture tops for our cars.) A black or tan canvas StayFast top is $810 through him, manufactured by Electron-Top in NYC (which does not sell to retail customers). He claims that their pattern fits best and he has never had an installation problem with it. To clean, paint, and lubricate the frame and install the top and side cables is $450. Total of $1260 plus tax. This is far more than I expected to spend, but I really have no desire to do the installation myself, and I like the idea of a local manufacturer and local installer, in case anything goes wrong.

Our car is British Racing Green with saddle-tan interior. I had thought we would get a tan top. But the installer gave me pause, saying that he recommends dark colors to avoid problems with dirt and moisture. Electron-Top offers a wider variety of colors than I have seen elsewhere. I'm now thinking that a brown top would both complement the interior (and exterior) and hide dirt better than the tan.

[baltobernie]

Can't go wrong with Electron, IMO. While mine is usually down, it looks great when up. Very thick and smart. Since you seem committed to canvas, consider a car cover to protect your investment.

Ask your guy about installing a zipper on the rear window. http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 9&p=177239

[KevAndAndi]

Can't go wrong with Electron, IMO. While mine is usually down, it looks great when up. Very thick and smart. Since you seem committed to canvas, consider a car cover to protect your investment.

Ask your guy about installing a zipper on the rear window. http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 9&p=177239

Thanks for the testimonial. I am kind of committed to canvas because it looks really sharp. We intend for the Spider to be a sunny-weather car only. So, like yours, our top will usually be down, but I would like my wife to have the option of keeping it up for shade from the sun or for insulation from cooler temperatures. I have an inexpensive car cover from the PO and the car stays garaged at all times. I can't imagine a situation where I would be stowing the top away wet, which is the big no-no for canvas tops. My biggest concern is bird plops, which I imagine to be harder to clean from canvas than from vinyl!

I was actually planning to ask Electron about putting in a zipper. Thanks for reminding me about that post, which I did view some weeks back. Again, because of the way the car will be used, I am not overly concerned about potential leakage from a zipper - but I would really like to have the option of putting the rear window down. And wouldn't unzipping the window on the three sides allow one to stow the top and window in a manner that would provide less potential for damage to the window from rubbing?