convertible tops on e bay

[TnTom]

Hi i am curious about the replacement tops found on e bay,has anyone bought the cheaper one? i think around $160+shipping is it a good top for the $ or should i opt for the better one at around $300+? Thanks Tom

[MNspiderman]

they can all last a long time. depends how you treat it. but i said heck with it and ended up buying one of those nice hartz canvas tops for a few hundred. Now i don't regret anything. I don't wish i would have bought better, Only thing with vinyl is i think you should make sure you get one with miltilayer for strength instead of the single layer. My old top was vinyl and when i aquired the car, i couldn't get the dirt out of the "orange peel cracks" or should i say the pattern of the vinyl. It was cracked and torn so i thought i'd step it up and go canvas. The only financial difference is that if both back windows last the same amount of time, then it will cost you $300 every 5 years to replace instead of $160 every 5 years for vinyl.

[crazyfiatguy]

Hi - I bought the "pinpoint" black vinyl on eBay in May2005 from M & T Mfg for $163 at that time, including cables. Not the utmost in quality, but great for me since I just wanted the top just in case of rain. It is now fraying just a tad on one of the side edges where it "bellow" folds at the side window.

The plastic window has kept quite clear with the help of placing a black bath towel on it prior to folding down the top, so the plastic does not scratch upon itself. I have used NO armourall or anthing else on it, except for washing suds. WARNING - I used some blue masking tape to keep tissue paper over the plastic window during installation, and the tape adhesive [which is very benign to surfaces] permanently marred [slightly] the clear window.

I see a similar top is now $229 on their website: http://www.convertibletopguys.com/conve ... t-Spiders- [I see for my car its still the same model # C-813 as I had purchased.]

Good Luck - the job was easier than I anticipated; I didnt pull the top as tightly as I should have on the front bow [my understanding is the front seam should ride against the windshield - see my photo at 'flicker' below- thats the freshly installed top 5 yrs ago]. Also - I recoated the old bow gasket with RTV silicone to save a few bucks... it only leaks at the flywindows in driving rain.

also- Take the time to wire brush & Krylon black lacquer the frame & lube the joints .

[wachuko]

I asked a similar question not too long ago.

Here is the thread: http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8895