Miata replacement convertible top in bay area? [Archive] (2024)

MX-5 Miata Forum > Regional > California > NorCal > Miata replacement convertible top in bay area?

PDA

View Full Version : Miata replacement convertible top in bay area?

lokfai

22nd July 2008, 18:39

hi,I am new here. I am looking for a shop to replace my soft top. Any suggestion in Bay Area? I would like to get a top w/glass window and zipper. What is the reasonable price of the parts and labor? My car is 1996 miata 1.8L.

TonyB

22nd July 2008, 19:20

Yeah, I used Theirry up in Marin for the new top on mine:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/765768239.html

He did great work and it's been working just fine over the past year.

jromi

30th July 2008, 12:02

Yeah, I used Theirry up in Marin for the new top on mine:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/765768239.html

He did great work and it's been working just fine over the past year.

Howdy, I'd like to replace my black vinyl top on my 95. The zipper seam is busted, and someone ventilated the top a few years back in order to help themselves to my radio. That CL post expired, and I couldn't find anything on the Interweb on 'Theirry'. Did he install a soft top you ordered? Would you mind indicating how much the job cost?

Needless to say, I'm thinking about installed a replacement top myself, and have been scouring the forums for insight and learned:

1) it's easy to replace for some
2) it's mind-numbingly difficult for others
3) Kee and Davezhouse seem popular
4) Robbins is another option

So, I'm weighing the choice to either:
A) install myself (I'm fairly technically inclined, and have a wrench or two), or
B) try to find a local mechanic who will install the top I order (or offer some competitive pricing).

Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on the retails or any others for Option A?
Does anyone know of a good Bay Area resource for Option B? If not, do these install notes (http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=284935) (see jbeebe's post) look good?

Thanks in advance.

DHale_510

30th July 2008, 13:13

I like Bascom in Santa Clara [on Aldo, near the airport]. They are not cheap but they are very good. One one of my cars they repaced the plastic window, the other they recommended [and did install] a whole new top. Both cars are 1995s. They tried to explain the reasons, but mostly I believe their judgement. The whole new top deal was about $2K. The glass window would have been more and I would lose that wonderful back window down on a hot day option. I don't think the glass windows work with zippers.
They DIY problems come from not knowing when to do the top vs the window, and when to replace drip rails and cables and how to adjust those pesky cables. I suppose you could learn all of that stuff in a dozen or so installations.....

Hrogi

30th July 2008, 14:38

Labor for a top should not be more than $300.

if you pay more than that you are being ripped off. Simple fact is a shop that does these allot, have already learned. it will take them less then 3 hours. $100 an hour is fair.

There was a guy on Craiglist for a long time. you could bring him your top if you wanted.

Also PR motor sports has a few guys he uses that they fair and do the work right the first time.

A top it self is $180 to $800. Go cheap and suffer on the tops.
look for AAAbest tops. they use to be a sponcer. 7 year warranty...

I have heard of DIY guys doing it in 4 hours.

Cxracer

30th July 2008, 17:05

Doing the top yourself is not so much hard as time consuming. If you are going to do it, give yourself 2 days to finish just in case. An extra hand is critical at certain points.

I paid $500 for a new OEM replacement top from AAbestco with a plastic window. It was a kit and included the rain rail that you are going to need to replace anyway. The replacement rain rail will last forever while the Mazda one is very thin and brittle so it will crack, especially if you are replacing the top. If you have a bad rain rail the water will stay in the car under the carpet on your package shelf behind the seats. This will cause the carpet to mold and probably start some body rust.

The kit I had the rain rail attached but Brian, one of the experts that helped the three of us out, said he had installed tops without the rain rail attached and it was easier to get everything to line up.

Miatabum

30th July 2008, 17:37

Buy a softtop yourself and bring it to a tech day meet. Thats your cheapest option. Soft tops can be had from aabest or cabrioworld for around $300 now for vinyl top, glass back, zippered. If you want tint or sunfast top, it'll cost more into the $500s.

here's a aabestco vinyl softtop with zippered glass back window. $319. http://www.aabestco.com/product_p/hc700sgt.htm
My have prices climbed since the last i purchased from cabrioworld!

jmardy

30th July 2008, 18:00

Here's the guy/place that posts occasionally on CL:
http://www.miatatopworks.com/

No affiliation, never used them, yadda yadda.

LarryB

1st August 2008, 00:40

I found that Thierry at Miatatopworks did not stand by his work. Others have been very satisfied. YMMV.

lokfai

1st August 2008, 21:29

lokfai

1st August 2008, 21:36

Labor for a top should not be more than $300.

if you pay more than that you are being ripped off. Simple fact is a shop that does these allot, have already learned. it will take them less then 3 hours. $100 an hour is fair.

There was a guy on Craiglist for a long time. you could bring him your top if you wanted.

Also PR motor sports has a few guys he uses that they fair and do the work right the first time.

A top it self is $180 to $800. Go cheap and suffer on the tops.
look for AAAbest tops. they use to be a sponcer. 7 year warranty...

I have heard of DIY guys doing it in 4 hours.

I have called the PR motor sports for the quote. But the lady said they won't take care of this job. Then, she gave me a phone number of the other shop that would do. I called them and they quoted me $9xx with the parts and labor. I thought that's too much. If I would pay that much, I'll rather get a hardtop.

Midnight01

2nd August 2008, 11:01

Thanks all of your comments. I found an used Robbins w/glass window and zipper that comes with installation only $350. But the guy said that it needed a small patch on the inside around the zipper area. He has fixed it. Do you think that is a deal? Also the top is in good condition.
I think I know which one you are talking about. Is it the one on craigslist? If so I believe it is the same guy from marin:
http://www.miatatopworks.com/
It just happen that they have an used one.

topdowndrifter

16th February 2009, 14:29

The guy in Marin at Miatatopworks.com has new and used tops from time to time...Got a non-zip glass window vinyl top installed by him on my 96 for $600 total.
He's the cheapest I could find in the Bay Area.

KevM

2nd October 2010, 20:04

Highly recommend Aby's custom upholstery on Monterey road in San Jose. Just had them replace the top on my 90 Miata with a non-zippered glass top. Price was much cheaper than some of the bigger name competition. They were easy to work with and even did the work on a Saturday. Top looks fantastic.

JHerrinJr

25th March 2017, 19:33

MiataTopWorks.com is probably the best in the bay. He just did a top for me and it looks and fits great!

underthetire

25th March 2017, 19:44

Wow, zombie thread.

KevinT

11th May 2018, 14:19

Zombies are tight!

Seriously, though, Miatatopworks looks to be a good investment. For those with a 1999 Miata or newer, how does the Robbins soft top compare to the OEM one? The zipper option with a glass defrost window sounds like a no-brainer, but YMMV.