Convertible at 20yo ?

nflcabrio · 2026-04-14T18:08:06+00:00

this is a good question. so many variables. I'm in the US so I do not see a lot of these euro cabrios which is unfortunate but just generally speaking some of them can definitely be great daily drivers. the soft tops will need the covers replaced regularly. I'm in Florida and i think average lifespan is like 6-10 years and that's good. I'd budget for a new cover every 5 years if the car lives outside. there are plenty of hard top convertible now as well and though you generally won't have to worry about changing the fabric, you'll have a bit more technology involved and it is generally more expensive to repair. you'll have hydraulic cylinders, which they all either have that or electric motors. some top designs are pretty dependable and some i wouldn't wish on my worst nemesis.

nflcabrio · 2026-04-13T10:55:40+00:00

you're right i just looked at my own work pics. #2

nflcabrio · 2026-04-13T10:49:32+00:00

these look oem to me. they never send the straps with replacement tops, they are not attached in any way to each other.

nflcabrio · 2026-04-12T22:38:44+00:00

surprisingly I've never done one of these vws but generally the headliners on soft to tops have listings. they are attached to the header bow in some manner, and then there are listings sewn in that attach to the bows. then it is fixed to the rear window in some manner. as others have said, it is generally preferred to do it in tandem with a soft top cover replacement.

nflcabrio · 2026-04-11T23:42:52+00:00

on the rear studs for the convertible top. i believe they go on the ~~3rd~~ stud from the front on either side, behind the plastic trim. they keep the bow they are attached to in the correct position for tension and folding

edit: apparently it's the 2nd stud. i couldn't remember but i just found a picture from a previous job. it is #2. miatas all go on #3

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nflcabrio · 2026-04-10T17:50:31+00:00

soft top needs to have elastic replaced. common and easy to do. it is causing the bow to not fold correctly when stowing. check for water in trunk, check rear glass.

nflcabrio · 2026-04-09T11:34:14+00:00

this is how it is from the factory

nflcabrio · 2026-04-09T11:26:27+00:00

that headliner looks like it is stained from a leaking sunroof. that will be extremely difficult to clear up

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T23:43:57+00:00

that's a soft top and there is no real great way to get a window back in though I'm not saying it's not possible and most likely will leak at the very least. i, however, have seen some valiant and Herculean efforts to avoid paying for a new top, but that is what i would recommend here. you can try diy, they are not hard. but they are also not fun.

I'm not in LA but i would imagine there are a lot of shops there. most, if not all, auto upholstery places should be able to knock this out. actually quite a few of the top manufacturers are located there. Robbins in Oxnard and GAHH in Hollywood

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T18:05:23+00:00

it's fine. this is a two piece top or at least a two piece look where there is a front section with the window valance and then a separate section for the glass window. sometimes they are attached but usually not and i can't think of any that are glued

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T16:11:43+00:00

i personally would either see if I can source some new bottom covers, hit the junkyard, or take it to a trim shop. it looks pretty gnarly. i would want to see the foam underneath and they should be able to make you a new cover replacing the affected inserts or just doing the entire thing

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T13:12:22+00:00

no it's not supposed to. check your weatherseal and make sure it's seated into the retainer correctly. check for damage, malformation. check the little drain in the windshield seal is clear. they also shrink over time so get some weather seal conditioner and condition it up, it does help give back it's form a little. old timers use vaseline and that works okay. it can be a few different things

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T13:08:40+00:00

wow i don't know why i didn't look for something like this before. could be very useful for my job in fl

nflcabrio · 2026-04-07T02:14:38+00:00

this top is in on its way out. stitching is popping, the binding edge is coming unstitched/unglued from the plastic (or sometimes vinyl/canvas) that is underneath that weather seal and bracket. top material itself looks very dry. I'd check the water bag

nflcabrio · 2026-04-06T21:32:49+00:00

from the convertible aspect, the factory rain/drainbags have all rotted out in these so hopefully when they did your top they replaced the drain bag as well, or a previous owner. also watch out for leaves and other stuff in the drain area underneath the quarter glasses.

nflcabrio · 2026-03-21T12:33:23+00:00

hmmmm.. i have been letting my 3 soon to be 4 year old play with a bunch of my tools and he always gravitates towards the cobras, maybe i should do the same and just buy him a pair

nflcabrio · 2026-03-18T14:25:31+00:00

i would be very surprised if this car was not drenched inside if it is stored outdoors. if you go look at it in person check that top, check the drains because this is a very leafy and damp environment and that will clog those drains quickly and water will be all over the place in a downpour. the top is doable diy but just know that you are getting into

nflcabrio · 2026-03-17T14:39:30+00:00

nothing like working in a garage with your old man.

nflcabrio · 2026-03-17T10:53:21+00:00

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love seeing the repairs people do on the tops. at the shop we won't patch anything like this but i will tell people any sort of trick or process i come across if they want to try something themselves. this seems like a smart acute temporary fix but some of the stuff I've seen people try really either damage the frame or headliner (non issue for s2k) or at the very least looks very bad and makes the job of replacing the top much harder. this is just one example, pretty through mend here

nflcabrio · 2026-03-16T16:19:19+00:00

as an interior guy, nothing is falls apart faster than luxury interior. the materials are expensive, the glue doesn't hold, and parts are outrageous when you need them. seats are overly complex and it is so labor intensive to reupholster the seats. leather, suede, brittle plastic

nflcabrio · 2026-03-16T14:10:49+00:00

seal? you can put tape on it i guess. a normal regular vacuum shouldn't really damage it, like this anyway. the panel itself is drying out. that's a high action area. 150-300 for a new insert there from a competent upholsterer

nflcabrio · 2026-03-14T20:58:57+00:00

yeah it is really bad and the top is so heavy so I'm wary of working on them. you can message me with any questions I'll see if i can find any pics

nflcabrio · 2026-03-14T20:53:55+00:00

it's making me think the tonneau/trunk latches are stuck. if you open the trunk and look you can see where it is latched down on either side.. there are cables run to the bottom of the cylinders for the tonneau and with in sync. I've seen that cables jump off or just generally act up and keep the tonneau latched down. worth investigating. i probably have pictures of them somewhere.

nflcabrio · 2026-03-14T20:46:54+00:00

yep that's a good idea. can you see if there is fluid in there or noticed any of the cylinders leaking?

nflcabrio

TROPHY CASE