Soft-top care and feeding

the bear · Post by **the bear** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:41 pm

I've recently become the besotted owner of a 1999 NB. The car is in superb condition, and I'm aiming to keep it that way, so need some help and guidance on cleaning and protecting the soft-top. I'm intending to get one of the soft-top covers advertised on the MX5 Mart, but its the maintenance of the outside that generated this post. What do you-all use and recommend?? All suggestions gratefully recieved!

Monique · Post by **Monique** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:44 pm

Hey,
i just recently bought one too and i found putting armorol on it protects it and makes it look really black. Also i found that before i put the roof down to dry it so the water does get trapped in the back bit which causes it to get mouldy

jamesg · Post by **jamesg** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:26 pm

Hi, Mother's Protectant was recommended somewhere else on this forum, and I have had great results with it, makes it look really black and beads the water when it rains, but doesn't look too shiny.
It was about $27 from SuperCheap I think.

nissan8148 · Post by **nissan8148** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:52 pm

I was told that Armour All should not be used on the soft tops as the silicone content is not good for the fabric. I use Mothers Protectant on our two cars, You can get this at Super Cheap. There is also a Mothers Convertable Cleaner that you can get . I use this before I apply the Protectant.
1996 VR LTD Comb A Wine Red
1990 1600 Auto Silver

the bear · Post by **the bear** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:09 am

Thanks folks - looks like the Mothers Protectant is the way to go!

I'll mount another raid on Supercheap soon. I too had read somewhere that silicon products (Armorall, etc) shouldn't be used on fabric tops.

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:55 am

Don't laugh, but i use ......

wait for it......

Shoe polish. Black shoe polish. Lasts for absolutely ages & the black carbon
does a great job of protecting the outside of the soft-top.

Looks good on the tyres too, if you can be bothered.

Cheers....

[Posted via External Email]

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:25 pm

Another new user having the same thoughts re maintenance.

Gort, I'm old enough to have used the black polish for many years before
the invention of Adidas etc and the "throw away" ers.

Does the shoe polish rub off onto anything that touchs it and does it leave a smell ?

Since buying the MX5, I have discovered that the black marks on the knees of my jeans, were coming from tyre black when I was fiddling around the car...hence my query re the boot polish.

Gort · Post by **Gort** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:47 pm

The little brush you use for polishing up your boots works just fine on
both the top and the tyres, and minimises overrun. A rag removes polish
from the painted bits.

No smell, and once dry, the polish stays put.

Tyre black. Ick.

Cheers....

[Posted via External Email]

Sez · Post by **Sez** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:42 pm

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who uses shoe polish!!

But a word of warning.....I was so chuffed with the results on my soft top I went nugget crazy and started looking for other black bits to tweek....

DO NOT USE IT ON YOUR TONNEAU COVER!!!

No matter how much you buff it to a shine with a shoe brush it eventually dries up and starts shedding itself!

Looked great for the first week though.

poison · Post by **poison** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:05 pm

Sez wrote:.....I was so chuffed with the results on my soft top I went nugget crazy and started looking for other black bits to tweek.....

Oh Sez... how well I can relate to these words... especially with paint.... always get too keen and end up painting just one thing too many..... and anything nearby too....