Newbie question: is it ok to store the soft top folded?

[NicF]

Hi all

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but I just bought an NA in the weekend (don't think I've giggled so much for so long, 5 hours drive to get it home, and I felt like turning around and doing it all over again!)

Realistically the car is going to spend much of it's time in the garage waiting for sunny days, because ride to work and also have a 'sensible' car. Is there a problem with storing it with the roof down? I see the rear window gets folded over when I do that, would hate to shorten it's life.

Nic

[LilRay.Sun]

Hi Nic,

Good (and sensible) question.

It's not recommended to leave your soft top in the lowered position for long periods of time, the fold which occurs on the window (presume you have an NA with a plastic window) becomes a weak point eventually and reduces the life expectancy.

If you don't want to be doing up and undoing the soft top clasps each time you take your car out you could simply pull the top into the "up" position and lower when needed.

If you really prefer to leave it down, an alternative is to use a large soft blanket rolled like a towel, place this in the fold when lowering your top. I used to do this with my NA (series 1) rather than unzip the window each time I put the top down. If you do have an NA you also need to be aware that the window should always be unzipped when lowering the top. To do this first unclip the clasps to let the tension off then unzip the window, lay it flat on the rear parcel area and lower the top ensuring the folds lay correctly.

I personally would put the top back up each time I put the car away, so that it retains it's stretch, the material does become brittle over time. Also MX5's appear to be animal magnets (ie the family cat) if left unattended...

[Angreal]

You'll also have problems putting the roof up as it sort of shrinks when in the down position for long periods and is a pain to put back up after leaving it down all through winter.

[MrGrey]

is there a product that could be applied to the vinyl to keep it supple and in good condition? I have not looked into it myself, but I would assume there would be a few suitable products out there....

I figure a $10-25 product would be cheaper in the long run than replacing a $600+ soft top

[loveitlow]

is there a product that could be applied to the vinyl to keep it supple and in good condition? I have not looked into it myself, but I would assume there would be a few suitable products out there....

I figure a $10-25 product would be cheaper in the long run than replacing a $600+ soft top

There is a product but cant remember brand or anything I remember buying some when my mum had an mx5 I think i got it from supercheap or repco, its a product actually for soft tops and it keeps them from drying out and going all faded etc

There is also a cleaner you can get for your rear plastic window to stop that from going all foggy looking

[chris]

Don't think this was mentioned (I'm very lazy)

Easiest way is to unzip the window (if you can) then 9/10 you are sweet to unzip the window, and fold the top down

[NicF]

OK, thanks for the answers guys. I guess I'll just leave it up, it's not like it's a huge job to take it down.

Good point about the shrinkage in the cold (memories of George in Seinfeld "IT WAS COLD!") I used to have a Suzi Sumurai, tried to put the top back up midwinter after it had been down a while, and had to leave a fan heater in the car for 1/2 an hour first.

Regarding treating the vinyl to stop it getting brittle, my background is in industrial chemistry, so I guess I can give an answer to that. Vinyl gets brittle for two reasons, plasticiser loss and ultraviolet degradation. The plasticiser is put in during the plastic manufacturing process to make it more supple. Plasticiser molecules are naturally slippery and migrate out of the plastic over time. They're actually what causes the greasy film on the inside of windscreens, it's the plasticiser coming out of the dashboard plastic. Continued application of some sort of treatment product may slow the process down but won't reverse it. UV degradation is the usually the major cause of vinyl failure and pretty much the only prevention is to store the car in the dark.

[Angreal]

If you unzip the window you won't crease the clear plastic window and there should be no problems with leaving the top down other longterm. It's down 95% of the time in my car these days as I'm too lazy to take the hardtop off post-winter

Edit: I guess it should really say 100%...

[SLYDIT]

Just remember the correct way to lower the top is to first unclip the front clips then unzip the window then lower. NEVER EVER try to zip or unzip the window with the clips done up.

[Angreal]

Just remember the correct way to lower the top is to first unclip the front clips then unzip the window then lower. NEVER EVER try to zip or unzip the window with the clips done up.

It's true, you burst the zip seam which happened to me.

[NicF]

OK, I unzipped the window no problem with the catches released, trouble is when I zipped it back up the zip opened behind the zipper, now I can't feed it back together. The little starters on the end of the zip are long gone. Any ideas?

[NicF]

...and all fixed. First time I've had a girlfriend show me how to fix a car!

[Timmo]

...and all fixed. First time I've had a girlfriend show me how to fix a car!

-2 man points lol

[chris]

But he drives a mx5 and has a ladyfriend. So he can have them back.