ive really been itching to get a hardtop for my turbo miata and remove the softtop. Those of you who have one, how do you like it and how often do you find yourself wanting to take it off. Also, what could I expect to pay for one that needs paint? I would paint the hood, hardtop, and trunk lid black and leave the rest of the car red ... saw a picture of one like that and was hooked

 

I love mine it totally tranforms the car. IT is almost like having a good alignment and hten with the soft top you dont so the hardtop stays on unless i need to work on something inside and need more room to manuever and comunicate. Convertables are overrated

 

sounds good to me. Also, its still a convertable, just a bit more of a PITA to convert.

anyone else?

 

I love my hardtop, it stays on the car almost 100% of the time.

Never really cared for convertible in the first place, but its nice to have the option every now and again.

 

Same as these guys, got a hardtop, nixed the softtop, couldn't be happier.

 

i only take it off when i autoX

 

I just got the top and my car is grounded due to unrelated tuning issues, so my response is based on little experience. The biggest factor to me is it has a real back window so you don't get that blind spot when you have to change lanes to the left. I also think it looks nicer, and makes the car look completely different and classier. I can't comment to it limiting noise, but the windows look like they seal much better than they do with the soft top.

 

I bought one recently for the sole purpose of losing 36 pounds of weight when I autocross. It IS a PITA to put on and take off compared to the soft top, but 36# is 36#. I'm guessing my car is now down close to 2000# and the next weight reduction will involve the driver's stomach At any rate, the hardtop does make the car look better (not that I care) and seems to reduce the noise level, too. Getting in and out of the driver's seat is still a chore with my MOMO Start seat that is mounted on the floor, but with the stock seats its no problem. Would I have ever bought a hardtop if I weren't "competing" in autocross? NO. I'd much rather drive around with the top down.

 

I love my hardtop and it is also on almost 95% of the time. Car felt stiffer and more in control with the top on and the noise level is awesome you can barely hear anything. Highly recommend it.

 

Hardtops are dumb as a screendoor on a battleship. My sister has one on her '92 Suburst and I hate it. It completely ruins the experience. The only upside to removing the softop and going with a "permanent" hardtop is that now you have extra space on the package shelf to store your purse and stuffed animals.

The ONLY time the top on mine goes up is when it's raining... "transforms the car" my ***! I drive to work all winter long in the 30's and 40's with the top down. Good jacket, beanie, gloves, windows up, crank the heater and enjoy! Sack up and drive the thing as God intended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And happy Veterans Day!

 

heh heh i only use it when I track day, some autox's when it's colder out. and during winter.

 

I have a 99 with hard and soft tops. Ill never have another maita without the hard top. Im a road salesman 1000-1200 miles a week. The hard top lets me talk on the cell phone, car is MUCH cooler in the summer. I can take it off and on by myself no big deal. I have driven this car 111000 miles in the last 19 months. By the way, It is turboed, intercooled, lite flywheeled. heavy clutch, konis, gc coilovers,big swaybars. harddog roll bar. 200rwhp Who says you cant have your cake and eat it to ! 5 track weekends a year and want to do more

 

When I get a hardtop, its not coming off. If any of you local guys seee one laying around somewhere, shoot me a holler.

 

Like many others, as soon as I got my HT, it rarely comes off. And yes I think it really makes the car look good. The factory black top just looks bad IMO. Get one, you won't regret it.
-Michael-

 

cheers to that.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I really like driving top down just like all you guys who say nay, but I have two miatas (... no i am not rich lol, actually just a bachelor just out of college teaching special ed kids)

Does anybody regret getting a hardtop? Sounds like some peeps dont agree with the hardtop on the dd, but this will be for a weekend warrior and possibly a dd for a while.

 

Hardtops look nice but why would you drive a convert if you can't use it?
The whole reason I got a miata was because it was convert.
I am another one of the kids with the top down when it is snowing out!

This is really an opinion question, you should set-up a vote.

 

thats the thing, I could care less if the car is a vert. Actually I'd much rather have one of the NB Coupe Miatas if they made them here.

 

The whole reason I got a Miata was because it was the smallest, lightest RWD car available in the U.S....the fact it was a convertible never really concerned me one way or the other. Only in the nicest weather do I put the top down; maybe five or six times a year.

 

I'd rock one of these: