Aftermarket Miata hardtop

[DeWane]

Who sells aftermarket hardtops for the new Miata? What can I expect to
pay for one? Do they ship them painted or will I have to get it
painted? Either way I assume there may be color matching issues..?

Thanks for your feedback.
-DeWane Stone
Atlanta, GA

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[Hosmann95]

Snugtop makes an aftermarket Hardtop which comes painted and includes mounting
hardware. I believe it's about $1,800 or so.

Check the Miata.net marketplace, I remember seeing it in one of the vendor
sites.

[Pam Barker]

But before buying, check the miata.net list archives. Someone there has just told in detail the story of his snugtop hardtop purchase. In essence, he spent $2000, untold weeks in waiting for adjustments and parts to come in, and still doesn't have a top that will fit without gaping cracks between the top and the body of the car. Snugtop is now a very expensive paperweight until he can get them to return his phone calls or take some other action.

Definitely something that needs to be researched furthers before embarking on a purchase.

--
Pam Barker
change com to net to reply

Hosmann95 wrote in message <19990918093438...@ng-fg1.aol.com>...

[DG]

I'd just as soon purchase the more expensive hardtop made from Mazda
themselves. Sure it'll cost more, but you're sure to get the fit and color
you expect. Besides that, if it does have problems, chances are you'd order
it from your local Mazda dealer and it would be extremely convenient to
drive to them with it rather than to keep sending and waiting for mail
shipments as with an aftermarket one.
-David

Pam Barker <P...@Barker.com> wrote in message
news:VAME3.9110$lU4.1...@newse2.tampabay.rr.com...

[Leon van Dommelen]

"Pam Barker" <P...@Barker.com> wrote:

>But before buying, check the miata.net list archives. Someone there has just told in detail the story of his snugtop hardtop purchase. In essence, he spent $2000, untold weeks in waiting for adjustments and parts to come in, and still doesn't have a top that will fit without gaping cracks between the top and the body of the car. Snugtop is now a very expensive paperweight until he can get them to return his phone calls or take some other action.
>
>Definitely something that needs to be researched furthers before embarking on a purchase.

Also check the product reviews.

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen, Human Bozo, experienced 96 Sebring Miata
----- SETI: look not where you can see, but where you can find ------
REMOVE THE "z"s -> domm...@zmiata.net www.eng.fsu.edu/~dommelen

[Hosmann95]

You might try contacting a local aftermarket truck accessories store. Snugtop
is one of the largest tonneau/camper top manufacturers. They might not carry
the Miata tops in stock, but at least you'll have a local to work with if the
product isn't satisfactory.

The price difference between the Snugtop and the factory top is substantial
(assuming you don't order the top with the car... which doesn't help most of
us).

[John H. Gindlesberger]

I had a similar experience last year with Snugtop. I had to wait weeks
before they had the necessary parts to make the damn thing, then when I
finally got it, it wasn't the right color and the heated rear window
wouldn't work properly. The fit isn't terrific and I noticed just the other
day that a piece of weatherstripping is coming off in the garage. All
things considered, the Mazda top is probably a better buy!

Pam Barker wrote in message ...

But before buying, check the miata.net list archives. Someone there has just
told in detail the story of his snugtop hardtop purchase. In essence, he
spent $2000, untold weeks in waiting for adjustments and parts to come in,
and still doesn't have a top that will fit without gaping cracks between the
top and the body of the car. Snugtop is now a very expensive paperweight
until he can get them to return his phone calls or take some other action.

Definitely something that needs to be researched furthers before embarking
on a purchase.

--

[DeWane]

> Snugtop makes an aftermarket Hardtop which comes painted and includes
> mounting hardware. I believe it's about $1,800 or so.

I called SnugTop (1-800-SNUG-TOP) and they aren't producing Miata tops
at the moment. The contact I spoke to said they weren't sure if they
were going make them for '99 to due to supply and re-tooling problems.

Research has indicated that the tops from the earlier body style fit on
the '99 model. Can anyone confirm this? If so, maybe I could track down
a used one and have it painted to match. (Still have concerns about the
fit...)
-DeWane

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