Miata Mailing List: May 1993, Message #194
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: Soft Top in Glass, NOT
   Date: (none)

> From: Milton A Horst
> Subject: Soft Top
>
> When looking at the vinyl rear window lying nice and flat
> behind the seats (after its unzipped), I've often wondered why
> Mazda didn't do the rear window in glass like a number of other
> convertibles.  

weight and size are 2 big reasons.
you'll notice that most convertibles with glass rear windows
have quite a small rear window area - it takes a fair amount
of bracing in the soft top to add strength to hold the heavy
glass panel in place.  this also helps prevent the soft top
from storing below the beltline.

most of the glass windows i've seen come at the expense of
even wider than average B "pillars"; the slightly improved
rear visibility provided by the glass is offset by
drastically reduced visiblity to the rear corners of the car.

i'm quite happy with my plastic rear window, despite its few drawbacks.