Miata Mailing List: September 1993, Message #153
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   From: buck@petra.ma30.bull.com (Kenneth J. Buck)
Subject: Re: Hard Tops
   Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1993 11:55:46 -0400

> From: buchanaa@ccc2.meadow.mdso.vf.ge.com (Andy Buchanan)
> Subject: Hardtops

>Does anyone have any advice on hardtops? 
>What are the disadvantages of not having one during the winter
>(besides the obvious COLD) ?

i don't think the presence or absence of the hardtop makes a
terribly significant difference as far as the _temperature_ goes,
since the Miata is a pretty un-insulated and permeable car anyway.
(i've never performed any measurements.)
but i'd recommend one anyway if you live in the snow belt, because...

the advantages of the hardtop in winter climes are:
- protects the soft top from damage from snow, salt, ice scrapers, etc.
  this is probably the most important reason for buying a hardtop,
  although whether it's cost effective in the long run, i can't say
  (that is, a hardtop is pretty expensive - for the cost of a hardtop,
  you could buy 3 or 4 soft tops, not counting installation costs - still,
  do you WANT to run the risk of damaging your soft top each winter?
  i doubt it)
- it's nice to see out the rear window.  even if you don't have a rear
  window defroster (the 90-91s don't), the glass defrosts/defogs a lot
  easier than the plastic.  also, you can scrape ice off the glass,
  you can't do that with the plastic.
- the hardtop has much smaller B pillars than the soft top, plus a larger
  rear window, so outward visiblity is excellent.  visibility with the soft
  top up isn't very good (not usually a problem in summer since the soft
  top is almost always down anyway :-)
- the hardtop lends some body rigidy, the car feels stiffer.
- the MAIN reason for buying a hardtop is: it makes you think you
  have another car, since it makes the car look different.
  just think, for a mere $1500 or so, you can have TWO cars, a convertible
  for the summer, and a hardtop for the winter!
  now you can save over $15,000 since you don't have to buy
  that second car you were thinking about... :-)
  
--                                             
Ken Buck                                          /|
Internet: k.buck@ma30.bull.com                \'o.O'    ACK!
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