Miata Mailing List: March 1994, Message #85
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   From: Bill.Allen@metrokc.gov
Subject: Tonneau Questions Plus
   Date: Mon, 7 Mar 1994 18:18:13 -0500

Some answers to Will Zehring's tonneau questions have already been posted. 
Since I've used my tonneau for so long, I thought I'd share my experience, too.
 
- Installation is very easy.  A special tool is provided for the posts that
mount on the dash.  A little more difficult are the snaps that attach under the
outside rear view mirrors.  One is anxious about scratching paint and the base
cover is pryed off.
- In light to moderate rain you have to stick a rod or post  under the rear of
the zipper to elevate it.  Otherwise, the consol gets filled up and drenched. 
The front of the car should be elevated a little to insure no run-off toward
the dashboard area!  I've never experienced the tonneau being used during a
heavy rain, but I suspect it would not be a good thing.  (The MGA could take it
but there are posts along the door-top and the dash-top was part of the metal
car body.)
- The door-top is covered, but not secured except near the outside mirrors.  A
driving rain would go under.
- The seats have to be slid forward and reclined to close up the tonneau.  This
is the most aggravating part of using the Mazda tonneau!  But it looks good,
much better than the design with the pockets for the headrests, IMO.
- Does it flap noisily at highway speeds?  Yes it flaps.  Noisily - no.  This
raises an interesting point though.  On my second top-down trip to California,
after about 3000 highway miles, the brass spring clips inside the tenax snaps
experienced fatigue failure from the flapping.  It was a problem, for a while,
to unsnap them due to the interference from the broken pieces.  I was beyond
the warranty point at this time so Mazda would not replace the cover.  The
snaps are still useable, however.  Anyone have an idea on how I would go about
replacing them?
- Another problem many tonneau cover owners have experienced is tearing of the
plastic at the "crotch" of the rear side straps.  Mazda will replace the cover
if this happens during the warranty period.  I have not experienced this
problem.
-  The best prices I've seen are in the MIATA MAGAZINE.
- I really like mine.  The Miata looks real good with the passenger-side
covered, and it's a neat sensation driving that way.  It's no where near the
"Sopwith Camel" experience of driving the MGA with a half-toneau up, though. 
My daughters loved riding around at night curled up beneith it when they were
small!
I took my first spin with it up Sunday!
Bill Allen - the Sun is shining in Seattle!