96 Top Replacement Charges

Well getting the 96 back on the road for my son to drive so all the stuff that I have put off needs to get done. Currently working on mechanical stuff ( Water pump, timing belt, brakes..etc. The next project will be the top because the one on there now is shot to hell. The car is nice and comfy in the garage right now but it will need a top before I can get her on the road. My question is this..I found a Robbins top with the rain rail for a little over $500. I called a local shop and they are quoting $350 -$500 for the install. Is this about right? I'm thinking I will do it myself but I don't wanna screw it up.

Every time you ask about the top someone tells you to call Stevan at Miata Solutions. ( www.miatasolutions.com ) ;-)

But don't do it! It is a trap!!

Stevan is helpful and professional and as honest as the day is long. Plus he can fix pretty much any problem and NA or NB could have! He has installed more tops than anyone in the metroplex.

So whatever you do don't contact him!

I know he's the man!! It's the location that's always a pain for me. I'm just trying to find out if it's really $500 worth of labor.

+1 for Stevan..DIY isn't too bad if it comes to that. Plenty of info on miata.net.

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Originally Posted by titanescape

I know he's the man!! It's the location that's always a pain for me. I'm just trying to find out if it's really $500 worth of labor.

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Too bad he doesn't have a phone. You could have called him and ask what he charges to install a top.

POS you sure are full of sarcasm today...thanks for keeping me on my toes!!!

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Originally Posted by titanescape

POS you sure are full of sarcasm today...thanks for keeping me on my toes!!!

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Just trying to get my point across and if I can use sarcasm I'm all in!! ;-)

How old is the kid? My 17 year old Daughter has been driving our 2002 Miata for a year now she loves it! I've been pleasantly surprised how well she has been taking care of it!

Duly noted! :)

He is 16 and just about to start driving. My 96 has been without a driver since I bought the 09. The car is just sitting there so I told him I will get it all fixed up and he can be the cool kid in the drop top. I'm not officially "giving" it to him yet. I need to make sure that he is down with the up keep!

We did the parent taught drivers Ed along with a Full Season of Autocross and that girl can drive!

Plus it has been an awesome father & daughter bonding experience. ;-)

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...10126445_n.jpg

+2 take it to Stevan. After doing my soft top install, I will never do it again. It was horrible. Lots and lots of work.

Wow, that sounds really cool. I need to get the car up and running so I can spend some quality time teaching him how to drive properly. Did she have difficulty learning to drive a stick? That's the only thing that concerns me if shifting and driving will be a bit of an overload for a beginner.

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Originally Posted by titanescape

Wow, that sounds really cool. I need to get the car up and running so I can spend some quality time teaching him how to drive properly. Did she have difficulty learning to drive a stick? That's the only thing that concerns me if shifting and driving will be a bit of an overload for a beginner.

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I was really surprised she picked it up pretty quick. We went to a local high school parking lot a bunch and practiced starting from a stop and shifting. One drill we did was 10 start, shift to second, and then stops without stalling the car. She would get cranky if she stalled it but eventually she got it down.

She drove for hours in that lot working on the basics it was fun! We even had cones that we would set up!
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._6612086_n.jpg

Work with him A LOT if you're leaving the supercharger on there. M62, right? A kid could get into trouble quick if not careful.

Yes..it's running an M45 with an inter-cooler. I'm going to make sure he can handle it. He's really a good kid so I'm not too worried about the speeding aspect but she can get away from you especially if the streets are wet. I refuse to sell her to get another car for him so I'm going to spend extra time making sure he knows what's up before I turn him loose!

sell the supercharger to me, make it safer for the kid. ;)

ive done 2 tops, its not that bad if you can follow tedius directions and dont mind cursing a few times. theres only a few scary irreversable steps.

but yea steven is the man. best quality job and best price price pretty much guaranteed.

Titan, if you decide to go thr autocross route like POS Racing, I think only the SCCA allows 15 year olds with learning permits. NTAXS and ER require 16 years of age and licensed for insurance requirements. I think BMW and PCA also require drivers licenses.

@ Jiggerachi..I would consider selling it but it's still gonna still be mine till he saves up and I help him get his own wheels! I don't mind the tedious instructions. I have a nice place to work on it and I won't be in a hurry so I'm thinking of a DIY project.

@jrj512 He will be 16 in a couple of weeks...I'm going to start out in some of the local HS parking lots and see how he does before he logs any track time.

If your not currently driving it and are in no rush to get it done, do it yourself. There's nothing particularly hard about it. I got a top from MiataTopSource (??? - in the Miata.net market place) with rain rail for around $300. It was a plastic, no zipper window. I did it over two weekends. There's no special tools required. You might even get help from your future driver.

It's no rush so I think I will tackle it myself. So no special tools? I was thinking I would need a pop rivet gun...no big deal. Also, should I invest in new tension cables? The current top fits fine but I bought the car from M. Technologies years ago and who know what's going on under that top!

Tell the kid it is his choice: put on a new top with my help or hire Stevan and pay me back.

My Daddy always says if you borrow something, return it in better shape. He'll be borrowing your Miata.

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Originally Posted by titanescape

Also, should I invest in new tension cables?

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It seems to be a common problem and we had to rig up one of mine to make it work. I would suggest getting them.

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Originally Posted by onething

Tell the kid it is his choice: put on a new top with my help or hire Stevan and pay me back.

My Daddy always says if you borrow something, return it in better shape. He'll be borrowing your Miata.

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Now I like that idea!

if the tension cables are bad i have a set off a frame im about to junk. theyre not pretty but they work.

btw get the 3m 80110 glue that robbins reccommends its worth the $12. havent tried any other stuff but when i took the old top off to send back to robbins i was worried about tearing the canvas before that stuff let go.

Wait for some warmer weather if you DIY....will make things much easier.

Yes, a pop rivet gun is required. $7 - http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1#.UO2a3W88CSo

I didn't use glue and reused the tension cables.

I was a "really good kid" in HS, and I drove the snot outta my parents 1990 Supercharged T-bird. Be careful!