Hard top pros and cons-should I or should I not sell mine?

[AlanP1964]

Okay, list the pros and cons to keeping my hard top. It's strictly a D/D car. When I first got the car I was a bit uneasy driving in traffic with the reduced vision of the soft top and figured when it got too hot to bear, I'd just put the hard top on. The more I drive it though, the more I am used to restricted vision with the soft top and using the side mirrors correctly/more etc.

[sammm]

I bought a hardtop when I had my '99. It spent 99% of its life hanging in the garage. Sold it and never missed it.

[AlanP1964]

I bought a hardtop when I had my '99. It spent 99% of its life hanging in the garage. Sold it and never missed it.

I'm thinking that's pretty much what will wind up happening with mine. I'm not selling it for $200 like the C list guy just did though. :)

[Rogue]

I had absolutely no use for a hardtop.
We bought a Miata with one and I use it alot more than I ever thought I would.
Go figure.

[Rob®]

I had a hardtop from southern NJ to Syracuse for a few days, then to Cincinnati. A friend from Indiana bought it from a friend of mine in NJ, so I picked it up with my car, kept it on the car for a few days, then met my friend in Ohio to put it on his car. From that maybe week's worth of time with it, I will never buy one for myself (unless I end up completely gutting my car for the track...which most likely won't happen).

[altiain]

I had one on my '99. I liked it for track days and for the dog days of summer.

I'd like to buy one for the S2000, but they cost a lot more on the used market than a Miata hard top ($2500-3000, plus a $350 hardware kit).

[AlanP1964]

Any ideas on value? I think it's a Snugtop brand with defroster. I'd say it's in very good condition.

[sammm]

^Hardtops typically sell for $600-$800 from what I've seen. What color is it?

[AlanP1964]

^Hardtops typically sell for $600-$800 from what I've seen. What color is it?

White.

[trickyrix]

Any ideas on value? I think it's a Snugtop brand with defroster. I'd say it's in very good condition.

Um... is it Montego Blue on the inside? I wonder if it's my old Snugtop...

I'd say $500 MAX on a Snugtop...

[AlanP1964]

No, looks black on the inside with a black head liner glued in place. I'm the 3rd owner of the car and the original owner apparently bought it shortly after he got the car.

[POS Racing]

I bought a hardtop when I had my '99. It spent 99% of its life hanging in the garage.

Ours resides in the master bedroom closet we used it some during the hot months but if it hadn't come with the car I don't think I'd every buy one.

We have toyed with selling it a couple of time but instead we let it live in the closet in peace.

[tinman831]

A white oem hardyop with good paint will fetch a lot more than 600-800$. A snugtop will be a few hundred less.

[AlanP1964]

Okay, just got home and looked. The brand is not Snugtop but actually SNUGrip. It's numbered 3306. I'll probably list it on Craigs but still not real sure what value to put on it. It has a glued in head liner and has the rear window defroster. Looks like a couple of paint scratches. Driver's side weather stripping needs to be replaced and the Frankenbolt gripper is missing the rubber gasket on the driver's side.

[trickyrix]

I think "SNUGrip" is a Snugtop - SNUG is the brand, and they have lots lines like SNUGlid, SNUGtop, etc. They haven't made Miata tops in a long time, so you can't get parts for them like weatherstripping and hardware. The first top I had was a SNUG. I paid $500 for it, then sold it a little while later for the same - but mine had excellent paint and good weatherstripping. Last year I saw my old top on another member's car. It had apparently spent some time down in Austin in somebody's back yard, and it looked like ass. The guy that had it traded one wheel for it - one single alloy wheel. So they're worth somewhere between crap and $500.

[AlanP1964]

I think I'll list it at $500 and see if I get any bites.

[Bigsrturbo]

I like my hardtop...more room for a helmet when winter gets here..lol this year around feb when some races started it was pretty cold...

[GregW]

I like my hardtop so much that I rarely ever take it off. My 60 mile commute to and from work everyday, I enjoy the visibility and quietness.

[SirHustlerEsq]

I have no use for a soft-top really. It's either nice enough to drop the top and park in a secure parking lot, or put the HT on. It's personal preference according to this thread.

[GregW]

I have no use for a soft-top really. It's either nice enough to drop the top and park in a secure parking lot, or put the HT on. It's personal preference according to this thread.

Agreed