I`m just wondering if anyone has an idea of how long the top is supposed to last in normal use. I just had a new top installed on my `00GT last month, & the installer told me that the back window was original ( it leaked), but that including the top he installed- this was the third top on my car since new. I have no reason to doubt him, but it sounds a little excessive to me. The car only has 41,000mi. on it. Do they wear out that fast??
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Joined: 6/7/2007 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
Depending on the type of top and how well its maintain, I'm thinking atleast 8-10 years. I replaced my top on my 94 in 2002 due to the glass leaking. I used KeeTop (www.keeautotop.com). I replaced the glass and top and people say it still looks new.
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A friend of mine has a '96 vert and she's still on her original top(!) Driven all year, stored outside, and we get HEAVY winters here! The top is looking pretty ratty by now and it did need to be fixed a bit.
The top on my '02 is looking pretty good right now. I take basic care of it, NEVER lower it when it's wet, and don't lower/raise it a hundred times a day lol. Hope to get at least 5 more years out of it
I have a 00 gt and it leaks around the rear window. It has been a garaged most of its life, but I'm in NY and up until now I drove it through the winter. How much is the top to replace usually?
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I have an 89 that was on its original top with I believe 198000 miles , but was badly tore up. Plus I owned a 7 year old miata and it had 55000 on it before it needed replacement, and that was just because a metal rod wore a hole through the canvas.
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As long as you take care of it properly, a top can last for decades. The biggest thing people do to screw up convertible tops is they get wax on them. You just clean the tops with water and a soft brush and they'll stay nice looking for a long time.
Granted, you park it outdoors in temperature extremes a lot, like hot AZ sun or freezing ND snow... the gaskets are going to wear out faster and the top itself will fade in time... but it still should last a good long time. I've had a 99, an 03 and now my Saleen and the Saleen is the first one to have any problems with the top... and those problems were there when I bought the car and the car wasn't really taken care of that well except for the engine. I've had to do several things to fix cosmetic issues due to neglect.
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Lifespan of a top - 
), but that including the top he installed- this was the third top on my car since new. I have no reason to doubt him, but it sounds a little excessive to me. The car only has 41,000mi. on it. Do they wear out that fast??
