Things To Know About Mazda Miata Convertible Tops | TopsOnline Blog
The Mazda MX-5, otherwise known as the Miata in the US and the Eunos in Japan, is the best-selling convertible of all time. With lots of Miatas on the market since 1989, there has been a lot of investment by convertible top manufacturers in making replacement convertible tops. This means that there are a few things you need to understand when shopping for a best Miata soft top replacement, since you will have options!
(If you are overwhelmed at any time when shopping for a Miata soft top, feel free to “phone a friend” and call us at 888-803-8505 and we can get you to the right top for your needs ASAP.)
OEM Designs vs. Aftermarket Designs
First, let’s talk about original manufacturer’s style tops (OEM) vs. aftermarket style tops. For 1989 through 1997 model years, the original style for a Mazda MX-5 top was a two-piece look style with a zippered plastic window in Cabrio Textured Vinyl. The two-piece look top has top quarters that overlap on both sides of the window, making the window look like a separate section. With a zippered window curtain section, you can remove it altogether. This gives you the option to drive with the top up and the window section down. Plus, it allows you to replace the window section only if the window is damaged or discolored. This is the original style, but in the aftermarket, they introduced a few new options, explained below.
One Piece Look Tops
With such a large market of customers, the aftermarket produced a new style of top that was able to pass along some cost savings and also simplify construction. This new aftermarket design is a one-piece look top that does not have overlapping quarters around the window and instead is one continuous-looking top, with the window laminated on top, without sections.
The one-piece top was so widely accepted that in the 2006 through 2018 factory original OEM designs are exclusively made with a one-piece look top.
Zippers and No Zippers
With one-piece and two-piece tops for 1989 through 1997 Miatas, you will have a choice of whether or not to have a zippered window curtain on your Miata soft top. The benefit of the zippered curtain is that you can lower the back window section while the rest of the top is still up. However, the benefit of the no-zipper tops is that they are easier to install and tend to last longer.
For model years 1998 through 2005, the factory original was a two-piece look top with heater defroster glass and no zipper. An aftermarket design offers a zippered window curtain in a two-piece look top where the window can be lowered but not removed altogether. Because the window section can’t be removed, you are not able to replace the window section only on this type of top. Zippered sections are not available for 2006–2015 and 2016–2018 model designs.
Window Options
Window options are also available for the MX-5 Miata. You will have options for plastic and glass windows. With glass windows, you have one further choice: whether or not to have heated defroster glass. Budget options start with plastic windows, with non-heated glass being a mid-range option and full-feature heated defroster glass being your premium option.
Original windows for 1989 through 1997 models came in plastic. For 1998 through 2018 models, the original window was heated defroster glass. These options can influence the Mazda Miata soft top replacement cost, so it’s important to weigh your needs carefully.
OEM Materials and New Options
The factory original materials for Mazda MX-5 Miatas are Cabrio Textured Vinyl and Haartz Stayfast Cloth. Cabrio Textured Vinyl is a two-ply composite vinyl that has an inner cotton lining covered by a special Miata outer grain. Sometimes this grain is referred to as “pigskin” as another frame of reference. Haartz Stayfast Cloth is considered a slight upgrade and is popular with luxury brands like Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW as a substitute for German canvases. It has a three-ply design with an acrylic square weave outer fabric, a butyl rubber core, and a cotton lining. This composite gives it a richer look than vinyl, and the butyl rubber core boosts its longevity.
The original material for 1989 through 1997 was Cabrio Textured Vinyl. For 1998 through 2015, Cabrio Textured Vinyl was original on base models, but Haartz Stayfast Cloth was offered on Limited or Special Edition models. For 2016 and newer models, the Haartz Stayfast Cloth was standard.
Brand & Budget Options
TopsOnline offers you choices for manufacturers from the best in the business. The great news is that you can get a brand-new soft top for Miata models, especially for first- and second-generation vehicles, at very affordable prices. As you add options like the original style, zippers, new rain rails, glass, and heated defroster options, your Mazda Miata soft top replacement cost may increase. However, these options allow you to fully customize your Miata top for style, performance, and budget.
You can find all of these replacement convertible top options for your Miata at TopsOnline now. Since there are so many options, if you would like to speak to one of our Customer Service specialists, we are more than happy to assist you. Just call us at 888-803-8505 and let them know you would like a recommendation for the best Miata soft top replacement.
