Soft top life expectancy?

[Cees Klumper]

My top was not new when I bought my car now about 9 years ago, but it still looks the same as back then. The Pagoda is garaged, but for daily use I have a Volvo C70 convertible that is now about 6 years old and sits outside through rain, hail, sleet and snow, and that top also looks like when I bought the car (used) in 2005. So ... what are other experiences as to soft top useful life?



quote:
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Originally posted by al_lieffring

Besides a canvas top only lasts about 5 years
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[hauser]

I believe that the canvas itself is very durable and lasts quite a long time.  I think its weakness as a whole is in the storage and operation of the top.  It doesn't take much to put a tear or two when removing or placing it in its compartment.  

My other complaint is the plastic window which acts as a magnet at attracting dust.

The best looking tops are those that are newly installed and have not been placed in the storage compartment.

[thelews]

Mine's 33 years old.

[Mark280SL]

I have to agree with Hauser, putting the top up and down will likely likely affect wear and tear as much as anything.

My Pagoda has a new top now so we shall see how it does, as long as I'm careful I think it will be around quite a long time especially because it's garaged most of the time.

I also have a BMW convertible and it's the same situation, the top on that car is about 6 years old now and it's only meaningful wear and tear is due to the top being put up and down, otherwise it looks very good for a 6 yo, I could replace it I suppose but I feel it has at least a few more years in it.

[al_lieffring]

quote:Originally posted by cees klumper

My top was not new when I bought my car now about 9 years ago, but it still looks the same as back then. The Pagoda is garaged, but for daily use I have a Volvo C70 convertible that is now about 6 years old and sits outside through rain, hail, sleet and snow, and that top also looks like when I bought the car (used) in 2005. So ... what are other experiences as to soft top useful life?



quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by al_lieffring

Besides a canvas top only lasts about 5 years
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Just to calirify, I based that 5 year figure on my use of the top as a daily driver car that sat out in the weather summer and winter. Because I worked in mid-town, I usually put the top up when I parked the car, and put it back down again when I drove it. By the time I got married and stopped driving the car the German canvas top I installed about 5 to 6 years earlier was starting to show signs of wear, the headliner bow strips were seperating from the top, the rear window has started to get cloudy and the canvas behind the door openings was starting to unravel around the edge. Most of the customer cars that I installed new tops on were in the 5 to 10 year old range.

From what I understand those original tops were 100% cotton, and the current materials that are available now are a cotton/poly blend, too bad there isn't a laundering tag like a shirt, so we could tell what they are made from.