Hardtop VS Soft-top

[Dallas]

I was wondering how many owners use a hardtop through the winter months, and do they find their hardtop doesn't fit as well as their soft top?

My BRG TF came with a nearly new matching heritage hardtop, I have tried to fit the roof on two occasions, only to find I don't like how it fits.

It just seems to be a design issue, is this why some owners say hardtops leak worst than soft tops?

[nigelandjo]

You may need to adjust the windows, but you can get them to fit snuggly. Where doesn't it meet well?

[talkingcars]

Wipers off, roof off!

[Dallas]

You may need to adjust the windows, but you can get them to fit snuggly. Where doesn't it meet well?

Hi Nigel, I find the front of the HT roof squashes into the top windscreen rubber quite a lot, the soft top roof just sits on the rubber just nicely without pushing folding the rubber seal, you can see the HT roof will end up damaging the rubber causing it to split.

The HT doesn't sit of the side catches very well, both legs pretty much don't sit on the shoulder brackets very well, they dont line up flush.

My newly bought 2016 soft top has the very nice rounded corners at each front corner, these corners curve down nicely around the A pillar stopping any water ingress. The HT doesn't have this curve at each corner, you can see small hole where the corners of the roof meet the A pillars, water will penetrate into the interior just like on the early MK1 soft top roofs do.

I find my soft top overlaps the side windows much better, the contour of the soft top overhangs the side windows much more than the heritage hard top does. Once the hard top is fitted you can see gaps around the window rubbers, the side window glass is just resting on the HT rubbers, the windows need to be angled inward more so it makes a better seal.

Both roofs and rubbers are in new condition, the soft top and heritage hard top were new back in 2016, but I find the HT ill fitting.

I don't fancy leaving the soft top open to all elements through the winter, its water tight, doesn't leak. But if I fit the HT, its going to allow water in like a sprinkler.

[nigelandjo]

You can adjust the height of the feet on the rear of the hardtop. Might be worth taking a look at a couple of other cars fitted with hardtops to see if there's any clues as t how to get yours fitting better. Won't have ours on until after the NEC Classic Car show next month.

[talkingcars]

It was 20' here today, and all we are talking about on the forum is fitting hardtops...………...

[mgtfnut]

You may need to adjust the windows, but you can get them to fit snuggly. Where doesn't it meet well?

Hi Nigel, I find the front of the HT roof squashes into the top windscreen rubber quite a lot, the soft top roof just sits on the rubber just nicely without pushing folding the rubber seal, you can see the HT roof will end up damaging the rubber causing it to split.

You can adjust the tension of the front adjusters on the front seal as well as the rear support brackets. With a bit of time and fiddling you can normally strike a happy compromise with soft and hard top seal fit.

This reminds me, I must get my hardtop out of storage now the weather has given us a window of nice warm weather - nothing like a hardtop to make it more "civilised" in the colder, wet months

[Dallas]

Hey guys, I finally have the hardtop on...

Its fitting better with a few adjustments, I'm not totally happy with it, but it will do.

Bring on the rain, I need to test if it leaks I do hope not.

[Mikeadman]

Use a hose pipe to test!!

Cheers

Mike

[Neil Rushton]

Or the local car wash

[talkingcars]

It was 20' here today, and all we are talking about on the forum is fitting hardtops...………...

Another Saturday afternoon and it's hitting 20' in West Sussex again!

[gerry.laing]

Thinking of fitting the hardtop soon as, awaiting an impending hand operation and may be unable to drive for a while.The thing is I have the Le Mans green one from the 135 Sprint that I have not had time to paint to match the white Pearlesent 85th.
My Dielema is the colour: do I go white, Black or metalic grey to match the stripes, I have the latest colour matching scheme by ICI being installed on Tuesday as an up date to our body shop,

[nigelandjo]

Colour code it to match the car, complete with stripes.