recently ive been lookin at some other s5 convertibles like mine and all ive noticed something about the differences in the top like all the others where made better then mine or did some dummy srew up the way my top looks... is this the way it came out of the factory? lookin like this on the sides? (btw its a 90vert)

 

If you don't condition & maintain the stock vinyl top, it tends to rip right there when the vinyl begins to dry out & fade. That may be a reinforcement patch on a 2nd top or the stock top with a patch to prevent further ripping.

 

it looks like someone tried to break in it at one time. the doors been repainted see the overspray on the molding

 

isn't that where the stock water drip deal goes to? My top is ripped right there, bastard who own it before me didn't take care of it so it's ripped everywhere.

 

the paint over spary is actaully from me i was trying to cover up a huge spot where my paint started to just peel off and now its just peeling off everywhere.

 

Those edges that you have might not look nice, but I'd give up a little causemetic to keep the thing from ripping. Right now i have 1 hole on each side at the same spot. It's a pain in the *** when it rains or snows.

 

i know.. but i have a leak somewhere so it doesnt stay dry in there.. it leaks somewhere cause alot of times my back floor borad will me soaked

 

Victoria british sells tops relatively cheap.

 

I can't think of the site off the top of my head but for front and back w/o window was $315 for the normal black top. A little searching and you could find it. I just search on yahoo for "rx7 convertible tops"

 

that is because water runs down the top and then along the seem (near the pockets where the water is supposed to run into) and then it drips into the car where the hole is ...it then makes its way to the floor behind the seats..nothing else will get wet except for the floor...I went to a car wash and tried this because it had me going..I only had a hole the size of a pee...

 

rofl, minus 2 for spelling and i can't stop chuckling how that reads...

anyways, that's a patch of some sort, an old mazda shop service manual i have from '88 shows how to apply them. meanwhile, lots of places to get tops from but none i have seen have the rear window section cut out, imma just gonna take my 'vert in to a local shop that peeps around town have had good service with and let them deal with the hassle.

 

The floor behind the seats should not get wet, if it does the drainage tube that is in that pocket behind the door may be clogged. Stick a coat hanger in the tube to clear, it should come out under the car through a plastic grommet.

 

aa best, sells tops

 

I had a replacement made (my third one) and I can't remember the name of the place that made it for me. I ended up getting a custom ruby red interlaced with gun metal grey with black stitching. The top looks great on a red car. a ruff pic is on my site. I will find out the company name and post it.

www.formula7racing.com

 

Its definitely a patch, since that is a weak spot on these tops. There is a lot of flexing and stretching right at that point. If you don't feel like replacing the top right away, you can reinforce the weak areas with a needle and strong thread and/or seal it up with some 3M 5200 black marine sealant. Its very strong stuff but it takes 3 days to cure. I used it and mine has been water-tight for over 2 years.

 

What you have there is simply a poor mans way of remedying the problem temporarily... its just a patch that any upholstery place can sew in... but AABest has a good price for the top but then you have to get a place to install it... out here in Miami my sponsor will charge $ 900.00 to do the whole job which includes a German Cloth Top, Targa and interior Headliner... that is a sweet price deal and for any member of my " Miami RX7 Club" .. non-members pay $1,100.00

Val
Miami RX7 Club
786-286-3351

 

Its definitely a patch.
About the above photo:

OMG, what a beauty!
OMG, non turbo???

 

No matter happens, dont assume that cleaning out the drainage tubes is going to fix the leak. Inside the pocket, at the seems of the pocket, that is usually the leak that is causing the water to enter the car, behind the seat. I used a bunch of JB welb and some waterproff sealant to seal off all the seams, while after a rain, cleaning out the drain tubes.

 

GD proxy error again...sorry double post.