Trouble Free Tops??

Originally Posted by GOBLUE

I bought a 2010 roadster in February this year, and so far no major issues with the top. I have a few squeaks and rattles, but nothing major. I was also very concerned about convertible top issues when I first got the car because the system is so complex. I figure it would be very expensive to fix any issues. Well I've enjoyed the car all summer, putting the top down probably 5-10 times per week, and everything is working fine. I always store the top up whether it is in the garage and a parking lot. I do this to keep the dust down on the interior, prevent the interior trim parts from fading in the sun over time, and also prevent creasing and wear on the canvas top from being folded.

The car now has 15,000 miles on it (11,500 when I bought it), and the top is working fine. So there are good ones out there, don't worry!

I few maintenance items I've come across to help extend the life... I used 303 Fabric Guard back in July and it does a great job of waterproofing the top and acts as a UV protectant as well. This will help with the life of the canvas material and the seams/stitching. I also lubricated all moving hinge points in the mechanism with lithium grease, and put silicon spray on all rubber seals. This will keep the mechanism moving smoothly and should reduce stress on the hydraulic system. You'll need some patience for this as there are probably 50 hinge points and you want to prevent the lithium grease from getting on any fabric, rubber, or paint surface. It wipes up pretty easy though.

Hopefully with some routine maintenance every year, I can prolong the life of the top and enjoy it for years to come! I only have another month before I'll store it for winter.

Enjoy your roadster!