91 Rear Window

I purchased a used 91 four years ago. Had an almost new top at the time.
Now, the zipper has pulled away from window panel, tearing the window panel.
Local shop said they could re-sew the top, but likely to tear again. ( I
think they are right)

What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural area
in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.

In article >,
"Margarita Mike" > wrote:

> What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural area
> in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.

You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.

There's no point in replacing just the window curtain--the other side of
the zipper will be coming out of the top soon.

--
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

thanks.

priced seemed high. When I bought the car, seems to me the previous owner
said he had spent $500 for the new top.

"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Margarita Mike" > wrote:
>
>> What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural
>> area
>> in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.
>
> You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
> duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.
>
> There's no point in replacing just the window curtain--the other side of
> the zipper will be coming out of the top soon.
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers
> '94C, St. Louis
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

You may just want to go the extra mile and spend $489.00 on a top with
a glass window. Here is a link:

http://www.gomiata.com/newrobnozgla.html

Brian.....

Margarita Mike wrote:
> thanks.
>
> priced seemed high. When I bought the car, seems to me the previous owner
> said he had spent $500 for the new top.
>
> "Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >,
> > "Margarita Mike" > wrote:
> >
> >> What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural
> >> area
> >> in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.
> >
> > You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
> > duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.
> >
> > There's no point in replacing just the window curtain--the other side of
> > the zipper will be coming out of the top soon.
> >
> > --
> > Lanny Chambers
> > '94C, St. Louis
> > http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

You may just want to go the extra mile and spend $489.00 on a top with
a glass window. Here is a link:

http://www.gomiata.com/newrobnozgla.html

Brian.....

Margarita Mike wrote:
> thanks.
>
> priced seemed high. When I bought the car, seems to me the previous owner
> said he had spent $500 for the new top.
>
> "Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >,
> > "Margarita Mike" > wrote:
> >
> >> What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural
> >> area
> >> in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.
> >
> > You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
> > duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.
> >
> > There's no point in replacing just the window curtain--the other side of
> > the zipper will be coming out of the top soon.
> >
> > --
> > Lanny Chambers
> > '94C, St. Louis
> > http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

Lanny Chambers wrote:

> You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
> duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.

Have you installed a miata top onto a frame? I did not find it to be
that difficult, even doing the M1 frame/M2 top modification, but some
people find it to be impossible.
I know two people that rebuild engines and automatic transmissions that
won't even think about working on a convertible top, describing the job
as "too difficult" & "too many problems". (hmmmm)

Here in Austin, the local miata "guru" will install your top for about
$150.00, iirc, so you are coming out to right about $450.00 to $500.00
total for a new top with installation.

Some of the local shops want an insane amount to put a new top on. That
sounds like the kind of place the OP showed up at and got a $700.00
quote from. I think that one place quoted me over $600.00 in labor
alone, ha!

Pat

I've replaced my top twice, once w/ a Robbins w/ glass window. Did that
one myself (w/ a friends help), it sucked. Second time was after the
first one got slashed.

I bought a Duetto no-zip for $375 shipped. Had it installed by a local
shop for $225 (a good price, I'd expect to pay closer to $300-$350
normally, in fact, the shop complained that it took quite a bit longer
than they expected to do the job).

Glass window is definately the way to go (unless you have rollbar
restrictions). And I love the no-zip style, much quicker up & down (like
the newer tops).

Installing yourself is certainly an option.. I had a lot of trouble w/
the Robbins (looked good once we finished, just took about 12hrs to get
there). Don't know if the Duetto was easier/harder. I had insurance $
the second time, so didn't mind paying someone else to do it. If I were
paying for it myself, I'd be very tempted to try to do it myself even
after the first bad experience. Just make sure you have plenty of time
and a good friend to help. Duetto gives their own instructions that are
supposed to be pretty good, there's also a lot of info on www.miata.net.


-Scott


Lanny Chambers > wrote in
:

> In article >,
> "Margarita Mike" > wrote:
>
>> What's a reasonable price for a new window/zipper? I live in a rural
>> area in MD and local (only) convertible shop is quoting almost $700.
>
> You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
> duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.
>
> There's no point in replacing just the window curtain--the other side
> of the zipper will be coming out of the top soon.
>

pws > wrote:

>Lanny Chambers wrote:
>
>> You can get a whole new OEM-quality top for under $300 from
>> duettomotors.com, and install it yourself.
>
>Have you installed a miata top onto a frame? I did not find it to be
>that difficult, even doing the M1 frame/M2 top modification, but some
>people find it to be impossible.

It requires a somewhat different mind set. It is just not enough to see
whether the top "fits correctly" in say the header, you have to be aware
that it is a compliant medium and get it exactly straight or you will
get creases. If you rebuild an engine, if the screw fits correctly, it
fits, period.

>I know two people that rebuild engines and automatic transmissions that
>won't even think about working on a convertible top, describing the job
>as "too difficult" & "too many problems". (hmmmm)
>
>Here in Austin, the local miata "guru" will install your top for about
>$150.00, iirc, so you are coming out to right about $450.00 to $500.00
>total for a new top with installation.
>
>Some of the local shops want an insane amount to put a new top on. That
>sounds like the kind of place the OP showed up at and got a $700.00
>quote from. I think that one place quoted me over $600.00 in labor
>alone, ha!

Mike said he lives in a rural area, so they may not have much experience
with Miata tops. Shops without experience in aftermarket tops tend
to look at them with suspicion, (I know that they looked at my Brainstorm
glass window with suspicion), so they probably figured on installing an
Mazda OEM top.

In fact they charged me $150 to just put in the window, and that was 10 years
ago with lots of competition in a low labor cost market, and that only after
they had seen the window.

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bess, the Miata Bozo, the Miata
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas