crease in the rag top?

Joyce · 08-15-2009, 09:56 AM

Is it better to keep the top or down when parked in the garage, or doesn't it matter? There appears to be crease in the top, driver side by the window, could this be from keeping the top down for extended periods of time? Thanks for the help.

RayYay · 08-15-2009, 11:44 AM

I wondered this same thing. My S usually sits in my garage for long periods of time and I used to leave my top down. But little did I know that is what actually causes the creases, from being in the down position. So now I put my top up but I do not latch the clips since that stretches out the fabric over time.

s2000isu · 08-15-2009, 12:46 PM

I believe the owners manual tells you not to leave it down for a long time but I could have just imagined it. Would you leave your dress pants folded up for a long time and just put them on?

turbosix · 08-15-2009, 12:57 PM

leave it up, unlatched in the garage... keep your interior less dusty.

TheCarGuy2021 · 08-15-2009, 02:29 PM

When I'm not driving mine for a while I leave the top up with the latches unlatched.

s2000isu · 08-15-2009, 02:46 PM

Ok guys dumb question why do you leave it unlatched?

RMurphy · 08-15-2009, 03:57 PM

I should go out to my car and pull the manual, but that requires getting out of my chair.

Here's what I know: In 1991 I got my first convertible. It was a Miata. I know I read in the manual you aren't supposed to leave the top down for extended periods as it forces long term pressure on the folds in the top which stresses the top at those folds. That long term stress causes fatigue to the material and it fails sooner there (rips or tears when put back up, or causes a pinhole due to cracking, etc). So on my car, the top went up when the car was not in use.

Since then I have always owned a convertible of some type (Miatas and now the S2000) and I have always done it that way and it seems to have worked well for me. YMMV. I think you should just enjoy your car. If how you enjoy it causes the top to need to be replaced or patched sooner, so long as you have weighed out the value of your enjoyment versus the potential pitfalls, do what makes you happy!

My theory on leaving the top unlatched would be that it's easier.

But it could also make sense that if you have any area of the top that is fatigued, stretching it to latch the top could encourage a top fabric failure. In the earlier Miatas, the rear window had to be unzipped before lowering (okay you didn't *have* to unzip the ones with the plastic rear windows but then you ended up with a NASTY white fold line in the window). I recall reading in the manual that, on a cold day, when putting the top back up, they said you should zip the window with the top up but *before* securing the latches. Zipping the top while cold with the latches secured put a lot of stress on the zipper and surrounding areas and could cause a failure either of the zipper or surrounding material (stitching around zipper, etc). It stands to reason that there is a lot of pressure being applied when the top is latched (on any convertible) and so I could understand the idea of "why latch it if you don't feel you need to?"

It doesn't really get cold where I live, so it's not an issue for me. Plus my car lives in a shared parking garage area so unless I want to share my car's contents with the neighbors or their cats, I latch the top shut.

Neil · 08-15-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2000isu

Ok guys dumb question why do you leave it unlatched?

I think in order not to stretch the top, leaving it in a relaxed mode ( tension-less)
I do this when I store the car for the Winter months, tops up but not taught.

08-15-2009, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Joyce Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 99	crease in the rag top? Is it better to keep the top or down when parked in the garage, or doesn't it matter? There appears to be crease in the top, driver side by the window, could this be from keeping the top down for extended periods of time? Thanks for the help. __________________ S2Klassie

08-15-2009, 11:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
RayYay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 474	I wondered this same thing. My S usually sits in my garage for long periods of time and I used to leave my top down. But little did I know that is what actually causes the creases, from being in the down position. So now I put my top up but I do not latch the clips since that stretches out the fabric over time. __________________ 2008 Honda s2000 GPW 1992 Acura Integra RS FW

08-15-2009, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
s2000isu Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: pa Posts: 1,745	I believe the owners manual tells you not to leave it down for a long time but I could have just imagined it. Would you leave your dress pants folded up for a long time and just put them on? __________________ S2kx2: "paint it pink! Or better yet buy a Miata" 2001 Vortech SC 12.8 at 111 miles per hour

08-15-2009, 12:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
turbosix S2000.com Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 2,471	leave it up, unlatched in the garage... keep your interior less dusty. __________________ turbosix.net 1984 buick regal t-type . 2003 gpw s2000 Are you lacking coverage for your prescriptions? Click HERE to print a free discount pharmacy card! Save 10-60% on most medications at 60,000 pharmacies nationwide at no cost to you.

08-15-2009, 02:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
s2000isu Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: pa Posts: 1,745	Ok guys dumb question why do you leave it unlatched? __________________ S2kx2: "paint it pink! Or better yet buy a Miata" 2001 Vortech SC 12.8 at 111 miles per hour

08-15-2009, 02:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheCarGuy2021 Car Dummy Join Date: May 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 828	When I'm not driving mine for a while I leave the top up with the latches unlatched.

08-15-2009, 03:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
RMurphy 2007 Rio Yellow Pearl Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Playa del Rey (LA area), CA Posts: 760	I should go out to my car and pull the manual, but that requires getting out of my chair. Here's what I know: In 1991 I got my first convertible. It was a Miata. I know I read in the manual you aren't supposed to leave the top down for extended periods as it forces long term pressure on the folds in the top which stresses the top at those folds. That long term stress causes fatigue to the material and it fails sooner there (rips or tears when put back up, or causes a pinhole due to cracking, etc). So on my car, the top went up when the car was not in use. Since then I have always owned a convertible of some type (Miatas and now the S2000) and I have always done it that way and it seems to have worked well for me. YMMV. I think you should just enjoy your car. If how you enjoy it causes the top to need to be replaced or patched sooner, so long as you have weighed out the value of your enjoyment versus the potential pitfalls, do what makes you happy! My theory on leaving the top unlatched would be that it's easier. But it could also make sense that if you have any area of the top that is fatigued, stretching it to latch the top could encourage a top fabric failure. In the earlier Miatas, the rear window had to be unzipped before lowering (okay you didn't have to unzip the ones with the plastic rear windows but then you ended up with a NASTY white fold line in the window). I recall reading in the manual that, on a cold day, when putting the top back up, they said you should zip the window with the top up but before securing the latches. Zipping the top while cold with the latches secured put a lot of stress on the zipper and surrounding areas and could cause a failure either of the zipper or surrounding material (stitching around zipper, etc). It stands to reason that there is a lot of pressure being applied when the top is latched (on any convertible) and so I could understand the idea of "why latch it if you don't feel you need to?" It doesn't really get cold where I live, so it's not an issue for me. Plus my car lives in a shared parking garage area so unless I want to share my car's contents with the neighbors or their cats, I latch the top shut. __________________ ~~ RMurphy Playa del Rey, CA 2007 Rio Yellow Pearl sifo MODS: Rio Yellow Pearl bra and panties with CAI. Last edited by RMurphy; 08-15-2009 at 04:00 PM. Reason: (forgot a sentence.)

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