To ragtop or not to ragtop???

jameskjamesk Wagonist
in Bodywork & Cosmetic Modifications
Yeah, yeah I want a ragtop. *bows down to mrm3 for being the first*

I used to own an s2000, and I miss the open air feel at times. I have heard from everyone that they leak. However, I'll be moving west next month (vegas) and there isn't much rain at all out there, so I hear. I wouldn't fathom doing it where I'm at now in Florida, way too much rain.

I am facing two options for the future:
1. Do the ragtop mod and be happy(?)
2. Buy a cheap motorcycle (honda rebel/shadow), get the open air I've been craving, and keep the wagon intact.

The wagon is my daily driver and I want to keep it until the wheels fall off.

WAT DO?

Comments

  • BillBoardBillBoard council member
    do rag top...
  • humorwvphumorwvp Wagonist
    do the rag top, then buy yourself a really nice car cover so you can cover your baby when it rains or you go back home to visit.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    mrm3 can you chime in?
  • oldschoolimportoldschoolimport Wagonist
    I looked into it, but being a firefighter and cutting folks out of cars, I don't know if I want to compromise what little structural rigidity the wagon has. A side hit will be bad enough with the roof keeping the A/B/C posts somewhat vertical. With the sliding rag/gaping hole, the side of the car will lay in on top of you.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    ^^Didn't think of that!

    But with the alternative being a motorcycle, which is the lesser evil?
  • oldschoolimportoldschoolimport Wagonist
    True. But that's why I quit riding street. After too many close calls, I figured I needed a little bit of crash protection.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    I don't know man, sounds like your plan is no ragtop, and no bike! Me needs some excitement.
  • oldschoolimportoldschoolimport Wagonist
    I have bikes and quads, I just don't ride street. When I ride, we're all going the same direction with no cross traffic.
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    almost did it, there is only a couple of kits in the U.S.. drove the wagon to cali to maybe have it done.
    my friend said michigan and florida are were they are at and couldn't get one with the time frame of my stay.
    i did this to an xb. it's a hollandia kit, the only thing i hate is the noise. even when closed, you here everything.
    it's a sacrifice you have to weight for the the top.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    Where in FL are the tops?
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    call them up.
    they will tell you.
    Webasto Product North America, Inc.
    15083 North Rd.
    Fenton, MI 48430

    Toll Free:
    (800) 860-7866-Main Line/Ordering/Technical Assistance
    (800) 215-7010-Marketing Hotline
    Fax: (810) 593-6001

    you can't buy direct only through their dealer in florida.

    ask for hollandia 400 power fold sunroof.
  • CrxandwagovanCrxandwagovan Wagonist
    i would love to see the results of the ragtop on a dialey driver, also wouldnt it be like driving a jeep all year arounds with a soft top, i own a jeep and it ounds fine and works fine all year around here in chicago with snow and all
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    Please help I can't make decisions for myself.
  • MrM3MrM3 Council Member
    oldschoolimport wrote:
    I looked into it, but being a firefighter and cutting folks out of cars, I don't know if I want to compromise what little structural rigidity the wagon has. A side hit will be bad enough with the roof keeping the A/B/C posts somewhat vertical. With the sliding rag/gaping hole, the side of the car will lay in on top of you.

    Mostly false information as far as the structure is concerned. The roof skin does very little in way of support. The support comes from the A, B, and C pillars and the braces that are at the front and rear of the roof skin. The center section is there purely as something over your head. And yes I am aware there are light braces that are throughout the roof skin. Those are there to support the large flat piece of sheet metal from buckling not as structural support. I understand what you are implying and obviously you have some education behind it due to your occupation but cutting a hole in the center of thin sheet metal will do little to nothing to the structure, let alone the fact that there is a frame that supports the whole system in general.

    On to my opinion of the whole thing: It leaks, its not secure, and its noisy. But I don't daily mine, I barely put 1500 miles on my car a year. It sits in an alarmed building most of the time . The noise doesn't bother me because that's the nature of the car I built. I didn't build for comfort. It rattles, has no wipers, no a/c, no heat, no power steering, or power brakes. It rides rough as hell. But I don't care because at the end of the day I have another car that has all the comforts I need that I daily. So the point of this is to say yes I love my roof. It's amazing to look out and see the stars through it. It's amazing to have open on nice days, the wind feels spectacular. However the is no way in hell I'd have one in my daily. If you don't drive your car much the yes go for it, if you do drive it a lot I'd say pass.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    The master has spoken.

    I was looking at one of these "britax style" ragtops recently. They claim to never leak, but cost more:
    http://www.slidingragtops.com/Huge-Manu ... Style.html

    I never thought seriously about wind noise until now. But my car is pretty noisy as is with my jdm B20b swap. I wonder if I could handle the extra noise on a daily? My s2k was much louder and I drove it 40 miles a day for almost 3 years. Mine has a harsh ride too, its got godspeed rs coils set really stiff, and pretty stiff motor mounts.

    If the britax top holds true to its word and doesn't leak, I have to deal with increased noise, increased threat of theft, and more heat transferring in from the sun..

    Can anyone comment on the britax ragtops?
  • oldschoolimportoldschoolimport Wagonist
    MrM3 wrote:
    oldschoolimport wrote:
    I looked into it, but being a firefighter and cutting folks out of cars, I don't know if I want to compromise what little structural rigidity the wagon has. A side hit will be bad enough with the roof keeping the A/B/C posts somewhat vertical. With the sliding rag/gaping hole, the side of the car will lay in on top of you.

    Mostly false information as far as the structure is concerned. The roof skin does very little in way of support. The support comes from the A, B, and C pillars and the braces that are at the front and rear of the roof skin. The center section is there purely as something over your head. And yes I am aware there are light braces that are throughout the roof skin. Those are there to support the large flat piece of sheet metal from buckling not as structural support. I understand what you are implying and obviously you have some education behind it due to your occupation but cutting a hole in the center of thin sheet metal will do little to nothing to the structure, let alone the fact that there is a frame that supports the whole system in general.

    On to my opinion of the whole thing: It leaks, its not secure, and its noisy. But I don't daily mine, I barely put 1500 miles on my car a year. It sits in an alarmed building most of the time . The noise doesn't bother me because that's the nature of the car I built. I didn't build for comfort. It rattles, has no wipers, no a/c, no heat, no power steering, or power brakes. It rides rough as hell. But I don't care because at the end of the day I have another car that has all the comforts I need that I daily. So the point of this is to say yes I love my roof. It's amazing to look out and see the stars through it. It's amazing to have open on nice days, the wind feels spectacular. However the is no way in hell I'd have one in my daily. If you don't drive your car much the yes go for it, if you do drive it a lot I'd say pass.
    I'm not going to argue, but our opinions differ. If the unfortunate were to happen, I hope you're the one who is correct on the matter. With that being said, it does look amazing!
  • MrM3MrM3 Council Member
    I have no interest in even debating it at this point. Somebody asked for my opinion and I gave it. Just because I have the top does not make me an expert or structural rigidity, however 11 years in automotive collision deems me a fairly knowledgeable source.

    I don't have any experience with that company and if what they claim is true then that seems to be the way to go. I have reservations about whether they can truly stand by those claims though.
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    i'd have to agree mrm3. he's just giving his opinion for his own vehicle.
    and that's it.
    i had it installed on my xb, never had a safety issue, and if there was nitsa would get involved.
    to each is his own. that's why we love what we do to our own cars.
    we are all different and i like that way.
  • fast freddyfast freddy Wagonist
    DO IT! That would b sweet!
  • Old SkoolOld Skool Council Member
    I have had a power sliding rag in a caravan :lol: a '77 civic and oem optional one in a '73 civic.. I love em :)
  • ekswapdudeekswapdude Wagonist
    i think the ragtop would be extremely inventive of you but i would never pass up the opprotunity to get another motorcycle... small or not... or you could just do both
  • 90shuttle90shuttle Senior Wagonist
    MrM3 wrote:
    oldschoolimport wrote:
    I looked into it, but being a firefighter and cutting folks out of cars, I don't know if I want to compromise what little structural rigidity the wagon has. A side hit will be bad enough with the roof keeping the A/B/C posts somewhat vertical. With the sliding rag/gaping hole, the side of the car will lay in on top of you.

    Mostly false information as far as the structure is concerned. The roof skin does very little in way of support. The support comes from the A, B, and C pillars and the braces that are at the front and rear of the roof skin. The center section is there purely as something over your head. And yes I am aware there are light braces that are throughout the roof skin. Those are there to support the large flat piece of sheet metal from buckling not as structural support. I understand what you are implying and obviously you have some education behind it due to your occupation but cutting a hole in the center of thin sheet metal will do little to nothing to the structure, let alone the fact that there is a frame that supports the whole system in general.

    On to my opinion of the whole thing: It leaks, its not secure, and its noisy. But I don't daily mine, I barely put 1500 miles on my car a year. It sits in an alarmed building most of the time . The noise doesn't bother me because that's the nature of the car I built. I didn't build for comfort. It rattles, has no wipers, no a/c, no heat, no power steering, or power brakes. It rides rough as hell. But I don't care because at the end of the day I have another car that has all the comforts I need that I daily. So the point of this is to say yes I love my roof. It's amazing to look out and see the stars through it. It's amazing to have open on nice days, the wind feels spectacular. However the is no way in hell I'd have one in my daily. If you don't drive your car much the yes go for it, if you do drive it a lot I'd say pass.



    And there it is from "the master himself," lol...

    answer:
    -cut a hole in your wagons roof!
    -get a motorcycle to daily
    -feel the wind reguardless of which vehicle you choose to drive :)

    excitement enough?
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    Sounds a little TOO exciting, if that's possible.
  • 90shuttle90shuttle Senior Wagonist
    jamesk wrote:
    Sounds a little TOO exciting, if that's possible.

    man you're hot then cold make up your mind!!! haha!
  • crazy_Ivancrazy_Ivan New Wagonist
    I like the sliding roof idea!

    Either that, or a glass roof, ala CRX
    498.jpg
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