Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Cabrio World tan vinyl top, plastic rear window w/zipper
This is my second Cabrio World replacement top, the first being a more expensive black Stayfast top with a zippered glass window. I wasn't very happy with this first top due to very poor fit and the rapid deterioration of the thread holding together its various panels. The cloth was good quality but the thread soon turned white and rotted - not UV stable. It simply fall apart. I was determined not to give Cabrio World my business again since for about $1 they could have used a much higher quality thread but, options are limited. This time I went with a less expensive vinyl top with a zippered plastic window, which is more like the OEM top. This new top has been on the car now for 3 months - I like it a lot. The old top had a glass window, which was nice, but the construction of that top was not robust enough to support its greater weight and it eventually tore just above the zipper. Since I don't anticipate the top lasting more than 4-5 years, my feeling is that t! he vinyl window, with a little care, will last long enough. The other advantage is the cost: I paid $260 for the new top, which I considered a bargain. It arrived very well packed and free of defects.
And, it looks great and the fit is excellent. I had a tough time getting it closed initially, and didn't open it for a week, but the material stretches and now it looks and works great. Time will tell if quality has improved but for $260 I can afford to replace it more often. My Miata is 13 yrs old with 164K and I have no plans to get rid of it - still running strong.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Black "stay-fast" top with zippered glass window
Originally installed in Nov. of 2001, today it died, 10-4-07, RIP. I'm disappointed with the quality, fit and rate of deterioration. The material appears to be good but the thread holding it together is crap - it rotted and turned white within two years. That's just bad design, no excuse. I'll go look for a replacement and it won't be from Cabrio-world.
First review in Nov. of 2001, again in 2003.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Black Stayfast cloth top with zippered glass window. Originally installed Nov. 2001.
I installed this top in November of 2001 and wanted to update my original review. The top is still in excellent condition and functions perfectly after being raised and lowered hundreds of times. One quality problem that has emerged is that all the stitching that holds the various panels of the top together has faded badly - off white stiching on a black top does not look good. I'm worried that this stitching is being degraded by UV and will start to break, not just fade - so far this has not happened. The fabric of the top itself looks as new as when I originally installed it. The car is NOT garaged. Black magic marker works well for touch up on the thread.
Still happy with the product but it has some quality problems with proper fit and materials. Overall I'm happy with the top and would (will) buy another one when the time comes.
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Replacement convertible top for a 1994 Miata. Black "Stayfast" acrylic material and a zippered glass rear window, slightly tinted. My car had a tan top but I went with black - I like it much better. Paid $417 + 20 shipping. Arrived when expected, very well packed and undamaged.
I am 90% happy with this product, my only bad experience was with the fit - it was simply too small. The material can and does stretch, but not enough to fit my car when installed properly. I had to slot the holes where the top connects at the base of the window all the way around, there is no possible way to make any adjustment. Having done this, I am well satisfied. It took me about 5 hours to install it the first time, then I did it again with modifications - about 14 hours start to finish. If you don't enjoy tinkering with your car I suggest having someone else do it and pay the money. I've had it on for about a month now and the fit is like a drum, very tight and wrinkle free but operates and latches smoothly - perfect.
I used rubber contact cement to glue the various tabs of material to the frame of the top as required. This works well as it can be peeled off and reglued if necessary - which it was in my case. Certain parts need clamping. The material and construction of the top is first rate and looks gorgeous. The glass window is the best part and it can still be folded down just like the old plastic window. The glass is slighly domed and is quite thin, making it relatively light weight. The zipper is bigger than stock but looks kind of cheap, although it works very well. All in all I'm happy and would buy it again even with the fit problems I had. A great improvement over stock.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Stayfast canvas one-piece top with glass rear window with defroster. Rain rail attached. (on web site, listed as "Miata Non Zip Glass Window Convertible Top" Cost: $681 plus shipping.
The top came in good condition. It was packed well, and shipping was super fast. The instructions that came with it didn't even seem to belong to that top, they were so far off. By using various instructions found on this fine web site, my boyfriend and I managed to complete the installation at a leisurely pace in 8-10 hours. After completing the installation, we turned a hose on the car and had leaks galore. After about two weeks there was a heavy rain and no leaks were to be found. I imagine we were a bit impatient about letting the seals re-form to the new top and doors. Now a couple months later, and still no leaks, looks teriffic. Pricey, but if you are looking for a top that has the original zip-out window look with the convenience of a one-piece no-zip window, this is a good option. Installed on a 1991 miata. Hopefully it will last 15 years like the original top did! The "headliner" is nothing more than a flap that comes across the rear two bars. It loo! ks a bit cheesy, but I think I should be able to rig it up so it looks a little more presentable. Still trying to find a way to hook the rear defrost up, since the '91 that I have doesn't come standard with this feature.
The b-pillar clips were impossible to unscrew. We tried everything suggested on this site and had to come up with our own solution. After bolting in the rain rail, we took apart the interior a bit, and within 5 minutes had the six bolts off that were holding the frame onto the car. By puling up and forward on the frame, we were able to get a beautiful angle on the b-pillar clips to liberate them. This can be done even after the rain rail is bolted onto the car. Also, the rain rail on this top is rigid plastic. It was difficult to fit into the car, and we ended up creasing it in two places. I suggest a little patience to prevent this from happening. Even with the creases, water is able to travel through the rail to the drain, but in retrospect, I wish I didn't have that little mistake to worry about. This top came with complex instructions on how the front of the top needs to be folded and glued, but this top came with pre-formed pockets, the front of the frame fi! t snugly into them. We never used our upholstery adhesive for anything.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Vinyl no-zip glass window top
My origianl review is dated 12/9/2002. It's been 2 years since the install. The top is still working well. No holes in the vinyl. No wear marks. No drips of water getting through seams. Not bad for two years parked outside year round. The top is lowered on avg. 4 times a week all year long.
There are two things that show wear and tear after two years of use. Number one is that the top has come unglued from the front cross-member about a month ago. I rarely drive faster than 50 miles an hour, and usually with the top down, so this problem isn't due to pressure forces on the top while the top is in the up position and the car is traveling fast. Sometimes you can see a convertible with a -billowing- top which might tend to unglue the top from the cross-member. Number two is that a 2 inch section of vinyl that meets the back glass window on the outside of the top is not tight. In new condition, the space that the glass touches the vinyl, there is silicone that helps with fit and water-tightness. I have a small section that came unsiliconed. This happened within the first 6 months I owned the top. I resealed it but needs to be done again.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
90-02 Stayfast one piece cloth top with glass window
Last weekend I devoted my Saturday to installing a new top for my '90 Miata. It took 7 hours due to my cleaning and my rivet gun breaking, but it could be done in 5 or less. The only instructions inculded were for some tension straps which required drilling and riveting (making the install time a little longer than other tops), but the detailed instructions on Miata.net proved invaluable. Some holes were cut already and lined up perfectlybut a lot of them weren't. I replaced it with the frame still on the car and I would recommend this. I haven't tried it frame-off, but keeping the frame on seemed to provide some leverage while pushing and pulling the fabric over the frame. After taking out a couple of rivits from over the side windows, the top goes down smoothly. I didn't put the B-retaining clips back on as they didn't seem to be much help and with the holes not already punched for them they would be about impossible to install.
For $319 (plus tax and shipping) the top looks to be very high quality and it fits like a glove. The cloth and window are both visibly well-made. The one-piece works well and eliminates the need for having to zip up a heavy glass window. When the top is down some of the glass isn't covered by the rest of the top, so be careful when putting things on the shelf behind the seats. I am very pleased with this top and for the price you couldn't do better. 9 out of 10 because of minimal instructions and no option to include an attached rainrail.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Black vinyl top with zippered plastic window.
I had originally had a bad experience with this product. The top had a seam that was not sealed completely from the factory and I had difficulty contacting CabrioWorld through email. After posting a review here I was contacted by CabrioWorld and they sent me a new top almost immediately. Mistakes can happen, but CabrioWorld has done their part to remedy this situation. Thanks CabrioWorld. :)
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Black vinyl convertable top with zippered plastic window.
Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with CabrioWorld. Upon installation I realized the last inch of one of the seams was not completely sealed. At first I was hoping to ignore it since it seemed to be a small problem, but after having the top installed on the car for a day I realized the seam had started to pull further apart. The top has now been installed for over three weeks and the separation of the seam is quite large. I have emailed CabrioWorld twice about this and have received no response. If anyone from CabrioWorld reads this they are more than welcome to contact me about this at cheetah976@hotmail.com
Other than the seam and the lack of any communication from CabrioWorld this appears to be a quality product. It seems to fit quite well and the zipper works much better than the zipper on my old top.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Vinyl no-zip glass window top.
The top was shipped to Japan and arrived at my house in perfect condition. Installing the top took 10 hours and one trip to the hardware store. I've had the top on the car for 6 months. It's not garaged, but I use the boot only on sunny days when the top is down. The top is still in great shape and functions as new. All seams and stitching are still intact. No holes or rips, and no damage due to poor quality materials or workmanship. The top does have a couple of wrinkles near the rear window, and above each of the doors. This is due to either product design, or my amatuer installation. I'd like to think it's my fault. Cabrioworld sells lots of tops. They wouldn't sell so many if their tops were of poor quality.
My OEM top lasted 11 years. Only time will tell how long the Cabrioworld top will last. But so far, it's working well.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
The top was a tan vinyl top from Cabrio World. In comparrison with the original top, the cabrio top was made with higher quality material and fit like a glove.
This was the first time I have installed a top. On a scale from one to ten in difficulty 1 being esiest, this jop was about a 7, it wasn't easy, but it wasn't too hard either.
Think long and hard before installing your own because it isn't for the faint of heart. You could easily spend eight hours doing this kind of jop. Being that I have had prior experience taking cars apart, It came to me naturally on how to take the old top off, and re-installing the new top. It beats paying someone else 200-400 dollars to do it.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: 1.6 liter
Stayfast top with tinted glass window.
The top came within two days of ordering without a scratch. I chickened out of installing it and had it professionally installed- well worth the $325 for installation. The top looks great and the installer, who had recommended against Robbins or JC Whitney tops, said that this one "wasn't too bad- it fit pretty good". (He was a proponent on Easy-on tops which are apparently available only through professional installers.)
My installer said that from what he saw, this may be the last top this car ever needs. I think it looks great- just like having a new car (without the payment)
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Black Cabrio vinyl replacement soft top with zippered glass. Glass is not defroster equipped. Contains two retaining straps to aid in holding the weight of the window while zipping shut. Material and build quality is at least equal to original, possibly better. Glass window is approx. 35" X 15".
I have had this product on the car for about 6 months now. It replaced an 11 year old original top, so appearance of the car improved dramatically. Fit and finish are excellent. Previous leaks with old top, over door windows, went away. Vision out the rear glass is remarkable, no more sneaking a second and third look over the shoulder to see if it's safe to change lanes. I live in New England and found the ability to scrape ice and snow off the glass a huge benefit. For those who are accustomed to flipping the top up or down at a light in 3 seconds, this top may be a disappointment. You must completely unzip the window before lowering the top. It also requires extra effort to re-zip the window once the top has been raised, due to the weight of the glass. Initially I was concerned, but quickly realized that it only took a few seconds longer than I was used to, once I got the hang of it.
Six months in and I'm still leak free, not something I can say about the top it replaced. It still looks as new as the day it was installed. There are zero scatches on the glass, and I'm hardly gentle with it. I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a replacement top.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Sunfast Top with Glass Window
I've never installed a top before so was a little concerned about potential problems. I started the removal of the old top at 10:00 AM; had the top totaly replaced by 3:00 PM. Even fit lunch in there. This top fit beautifully and the job was much easier than I expected after reading all the information on Miata.net. The included installation instructions were of little use; the illustrated top replacement guide on Miata.net made the job go easy. The top looks fantastic on the car, it gives it a rich look and of course the glass window is a terrific upgrade. I don't know how the Robbins top could be any better than this one and the savings were substantial. Don't be afraid of re-using the rain rail - if you can use a pop riveter, it's easy. I'd highly recommend this product to anyone with average mechanical skills.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Black Stayfast cloth soft top with glass rear window
I purchased the top via the web and received it within 4 days, had it professionally installed.Great fit, looks wonderful, the zipper is a bit of a pain to use but seems a bit sturdier than the zipper on the stock top.
I am really pleased with this top, especially since I can see through my rear window for the first time since I bought my Miata. I can't wait to be able to use an ice scraper on the rear window! I am also pleased that the stoc boot, while a bit tight, will fit over this top when it is down.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Black Cabrio Vinyl, Tinted Glass Zippered Window
After having the stitching come out of my plastic rear window (2nd window, dealer installed. Go figure.) I decided that it was time for a glass window top. Took the chance on the Cabrio top after reading other reviews, and I'm glad I did. I should point out that Cabrio World defines 'tinted' as the slight greenish-blue UV coating that comes on most normal automotive glass, and it is indiscernible from normal untinted Miata windows. $325 delivered for a glass window, better-than-OEM quality top has got to be the best value in tops around. To sum, if you are as fanatical about your Miata as your pocketbook allows you to be (like me) then this top will not disappoint.
I was very pleased with the quality of the top when I received it- the vinyl is very black and glossy, and looks to be as thick if not *slightly* thicker than OEM vinyl, the glass is securely heat-sealed and stitched, and the zipper is much beefier than stock. The down points are the included instructions (which have obviously been done on MS Word with no pictures and somewhat dubious descriptions), and the lack of a pocket in the front leading edge of the top to tuck the front brace into. Installation was straightforward, tedious, and well worth the money and inevitable frustration saved from having a pro install it. The only difficult part was the infamous B-pillar retainer clips, about which I have no more to say other than that they are the most fiendish instruments of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man (Read as: save your sanity- buy a small ratcheting screwdriver when you go for rivets).
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Cabrio world Stayfast top with glass zipper window, $417.
first I'll say the top looks a hell of a lot nicer than my stock top! Went on fairly easy with provided instruction. My only gripe is that the zipper sucks, you need three hands to zip it. Overall though, price, quality, appearance, I am very happy!
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Cloth replacement top with tinted glass window.
Replaced OEM top after window developed crack. Custom color (pepper) cloth top with tinted glass window. Cost $401.00 plus $20.00 shipping. Installed top myself with the directions and tips from garage section of Miata.net, no directions were shipped with top. Install went well and top looks great there are two wrinkles that may go away as it settles.
Glass window upgrade is awesome!
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Cabrio dark blue vinyl top with tinted glass zippered rear window. Price was $305 plus $20 for shipping.
It seemed a very good quality on examination and the installer, not knowing whose it was, commented on the high quality. He said it was better than most tops and easier to install. It really looks sharp in blue against the silver. The rear window has a higher heat seal under it but the view from the rearview mirror is fully outside and crystal clear. I am very pleased with the product and the service I got from Cabrio World.
The reviews here on this product were good and I emailed them inquiring about colors. I got a message back in an hour that samples of available colors for my Miata were in the mail to me. When I ordered online, I got an email that the dark blue (for my Silver 1991 A) was a special order. That was Thursday, it came the following Tuesday! It was installed a week later for $357 here in the Boston area (6.5 hours at $55.00 per the "book").
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Factory style replacement top. Vinyl with a zippered rear window
Overall very pleased. Thicker than stock materials. The rear window has a wide heat seal and seems to be very high quality. The price was what attracted me ($199-$212w/shipping), and I'm surprised at what I got. It looks great!!! Installing it was a pain in the rear...I wish it came with the rain rail already attached!! The instructions were a little unclear...If it weren't for Miata.net I don't think I could have gotten through!!
Great value...Great Product and very helpful sales staff. Highly recommended for a cheap replacement.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97
After my wifes top on her 1995 Miata was ripped, I took a chance on a Cabrio World replacement top. I was skeptical of the incredibly low price, but they had a few good reviews so I thought, what the heck. I ordered a tan vinyl with a glass rear window. The total cost plus shipping was $325.
The only bad thing I can say about the top is that the instructions left a lot to be desired. I took care of this by printing Brian Dore's instructions from the garage section. They were perfect. Also the new top did not come with the 6 rivets that are needed. With a little research, I found the size needed are 5mm. This size is a touch to small, so the hole needs to be drilled out. Total time to drill all 6 holes was about 30 seconds. No big deal. The vinyl seems to be a touch thicker than the original. The rear window is a little bit smaller, but is still better than the view through plastic. I reused my rain rail. I was warned that taking it off the old top was a pain, but mine was detached in less than 10 minutes. I had a new drill bit, so this may have helped.
Overall, the top looks great. I personally feel it looks better than the cloth Robbins that's on my '91. In fact, when it's replacement time, the silver car is getting one of these. The color matches up perfectly. For the price, it is a great deal. I am quite proud of myself for being able to take on this project. One place someone may need help is taking the frame out of the car, and later replacing it. The weight isn't the issue, the frame work is awkward to handle. Cabrio World had the top to me in less than a week, and their reps were very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this item to anyone.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Black OE vinyl with glass rear window.
Overall, I am very satisfied. The fit is perfect and the addition of the glass window really helps with visibility. Top installed fairly easily with the instructions that were included. The vinyl seems to be the same as I had on the original top. I paid $305 for the top and could not be happier.
I was surprised to find a top with a glass window this inexpensive so I was skeptical at first. Now that the top is installed I have no more doubts though. I ordered the top online, very easy. The top came in 2 days (fast shipment). I attempted to fit it myself and found that it required a little more work than I had expected. It was not too bad though. I called on a friend to help me finish the installation. We spread the work out over the weekend. The hardest part was re-attaching the original rain rail. We found 5mm rivets worked well for this.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '90 - '97
Black replacement soft top with plastic rear window.
The top went on pretty easy with instructions from Miata.net. (The instructions included with the top were very similar.) The fit is average-- not nearly as tight as some I've seen, although this may change with time. The materials seem about as good as those on any other budget-priced OEM-style replacement top.
Altogether, I'm very satisfied. I only paid $207 including shipping for this top and it was new. These tops are commonly sold (and resold) on eBay, although you can order them direct from the guy at Cabrio World like I did. They do not include a rain rail, which isn't really that hard to reattach. If you are looking for the cheapest possible way to replace your soft top yourself, this is it.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
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