Kwiktops

Kwiktops

[12/1/2009] Reviewed by: Michael Andretta - mandretta@bellsouth.net

Applicable to: '99-'05 1.8 liter

Black vinyl top with glass rear window. Product came with rain rail attached.

This product has been a horrible mistake from the start. I paid to have it professionally installed, and the installer even mentioned how poorly the top was made. It fits so badly that unless I lower the passenger window, I can't open the door because the top hangs over so far. The top doesn't go down all the way, until I removed the wind blocker. The cables for the defroster broke off the first time I used them, and caused it to spark until I turned it off.

When I called the company to solve the problem, the only solution they offered was for me to take off the top and send it back into them (all at my own expense). And then if they find that the top is defective they will then send me a new top. I would then have to pay to have it installed. If it was not defective, they would send my old (garbage) top back to me (at my own expense again), and then I would have to pay to install it. This whole process would take up to three weeks they told me. So basically I would have three weeks without a top and have to pay for it all. They would offer no other solutions. Oh, but they did say that I could solder the wires for the defroster back on pretty easily. DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY!!!

Over 30 minutes to remove completely

Kwiktop brand Sunfast cloth & glass window top

[2/2/2006] Reviewed by: Michael Elkin - m_elkin@msn.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter

Kwiktop Sunfast cloth top (Black) with lightly tinted glass back window

Very satisfied with quality and fit. instructions are fairly clear and include some photos. Includes rivets and nylon straps to convert your tops frame to a no drop rear glass configuration and nylon "Slide sleaves" for frame conversion to a "No zip" top. This is not a small job Boys and Girls and a second warm body will make installation go much smoother. One point worth noting is that the front corner pockets are sewn in place (unlike most other "quality" tops) making the final fitment much easier. Notes on installation; 1. Get the rain rail. 2. Get the rain rail. 3. Get the rain rail. I didn't, believing my old one was fine. It was not to tough to get out but, while reattaching it to the new top and installing it, I did damage it and I now have minor leaking into my trunk. Not a fault of the top, all my own. now I have a rain rail replacement to look forward to. Also, Proper rain rail installation is critical to fitment, take your time, no short cuts here please. 4. I reccomend buying longer pop rivets for the rain rail so you can place washers on either side for a more secure attach points. 5. You will need to replace at least some of the plastic carpet retainer push plugs if like me, you damage some of them when taking the old ones out.

I did the install on my own and it took me over 10 hours. I printed a couple of different install instructions from this site and found their information very helpful. I highly recommend doing the no drop glass conversion to the frame as I have found it more difficult than the stock plastic window was to unzip. Finally, the top was extremely tight when completed and I had to use an embarrassing combination of wood working clamps and muscle to get the top closed, remember, I did this solo. now, 3 months later, the top is still tight and wrinkle/crease free but closes much easier, just like it was when new. Over all this is an Excellent top with quality workmanship throughout. I highly recommend it without reservation.

Over 30 minutes to remove completely

Kwiktop glass window soft top

[11/19/2004] Reviewed by: Nick Neves - sevenup@rocketmail.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97

This is the Kwiktop glass window soft top available on ebay for around $250. I chose to pay extra for the option to drop the top without unzipping the window. My total cost after taxes, shipping, and options was just over $400.

Installation took a while but the project was straight forward and rewarding. The upgrade to no-zip drop looked kind of chinzy at first, and it tripled the time that it takes me to put the top up and down, but was worth it and I would do it again. The quality of the top was pretty good, but the main zipper looked like it wouldn't last long if it was used all the time, so I wouldn't recommend this top without the no-zip option. The car looks great with the new top - it made a huge differance. Wind noise is the same, but the top seals rain out better. Make sure to clean out the drain holes while you have the top off, a lot of crud tends to collect in there. The glass window is a huge visablity improvement over the plastic. Other than the zipper, the quality is good and this top is a great money saving alternative to the more expensive tops on the market.

Over 30 minutes to remove completely