Re: Advice for First Time Lowering of Spider Top

[Hal Taylor <taylor@domain.elided>]

Ken,

Brian, as usual, has excellent advice.  Definately clean the window.  I'd start
with a hose, and then very light pressure with a soft cotton rag (I use old
t-shirts).  Mcguire's (sp?) makes a polish for rubbibg out light scratches, if
necessary, and a cleaner which they claim enhances optical clarity (?).  The
scratch-remover worked well for me; haven't had enough experience to say much
about the other.

Mercedes dealers sell top care products, which came highly recommended to me by
a VERY credible source.  Don't know about the Zymol products.

As for the towel bit, I use one, which I spread over the whole window and fold
in as the top goes down.  May not be necessary, but it makes me feel better.

Guide the window carefully as it goes down.  If it creases, it can marr the
clarity.  60 degrees should be a good temperature to put down a top.  Be aware
that at very cold temps, the plastic becomes brittle, and at very warm ones
(sitting in direct sun on a warm day), it becomes very malliable and can be
subject to warpage.

DEFINATELY use the hold-downs.

With my old top, I sometimes would lower it from within the car, perhaps while
at a traffic light.  This was stupid, and I don't do it with the new one.
Learn from my mistakes.

Hal Taylor
'86 spider veloce "Strega" (recent top).



Ken Ross wrote:

> How do you recommend I clean the top?  I ordered the Zymol convertible top
> cleaner and polish, but it will not arrive until later this week at the
> earliest.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Shorey [mailto:bshorey@domain.elided]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 3:56 PM
> To: Ken Ross
> Subject: RE: Advice for First Time Lowering of Spider Top
>
> Clean the rear window inside and out - it's the abrasive stuff that causes
> the window to fog.  Also, as you lower the top try to make sure the rear
> window is nice and smoothly rolled, and that there are no creases in it.
> Some people put a rolled towel near the window to protect it.
>
> Other than that, just lower it as far as it will go, and use the hold down
> straps to keep it from bouncing around.
>
> Enjoy the ride,
>
> bs
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided]On Behalf Of
> > Ken Ross
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 5:07 PM
> > To: alfa@domain.elided
> > Subject: Advice for First Time Lowering of Spider Top
> >
> >
> > With the weather going to hit 60 degrees tomorrow, I would like to put the
> > top down on my Spider.  Any tips or advice for a first time
> > Spider owner?  I
> > am mainly concerned about the metal frame ripping the top as it's being
> > folded or stored.  Also, how far does the top fold down into the back
> > storage area?  Is the top suppose to be flush with the trunk, or raised
> > above the trunk a little?  Any assistance would be appreciated.
> >
> > Ken Ross
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

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