Re: vinyl v. cloth tops

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Stacy:

I once had a '72 Spider with a vinyl top.  It was pinpoint vinyl, and from 
20 feet away, it did almost look like cloth, but I didn't like it for 2 
reasons.  First, when the top was erected after being down for any length 
of time, it would be very wrinkly.  All the fold lines would remain for 
quite a while, but parking in direct sun would help to re-stretch the 
material and level things out again.  Second, driving with the top up would 
tend to over-stretch it, especially if the day was hot and sunny.  After 
driving a while on the highway, the horizontal surfaces of the top would 
vibrate like a drum skin, which could be very loud and irritating.  When 
the car was then parked, the top would be loose and droopy, but would 
re-shrink after a cool evening.  Even a cheap (read Caribou) cloth top 
won't exhibit any of those behaviors, and I suspect cloth also wears better 
and is much longer-lasting.

Regards,

Dean


At 09:08 AM 10/25/2002, you wrote:

> Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 22:23:57 -0700
> From: Stacy Faught <slfaught@domain.elided>
> Subject: 2 non-related questions
>
> I have two questions mabye some of you can help me with....
>
> First off---is there any real advantage to a cloth top??? I live in 
> southern california, so
> basically the spider is never driven unless it is top-down weather, and I 
> am seriously
> considering a vinyl top to replace my old, nasty top.  I know it's not 
> necessarily true to
> the original equipment, but I just can't see paying the extra $250 for 
> something that is
> rarely seen anyway.  I'm not trying to be cheap---if someone can provide 
> me with one
> good reason to get cloth, then I have no problem spending the cash....but 
> I just can't
> think of one.  Vinyl is more durable, resists sun-fade better, and frankly 
> looks the same
> from 10 ft away (so I've been led to believe....).
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