I am seriously contemplating purchasing a 2009 Cabrio, but I'm concerned about the Cabrio top's wear and tear with respect to: marks, spots, creases, rips, tears, fading, etc. If I plan to keep my anticipated new car 3 years, should I be okay? Anybody have regrets about buying a Cabrio from the above-mentioned perspective? I presently own my first ever convertible, a VW Eos (a hardtop convertible) and I'm loving the convertible part of it, but not the VW part of it - and I don't have those about-mentioned worries. I would greatly appreciate any input/thoughts here - thanks!

 

It's a fabric top and it will wear (everything does). But if you are only keeping it three years, you'll be fine.

I was looking at an Eos for my wife. What kind of issues are you having?

Cheers!
Lee

 

Isnover,

Hot orange - my favorite color! How old is yours and how well is your top holding up? Do you love it? Any regrets? Would you buy the cabrio again?How is the rear visibility/blind spots?

I love my 2007 Eismeer Blue VW Eos when it's right. However, I did have a VW Passat in 2002 and after just 2 years - everything (and I mean everything) seemed to go wrong with it. I vowed that I would never ever buy another VW again. However, the Eos got some really good reviews and I was willing to take a chance because of the hardtop convertible perspective. However, I'm always keeping in mind that VW does have a reputation for crappy reliability and not so good resale value - nothing like the Mini. I paid $37,000 for mine and I only have 19,000 miles on it and it's worth approximately $24,000 as I write.

The issues with my Eos so far have been: convertible top got stuck in the process of opening up; driver's side window got stuck in the process of opening/closing; malfunction light was continuously showing (software problem) - all three have since been fixed. Presently as I write, my car is leaking on the drivers side top - just south of where the convertible top fits into place when it closes. Moreover, I do not like my particular VW Service Department - it's second class to the Acura one I often used when I owned a RSX. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Neil

 

I have about 35k on my 2006 MCS convertible, and my wife has about 25k on hers, with a LOT of opening/closing the top. Both of our cars have small "shiny spots" in the fabric top above the rear windows from the fabric being compressed when the tops down, but neither one has begun to fray (which was a problem with some of the 2005 models when the convertible first came out.)

Other than that, no rips/tears/creases/fading/staining, or anything like that, on her black top or my blue top.

 

ScottRiqui, Do you or your wife have any regrests about going the Mini Cabrio route? How is the rear visibilityblind spots - is it an issue? Thanks for your input - that helps lots.

 

No regrets at all, and I came from a pretty big car (1972 Mercedes). The MINIs are daily-drivers for both of us, although we do have an old truck that gets used about 5 times a year when we really need to do "truck stuff". MY wife is in the middle of an 8,000 mile road trip right now and is having a blast. I drove mine cross-country from Virginia to California last year when I started school here, and it did great, even loaded down.

They're roomier inside than you would think, too. I'm 6'2", 210 lbs and there's plenty of room. I don't even drive with the seat all the way back, which is a first for me.

The visibility out the back is pretty lousy with the top up - don't let anyone tell you different, but as long as you adjust your mirrors correctly, it's not that big of a bother.

 

i have a 2005 and so far its been ok...except for white marks

 

Moss Mini has these great birdseye mirrors that help the rear visibility:
http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...96&SortOrder=1

 

I have had a number of convertibles over time. One which was on a Mercedes SL, that you would assume has the highest quality top available.

In comparison, I am very surprised on the quality of the MINI top. The canvas is thick, a tight weave and in my opinion is just as nice as my SL top was.

I say I'm surprised because the MINI is only a $30K car. I would think that MINI [BMW] could have cut corners on the top so to save a little on manufacturing costs. But they did not. The mechanics and the top material are top notch [pun intended.]

Also very surprised at how quiet the MINI is with the top up. It's either a good design or my hearing is going out from standing next to amplifiers at night clubs. Maybe a combo of both.

As to wear, like others have said, my 2006 has small shiny spots where the cloth top rubs against the mechanics. But with 24,000 miles and lots of top use, there's only those two little shiny spots. The material is intact and not fraying.

All tops wear out over time, maybe five years if abused. It will last longer if one cleans it frequently, cleans it properly, and puts protectant on the top about once a month.

The best way to trash the top in three to four years is to not clean it and to put it through the car wash. IMHO if one owns a convertible top car, it should NEVER be put through the automatic car wash. The car should be hand washed.

And you need to use the proper cleaners on the top. Harsh soap and water will kill the top faster than your MINI running over a critter on the highway.

As to protectant, I use a special one meant for tops. It seals out dirt [dirt getting into the fabric is what destroys a top.]

That's my take on it.

 

What do you use?

 

i wan to know too

 

Others may differ, but here is what I use for cleaning and protection, Raggtopp. The cleaner and the protectant [separate products] have got the best reviews on the Net.

http://www.amazon.com/RaggTopp-2141-.../dp/B0002KKIUK

http://www.amazon.com/RaggTopp-RT214...367682-2877508

If you get both from the same seller on Amazon, Palm Beach Motoring Accessories, it comes out to $37.73 shipped.

There's other products out there but for now RaggTopp works fine for me.

 

Here's a good Site that discusses RaggTopp and also 303 products [another good cleaner and protectant.]

http://properautocare.com/besprodforfa.html

 

Much thanks for the information. I tend to grab a sponge and soap up everything. I guess this is a NO with a cabrio. I never got into the art of detailing. The other cabrios I have had were more of a "vinyl/non-porus type" of material, not sure what it was, but it just washed down with soap/water. I'll be more careful with the MINI. Thanks again.

 

Ok... I have to comment on the original post...

1) its kinda funny that you worry about a simple item that if it does wear can easily be replaced and not for that huge amount of money

2) You go and buy an EOS that has a top that is so incredible complicated and once the warranty runs out will cost bukoo bucko's to fix. I contemplated an EOS but once I saw the ***** Wonka Mousetrap gizmo, ratcheting mechanisms that were involved, I said No thanks..

3) Your resale value is low because its a specialty car, the hardtop convertible is too new to gain much trust and its expensive to begin with.

4) Not all VW's have poor resale value. My ( new to me) VW Jetta 2006.5 MY TDi ( turbo diesel) has actually GAINED about 4K in resale value. In fact my '06 TDI with 9K miles is worth more than a 2007 same equipped GAS jetta with 1/2 the miles.



Now insofar as the blind spots? Go to your local parts store and get these. They cost $3.50 for two, are very high quality and the mirrors actually move to adjust to different angles.. its like having a mini mirror in your mirror.

these are very good quality and the mirror is very clear

 

ScottRiqui, thanks for more invaluable input.
Bobj, thanks for the Moss Mini info.
MichaelSF/Mini1966, thanks so very much for taking the time to write such a detailed/informative response. You each made some very good points.
MichaelSF, I gained lots of confidence in the quality of the Mini top because of what you shared/your experiences.
Mini1966, thanks for your insights on convertible tops and resale value.

I'm feeling much better at becoming a 2 Mini family - as we just ordered a 2009 Mini Cooper for my wife the other day. I'm also hoping that the new rollover bar adjustments that are going to be made will help with the blind spots, besides mirror accessories that could be bought.

Thanks again to all who help me/others out on this awesome website. I continue to welcome/appreciate any further input.

 

I have used those convex mirrors on all my cars, since day one. Whenever I get a new car first thing I do is go to the auto supply store and get the biggest mirrors that will fit on the car's side mirrors. I am so used to NOT turning my head when changing lanes, that I am at a loss without these mirrors.

Bonus Tip to the OP: Don't get the smaller mirrors. The smaller the mirror, the harder it is to see cars in the mirror, that is, on the passenger side mirror.

On my MINI I grabbed the 3" diameter sized and those fit fine. I think that is the only size Kragen had at the time, others were too small or big.

Like he says, these mirrors eliminated blind spot issues on the MINI.

Bonus Tip: It takes a month or so to get used to the mirrors. At first you will be frustrated, but eventually you can't drive without them.

A good way to get used to them and to judge distance is to look in the mirror, see how far a car is away, then physically look back and see where the car is. Eventually it's second nature judging actual distance of objects that are in the mirror.

MINI1966... I have two of those adjustible mirrors on my scooter. Work quite well. But on my MINI I have power mirrors, so that works well enough. But those adjustables are cool the way they work.

 

If you want to try 303 instead of RaggTopp, and you have an eBay account, this is a decent deal:

http://tinyurl.com/6kj8y4

I am putting my money where my mouth is and buying a kit. Curious which one is better. Plus the 303 is $15 cheaper for the kit over RaggTopp. Like I said, both get good reviews, so if 303 works out, I am all for saving $15.

By the way, the RaggTopp protectant looks to last about two applications. So that would be about a two month supply, assuming one application a month. So the 303 savings would add up over a year's time.

Also, as you can see, RaggTopp comes in an aerosol can, 303 in a hand pump bottle. I prefer hand pumps on stuff I use [less waste, more control, etc.] So 303 is a plus on that basis.

Sheesh.... all these friggin details.

 

I washed my MINI last night, using the RaggTopp cleaner and protectant on the top. Last night was the second application and the containers feel like there's two more applications left, maybe.

I'll revise my estimate on how many RaggTopp applications you can get out of the cleaner and protectant. Looks to me like there are three to four cleaning and protectant applications per kit [cleaner and protectant.]

That's pretty good for the price.

 

2006 cabrio here, 39,000 miles, hundreds of open/close cycles so far, shiny spots like everyone else but no other problems. I vacuum the top when it's dirty, rinse using the spray nozzle with water only (no soap), clean with 303 fabric cleaner and treat with 303 fabric protector about every 4 months. Other than the slightly shiny spots (which are less noticable after a 303 treatment), it looks and sheds water like new.

All that said, you ARE buying a much more complicated mechanism when you buy the convertible top, and it IS more likely to fail at some point than a hard top (duh...).... those of use who are long-term convertible people know that goes with the territory. I kept my last convertible 8 years, and plan to keep this one forever. I'm sure I'll replace the top someday.

 

The dealer replaced my top due to wear spots this past spring. I could have lived with the spots but since they offered I took them up on the deal.
I use 303 twice a year, when it is really hot out. Heat helps the product cure and last longer. One plus for 303 over Raggtop is that you can dump 303 into a dish and paint it on. No overspray issues that you might have with an aerosol like Raggtop. Both products along with Renovo are well respected and offer basically the same protection and durability.

 

My top was replaced at the 10k service due to white marks. I was just at the dealer for the 25k service, and asked about the new white marks. He stated that it was not considered wear, and would not be replaced at this time, unless it starts to fray. New SA at the dealer.

Might I recommend the Multivex mirror? I bought one for the passenger's side, and love it! I can't remember where I bought it, but if you do a search here, I'm sure there is a link. IMHO, much better than the little round mirrors (but quite a bit more pricey).

Regrets? NONE.

 

I've used Raggtop and 303, they both work great. I keep a big jug of 303 in the garage now.

Regular cleaning and treatment is the best way for maximum longevity. Any contaminants (bird drops, sap, etc) should be rinsed off in a timely manner.

edit: Cleaning and treatment seems to lessen the shiny spots...

 

05 cab owner here, have had mine since february. Had the top replaced due to shiny spots, but tbh, they weren't really that bad to start with. Took the mechanic a few tries to get the new top adjusted properly, but once that was done, there are NO wear issues.

A few remarks and observations. First, these tops ain't cheap, not unless you think $2400 for a new top plus labor costs (at least one full day, plus adjustments) is cheap. Lucky for a good warranty though.

Second, I'll go a bit against the grain here and suggest that mild soap and water are ok, provided you use a product like 303 protectant afterwards. Have been doing that to a vette (black cloth top) for over 7 years and the top looked brand new when I sold it (top was 11 years old at the time). No reason these tops shouldn't last at least as long with basic care.

Car washes, while not the best way to clean your car, are sometimes unavoidable, at least in my area, where freezing temps all winter prevents home washing and salt on the road require frequent cleaning, especially the back window and the top. Btw, the back window is a dirt magnet on these cars, moreso on the cabrio. I do have to give high marks to the cabrio engineers though, in a high pressure carwash, the top hardly leaks a drop... that's impressive, coming from someone who's owned a fair number of vertibles.

+1 on the multivex mirror, have one on the pass side and solved 90% of my blindspot problems (still have the occasional issue backing out of parking spots).

Oh, 7k miles on the new top so far and everything is still good!

 

I think this is really the key... the shiny spots seem to be the result of the top material rubbing against itself when retracted. Adjusting the "stops" properly so that the retracted top sits just a bit higher, to keep the weight of the mechanism from resting on this material fold seems to be the important part. I've been meaning to spend some time tinkering with mine and see if I can figure out where the stops are that would allow adjustment of this... but haven't gotten around to it...