Honda S2000

[Payman]

That's really not a fair comparison. I'm sure Mazda's engineers are much better than Honda's.

I'm sure the NC and ND tops are equally a PITA to change.

[Cookie Monster]

NC top is an ass to remove. Even worse if you want to remove the top from the frame.

[Rupert]

Dunno about the S2000, but the NA Miata top can be replaced in 20 minutes.

?

To remove the top + frame or just the top? Changing the top while the frame is on the car is a big job. It took me something like 15 hours, though I did have to make a couple extra trips to the store and I hadn't done it before. Just removing the old top was probably more than 20 minutes...

[Payman]

?

To remove the top + frame or just the top? Changing the top while the frame is on the car is a big job. It took me something like 15 hours, though I did have to make a couple extra trips to the store and I hadn't done it before. Just removing the old top was probably more than 20 minutes...

Yeah, disregard. Previous owner of my Miata replaced the torn top with an aftermarket one, and he must have meant replacement with the frame off. My bad.

[AutobahnSHO]

I remember it was like $800 for previous owner to replace the top on my Miata- $200 parts, $600 labor.

[Rupert]

If you have the right stuff and a sense of how to glue and manipulate fabric, the only hard part is dealing with the rain rail, but it still takes a lot of work.

[MrH]

Well, the top didn't come with the instructions or bag of components. I emailed the company I bought it from and waiting for a reply

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

O shit.....

[MrH]

Just dropped some dough on the whole sound system.

Head unit, speakers, amp. Holding off on a sub to see how this sounds first.

[68_427]

What did you go with?

[MrH]

Pioneer DEX 9600BHS. Kind of expensive for a single din unit, but it's got all the bells and whistles and looks the best by far.

2 sets of pioneer 3 way component speakers. Blaupunkt 4 channel amp. Bought the controller for the audio controls by the steering wheel.

Going to wire in for a sub. If I decide I need one, then I just need to plug it in.

[68_427]

I paid at least that for my HU.  I think it's worth it if it's something that has the features and you don't hate looking at or using.

[BimmerM3]

Well, the top didn't come with the instructions or bag of components. I emailed the company I bought it from and waiting for a reply

If it makes you feel any better, I've put one actual patch where I could see through my roof (tiny tear - used some silicon sealant plus an iron-on patch on the inside), plus a few preventative patches (more iron-on patches), to avoid having to replace my roof. I wish you the best of luck, and I'm sure I'll consult you when my roof inevitably does need to be completely replaced.

Pioneer DEX 9600BHS. Kind of expensive for a single din unit, but it's got all the bells and whistles and looks the best by far.

2 sets of pioneer 3 way component speakers. Blaupunkt 4 channel amp. Bought the controller for the audio controls by the steering wheel.

Going to wire in for a sub. If I decide I need one, then I just need to plug it in.

Sounds like a great setup! I'm still running stock in mine, but the stereo in the later years was supposed to be way better. I think you'll be pretty happy though - the sub shouldn't be necessary unless you're super picky. The only time my stereo sounds really lacking is really when the radio station doesn't have great service - switching to a stronger station or to a CD usually sounds MUCH better. I do wish I had an AUX input for my phone, but otherwise, I think you'll be set!

[MrH]

I paid at least that for my HU.  I think it's worth it if it's something that has the features and you don't hate looking at or using.

Yeah, it's just all adding up to quite a bit. I spent more on this car than I was planning for a Miata. And I've probably spent an additional $1400 so far and I still don't have everything I need to get it to where I want it. Still need coilovers. Then I've got all the work of putting this thing together.

If it makes you feel any better, I've put one actual patch where I could see through my roof (tiny tear - used some silicon sealant plus an iron-on patch on the inside), plus a few preventative patches (more iron-on patches), to avoid having to replace my roof. I wish you the best of luck, and I'm sure I'll consult you when my roof inevitably does need to be completely replaced.

Sounds like a great setup! I'm still running stock in mine, but the stereo in the later years was supposed to be way better. I think you'll be pretty happy though - the sub shouldn't be necessary unless you're super picky. The only time my stereo sounds really lacking is really when the radio station doesn't have great service - switching to a stronger station or to a CD usually sounds MUCH better. I do wish I had an AUX input for my phone, but otherwise, I think you'll be set!

There's an auto upholstery shop about two blocks from work that has good reviews. I read through the instructions. Totally going to have them quote it. If it's $600 or under, I'm going to pay to get it done.

This audio setup should be awesome when it's done. I got that Modifry dash mount and some hardware to wire in a phone charger. Should be able to put my phone up there and have navigation and music through it

[68_427]

I spent ~$800 on my stereo and that's with refurbed parts, no amp, and no sub. 

[Soup DeVille]

Pioneer DEX 9600BHS. Kind of expensive for a single din unit, but it's got all the bells and whistles and looks the best by far.

2 sets of pioneer 3 way component speakers. Blaupunkt 4 channel amp. Bought the controller for the audio controls by the steering wheel.

Going to wire in for a sub. If I decide I need one, then I just need to plug it in.

That's what I'm running in the wagon. It's been a real good unit for me

[MrH]

That's what I'm running in the wagon. It's been a real good unit for me

Glad you like it. The display looks better than what's on my microwave, which is more than most single din stereos can say. It has HD radio, Bluetooth with Siri, siriusxm, 6 channel pre amp output @ 4 volts. Basically the only head unit I could find that all of that and didn't look ridiculous.

[CALL_911]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJKs_P1WxBI&feature=youtu.be

[MrH]

It only took 4 guys an entire day and night to complete

So I called the upholstery guy.  Old dude that's only 3 minutes from my work.  I told him I have an S2000 and he said he's replaced a ton and in talking with him, I could tell he knew all the details.  He asked what top, glass or plastic rear window, everything.  Quoted $500 and he could do it in one business day.

Deal.  I read through the instructions.  I don't want that head ache.

[Payman]

It only took 4 guys an entire day and night to complete

So I called the upholstery guy.  Old dude that's only 3 minutes from my work.  I told him I have an S2000 and he said he's replaced a ton and in talking with him, I could tell he knew all the details.  He asked what top, glass or plastic rear window, everything.  Quoted $500 and he could do it in one business day.

Deal.  I read through the instructions.  I don't want that head ache.

What happened with the hard top? Did the guy keep it?

[MrH]

Yeah.  He wanted $1200 for it.  It would have sat in the garage gathering dust so I didn't go for it.

[AutobahnSHO]

I could tell he knew all the details.  ...Quoted $500 and he could do it in one business day.

score!!!

I'm totally jealous, would love to have a sweet ride and the money to pimp it out.

[12,000 RPM]

Somewhere, someone is shaking their fist, screaming "BUILT NOT BOUGHT"

If slaving away on cars was so fun, mechanics would work for free

[MrH]

true dat.  I can do most car work myself.  I'm just painfully slow at it and hate it.  I enjoy the end result, but not the work itself.

I figure I pay for the soft top installation.  Experience and skill doing that is a big benefit that I don't have.  I'll install the stereo myself.  That's cake by comparison.

[SVT_Power]

true dat.  I can do most car work myself.  I'm just painfully slow at it and hate it.  I enjoy the end result, but not the work itself.

That's pretty much the conclusion I came to a while ago, except I actually enjoy working on cars in general

Wrenching on cars isn't hard. As long as you have a desire to do it, anybody can do it.

But the difference between an amateur and a pro mechanic is the speed at which you do the same job.

[Soup DeVille]

Somewhere, someone is shaking their fist, screaming "BUILT NOT BOUGHT"

If slaving away on cars was so fun, mechanics would work for free

Not being your car makes a bit of difference. Lots of people have hobbies doing what other people get paid to do.
That being said; it can be rewarding. It can also be a pain in the ass.

[SVT_Power]

Also the single most nightmare thing I had to do on my ol' contour was installing a new HU. Absolute PITA. Figured it'd take a couple of hours doing it with a friend who had done HU installs before, nope took us probably 6-8 hours.

Didn't realize the car had a factory amp tucked in behind the glove compartment. So had to splice all the  speaker cables directly into the HU. Then to top it all off, the damn stock HU had this weird bracket to make it fit into the center console which of course the new HU didn't fit into. So had to hack at that thing to make everything fit.

At least it sounded much better than stock...

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I work on mine, but I don't enjoy it(90% of the time).

I do it for 2 reasons:

1: I'm a cheap sumbitch
2: I'm a picky sumbitch aka nobody will ever do it right or as good as I would.

It's a tough situation, I'd much rather be driving.

[CaminoRacer]

I work on mine, but I don't enjoy it(90% of the time).

I do it for 2 reasons:

1: I'm a cheap sumbitch
2: I'm a picky sumbitch aka nobody will ever do it right or as good as I would.

It's a tough situation, I'd much rather be driving.

Yup.

[12,000 RPM]

My general rule of thumb is if I can't get it done on a Sunday afternoon.... to the shop it goes. It's also a lot different when you only have one car and depend on it to get you to work