Ceramic coat

[Nanu]

Aye, nae taste

If you had taste, you both would have stuck with the e89

Now, now [ref]Nanu[/ref], you know we’re never going to agree that the G29 is the superior car, that and I can pack more than one change of clothes when I’m away on a run

If you behave yourself I’ll let you have a closer look at the weekend :wink: but that’ll only be while it’s stopped

Will take you up on that offer, if for no other reason to confirm I have the right Zed. I will be happy to remind you of what your missing when I pull into the car park.

Must admit if the G29 had a tin roof I would have bought one, most likely the same colour and model as yours. Just don't like ragtops but judging by the weather forecast it will be tops down for all so you can hide it away out of sight and just pretend.
Will get wrong for the missus as she has just had her hair done but.......

 

[ori]

If you had taste, you both would have stuck with the e89

Now, now [ref]Nanu[/ref], you know we’re never going to agree that the G29 is the superior car, that and I can pack more than one change of clothes when I’m away on a run

If you behave yourself I’ll let you have a closer look at the weekend :wink: but that’ll only be while it’s stopped

Will take you up on that offer, if for no other reason to confirm I have the right Zed. I will be happy to remind you of what your missing when I pull into the car park.

Must admit if the G29 had a tin roof I would have bought one, most likely the same colour and model as yours. Just don't like ragtops but judging by the weather forecast it will be tops down for all so you can hide it away out of sight and just pretend.
Will get wrong for the missus as she has just had her hair done but.......

It’s funny, but most are binning the tin roof. Merc have ditched it on the SL.

On an annoying note. Rained sand today. Was insane. All the cars got covered! My car created lovely beads of water with sand in them!

 

[Nanu]

The Orange sand from the Sahara is Gods way of letting people know what is the best colour for a Zed

Metal roof, personal choice I know, but think after the development of a retractable metal roof, a cloth roof is a backward step. It does increase weight but with a 3 litre turbo engine under the bonnet I would defy anyone to notice the increase. The only other down side is the reduction of boot space but as long as I can get a full set of golf clubs and a electric trolley in there, which I can, I am happy.

Not to mention of course it looks better

 

[Argyll Andy]

Not to mention of course it looks better

:rcard: :rcard: :rcard:

 

[Scubaregs]

The fact that most manufacturers have went away from tin roofs and back to soft tops speaks volumes I think.

 

[ori]

The Orange sand from the Sahara is Gods way of letting people know what is the best colour for a Zed

Metal roof, personal choice I know, but think after the development of a retractable metal roof, a cloth roof is a backward step. It does increase weight but with a 3 litre turbo engine under the bonnet I would defy anyone to notice the increase. The only other down side is the reduction of boot space but as long as I can get a full set of golf clubs and a electric trolley in there, which I can, I am happy.

Not to mention of course it looks better

Had to wash the car again today. Couldn’t stand that sand!

Tin tops were a great idea for the time, but they did have drawbacks. It’s not just the extra weight, but where the weight goes…..high up the car! The worst place for it.
Also the balance of the car did change when you dropped the roof and it moved that weight backwards.

Judging by issues with roofs in the longer term it negates the roof lasts longer argument too. What is so appealing about a hard top? I did find myself saying I wouldn’t get a g29 because of the soft top, but I couldn’t actually justify my reasons for it.

There is a reason they ditched these hard tops.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved my e89, but having the extra boot space is also very useful.

 

[Silverstar]

The fact that most manufacturers have went away from tin roofs and back to soft tops speaks volumes I think.

Soon most manufacturers will do away with both soft and tin tops in favour of stupid SUVs!

 

[ori]

The fact that most manufacturers have went away from tin roofs and back to soft tops speaks volumes I think.

Soon most manufacturers will do away with both soft and tin tops in favour of stupid SUVs!

Sad truth.

We used to love convertibles….especially 2 seaters, but the market has changed. Funny how every person I take in the car wants roof down driving though.

 

[Silverstar]

The fact that most manufacturers have went away from tin roofs and back to soft tops speaks volumes I think.

Soon most manufacturers will do away with both soft and tin tops in favour of stupid SUVs!

Sad truth.

We used to love convertibles….especially 2 seaters, but the market has changed. Funny how every person I take in the car wants roof down driving though.

Not only that but now we are being pushed into these silly things called EVs. Whilst they might be fine to replace your diesel hatchback but in a performance car as far as I am concerned EVs just don't cut it. The sound and feel and the gear change be it double clutch manual or whatever makes up for 50% of the experience which you just don't get from your Taycans Teslas and what not.

 

[tiglon]

I have no preference on soft or hard top convertible, doesn't bother me either way, I love them both. If anything, I probably sway slightly towards the soft top because it's harder to forget you're in a convertible.

I would suggest that the main reason manufacturers have gone back to soft tops is that they're a lot cheaper and simpler to design and build.

If no one wants a roadster of any variety, why bother spending more to give people the hard top? Sales figures will be the same either way.

 

[Scubaregs]

I would suggest that the main reason manufacturers have gone back to soft tops is that they're a lot cheaper and simpler to design and build.

I would suggest, as already stated, weight saving and increased boot space and also that modern soft tops are far superior to those of days past negating the need for tin top. Security is moot as it's as easy to force open a door or break a window as get in through a soft top roof. I doubt the cost comes into it as that is simply passed on to the customer.

I wonder if BMW offered tin top and soft top versions at difference price points, what the sales for each would be.

 

[Armscarf]

[ref]ori[/ref], which ceramic coating you went for?

Not sure the brand. It’s h9 hardness I think?
Should last 3 years plus, but I’ll be happy to reapply in a couple of years.

It's 9H as in the pencil and not all are equal, if you can recall more info then I'll be able to let you know more about how long it will last and what maintenance is best.

 

[ori]

[ref]ori[/ref], which ceramic coating you went for?

Not sure the brand. It’s h9 hardness I think?
Should last 3 years plus, but I’ll be happy to reapply in a couple of years.

It's 9H as in the pencil and not all are equal, if you can recall more info then I'll be able to let you know more about how long it will last and what maintenance is best.

Pyramid it’s called. I assume it’s mid range.

 

[sars]

I do miss the metal roof of the SL, only because of the built in glass roof panel which made the interior light and airy, this made the entire reason for not having a cloth roof. The e89 roof is just pointless and a wasted design feature, there is no advantage to it. The advantages of a soft top are numerous, not least is that the roof can be blended into the lines of car, giving a coupe silhouette.

 

[Armscarf]

Pyramid

Not sure the brand. It’s h9 hardness I think?
Should last 3 years plus, but I’ll be happy to reapply in a couple of years.

It's 9H as in the pencil and not all are equal, if you can recall more info then I'll be able to let you know more about how long it will last and what maintenance is best.

Pyramid it’s called. I assume it’s mid range.

Yep, looks fine. Just use the safe wash process to maintain it.

 

[ori]

[ref]Armscarf[/ref], yeah. My guy is will be maintaining it.

I know it’s not top of the range ceramic, but I could have had that if I was willing to be without the car for 3-4 days and pay a lot more. I took a balanced approach on it.

SARS, couldn’t agree more. If you had a panoramic on the tin top I can see an advantage in light, but it’s the only one. As you say soft tops have far more advantages. I don’t miss my hard top at all.
Personally I never understood e85 owners who purchased a hard top. I mean I love being able to drop the top on a winters day when the sun is out. That option is removed when you have a hard top installed.

 

[Nanu]

I have no preference on soft or hard top convertible, doesn't bother me either way, I love them both. If anything, I probably sway slightly towards the soft top because it's harder to forget you're in a convertible.

I would suggest that the main reason manufacturers have gone back to soft tops is that they're a lot cheaper and simpler to design and build.

If no one wants a roadster of any variety, why bother spending more to give people the hard top? Sales figures will be the same either way.

I suspect you have just hit the nail on the head for reasons why manufacturers are changing back to soft tops.