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MG MGF Technical - hard top 'v' MS rear glass screen

Hi
I am thinking about buying a Hard Top for the winter, but have seen Mike Satur does a glass rear screen.

Can anyone tell me if the MS glass screen is better than getting a hard top, and how does it work, how does the top go down with the glass screen and what do they do with the old hood. Is it worth keeping?

I know it is alot cheaper than a hard top, but is really effective?

Any comments will be appreciated.

Thanks
Cheryl
Cheryl

Cheryl,

You have a fair old trip to work from Rugby!

I believe that you have to purchase a complete new soft top with the glass window in it. The glass screen has to be unzipped and laid flat before you lower the hood, if I recall correctly. I was considering the same for my car but I think I will go for the hard top because of the reduction in wind noise. I like a rest occasionally from the roar!

cheers

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Cheryl,

As you live in Redditch I suggest you give Honeybourne Mouldings in Bidford on Avon a ring. I live just outside Redditch and recently got a hard top from them for only £625!!!! This price includes fitting as well and is made to order, bargain and I am well impressed with it.

Gav.
Gav

Gav,

Does that come with heated rear screen, switch and relay?

Sam
Sam Murray

Sam,

Yes comes with heated rear screen but with most hardtops need to get switch and relay extra. Still a complete bargain at £625 when places like MS etc: charge near the £1000 mark.

Gav.
Gav

Go for the hardtop Cheryl, it transforms the interior and feels nice and snug.If you are not in the MGOC borrow one of their monthly mags,there are usually three or four for sale s/hand around £500.And if you get it colour matched, your F will look a real smoothy chops. Regards.
H.R. Bridge

Mike Satur will also doing a hood liner, that fits inside the standard hood, and will reduce the wind noise (apparantely), and will also let you get the hood down as well.

This might give you the benefit of less wind noise, but also allow you to get the roof down for the odd good day during the winter.
S Green

Why go for a second hand one for £500 when you can get one brand new and fitted to order for £625!!!!!!????
Gav

Think the hood liner will be going for about £170
S Green

Are we sure you have to unzip the glass window?

I must check with mike. One of the attractions for me is to get rid of that unzipping lark!
Chris

Mike's soft top with glass window is a complete replacement item to the standard offering. When folding, it is NOT necessary to unzip the window (this is only necessary if you purchase a glass screen for your existing softtop).

Not sure, but I believe that Mike's replacement soft top is sold without a frame - so if you want to have it fitted for you, you need to budget an installation cost into the final figure...

Could you use Mike's hood instead of a hardtop? Certainly you could - and if you had it lined as well, the wind noise would be significantly lower.

The advantage of the hard top though is the security aspect: no-one will slash a hardtop.

Having said that, there have been a spate of hardtop thefts last winter; I've not heard of softtops being stolen to order however...

Choices choices. Personally I like the hardtop - gives the car a different character in the winter months - more like a fixed head coupe.

But if I had a glass rear screen in the soft top, I don't think I'd bother with a hardtop.

Hope that's of some help!!!! 8o§ LOL
Rob Bell

Rob

Almost as good as Tony Blur and the Iron Chancelor with their The Euro is good for you/not good for you arguments:-)

Having said that I think the idea of hood liner is brilliant - I have had one on order with Mike for six years now!

Ted
Ted Newman

LOL Ted, you're right!!!

Regarding the euro - it's good if you don't have a mortgage, bad news if you do.

I've got a mortgage, so guess what my opinion on the euro is! ;o)

I've got a hardtop too - so no prizes for guessing whether I'll be buying a replacement glass rear screen in the near future or not... ;o) ;o)
Rob Bell

Just finished our mortgage - thank god - but I am still not sure which way to vote!

I love the Euro when we are touring, saves all that hassle of constantly changing money and as a travel agent dealing with many different European countries it would make my life much easier BUT I am English first, British second, Commonwealth third and then somewhere down the list I consider myself European as well:-)

Ted
Ted Newman

Why go for a second hand one for £500 when you can get one brand new and fitted to order for £625!!!!!!????


Apart from saving £125, fitting takes about 2 minutes the first time and about half that when you know how: sit it on the car, engage the a-frame catches that normally hold the softtop, engage the catches behind each door.

You not only save £125 this time but you also save £125 every winter when you need the hardtop putting back on. In 4 years you've saved the cost of the roof!
JohnP

"You not only save £125 this time but you also save £125 every winter when you need the hardtop putting back on. In 4 years you've saved the cost of the roof" - I don't understand what you are getting at?????

Why buy a second hard hardtop for about £500 when you can buy a brand new one for £625?
Gav

I like very much my hard top. I think is like having two cars!!!
Spinder00

Gav, hard tops don't really get all that much hard use - so it can be difficult to distinguish between a hardtop that is 2 years old and a brand new one. But you make a good point - 625 quid for a new hard top is very good value against what MG will charge you...

I'm interested to know what kind of quality the Honeyborne hardtop is. Unfortunately, a number of the aftermarket hardtops have a poor reputation for quality against the standard MG hardtop (and Mike's alloy hardtop). Poor fitting and leaks are usually the commonest complaints... How have you found yours?
Rob Bell

I'm really interested in one of mike's softops with glass rear screen.

However, is it just me that figures it doesn't offer a route to no hardtop. It's strikes me it's gotta be easier to wash and polish a hardtop than clean a softop after some winter muck on it?

Especially a colour other than black!
Chris

If you have space to store the hardtop then it is a great buy. It makes the car far less noisy (can't call it quiet!) and cosy on those crap weather days. I would vote for a second-hand Kosher one. Someone will always be able to sort out the problems and they have proved very robust over 7 years usage. You could save enough for an inexpensive night for 2 in London but that small saving does not seem worth the risk.

Onto the euro.....what you must all remember is the people who are saying the euro is good for you also told us the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction ready for use in 45 minutes. While I am sure they are all jolly nice and honest fellows, I think it would be foolish to believe they actually have any idea about what they are talking about but merely enjoy hearing the sounds of their own voices and appearing on the telly. I also worry about the assertion that joining the euro will make us all rich beyond the dreams of avarice in 30 years time! Who 30 years ago would have dared predict that the UK would be prosperous and Germany the economic sick man of Europe? If they do not know what is happening now, please do not bother with their predictions for 30 years on when they will all be dead.

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Cheers

Patrick

PS I said crap on another forum and had my post deleted by the censors for disrespecting the sacred (profanity!)
Patrick Beet

This thread was discussed between 10/06/2003 and 11/06/2003

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