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Soft Top for S2 Exige
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:04 pm
by neil
Anyone know where I could get my hands on a soft top for the Exige?
Last nights roof off run was
Putting the roof back on in the dark wasnt
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:32 pm
by Meenrod
Try Bell and Colville, I think they still do a conversion kit consisting of the soft top, rails and rail headers. Alternatively buy a second hand hood and just get the kit from them.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:33 pm
by ed
They are the same as those on the 111r.
Fleabay or breakers yards are your best bet!
cheers Ed
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:12 pm
by Andy D
I didn't know you could take the roof off
Always used that as my excuse for not buying one
135R for sale anyone???
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:14 pm
by gorrie
It's just like taking the Elise hardtop off Andy... from what I've heard. I'll give you £10K ....
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:19 pm
by neil
Meenrod wrote:Try Bell and Colville, I think they still do a conversion kit consisting of the soft top, rails and rail headers. Alternatively buy a second hand hood and just get the kit from them.
Just tried B&C. The kits "only" £850 which is less than I was expecting. Only problem is they've got 11 on order from Lotus, who've supposedly got 93 on order.... Breakers it is then
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:23 pm
by Andy D
Bidding me 10k dosn't exactly help your residual
We need to pretend these 135R's are like the holy grail!!
Must get back to work before I spend money I can't afford
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:33 pm
by gorrie
Who cares if it means I get yours for £10K
£16K is probably nearer the mark I think... maybe £16.5K this time of year for a good yellow one.
Did Gareth not have the soft-top conversion? I'm sure I've seen some pics, and it looks quite nice IMO.
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:36 pm
by anthonyyule
so how does the roof come off?
- Is it just those bolts at the front edge above the windscreen?
- Is it difficult to remove?
- I have heard mumblings about "invalidated warranty on the roof seal" - it the seal likely to get damaged?
- And if the roof is taken on and off - will the inevitable creaks and gremlins find their way in to the car once the roof has been replaced?
Its a sunny night tonight - i could almost be tempted in taking the bad boy off myself!!
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:48 pm
by VXJON
If your looking for one on ebay remember that the vx220 roof is the same
And vx roofs seem to go for a little cheaper than the same roof with a elise tag
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:50 pm
by neil
anthonyyule wrote:so how does the roof come off?
- Is it just those bolts at the front edge above the windscreen?
- Is it difficult to remove?
- I have heard mumblings about "invalidated warranty on the roof seal" - it the seal likely to get damaged?
- And if the roof is taken on and off - will the inevitable creaks and gremlins find their way in to the car once the roof has been replaced?
Its a sunny night tonight - i could almost be tempted in taking the bad boy off myself!!
You need to take off the 3 bolts at the top of the windscreen. The trim panel then falls off. At the back corners are two velcrod on bits of trim which just pull off. Your then left with 4 bolts - one at each corner. Loosen them then it just lifts off. You'll need a Torx key for all this - cant remember the size.
I cant really see how you could damage the seal doing it. You'll probably find the garage have had the roof off already - they've had both the front and rear clams off mine since I bought it in March - rear clam off must involve roof removal too
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:54 pm
by gorrie
I thought it said in the Exige manual that you could take the roof off?
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:12 pm
by DDtB
VXJON wrote:And vx roofs seem to go for a little cheaper than the same roof with a elise tag
So why don't VX drivers advertise them as elise roofs then?? Perhaps they're all a bit slow...
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:28 pm
by woody
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:55 pm
by ryallm
I bought a soft top for my Exige, never used it, sold it to Ed, who I think never used it and sold it.....got mine from a guy who had written off his 3 month old 111R (roof was not on at the time!) IIRC I paid about £300 for it and it was mint.
Surprisingly I find I dont miss the wind in the hair thing very much compared to my Elise, but will be taking the roof off this weekend if the weather stays the same - the fixings are identical to an Elise hard top and it takes literally a couple of minutes.
Mark