Ragtop advice please?

Hi, planning on installing a ragtop into my MK1 Golf and just after any personal advice/experiences.


Mainly looking for the best place to buy the kits, the only places I've found so far are in the States with a postage cost of $400 (no thanks), but I haven't dug too deep yet.

Is there any dispatchers in the UK? Where am I guaranteed quality? And without the bombshell price? Any other advice welcome!!


Cheers!

Hi,

it all depends on what level of finish you want.

The whole top is made up from 4 conmponents in order of fitting on a bare frame are as follows.

1) Headliner the lining you see from inside the car.

2) The Interliner a bag almost that holds the Padding.

3) Top Pad This provides insulation and keeps the road noise down it's most important feature is to smooth out the finish once the hood cover is fitted.

4) Hood cover, made from different materials, vynil, mohair, sonneland, canvass. All vary in price and are much to personal tastes.
Arguments are over appearence, some like the simplicity of wash and go Vynil, others like the mohair finish, all will need to be kept clean and treated with appropriate cleaners/proofers etc.

All the components are available from various places.
Be aware of kits per se, as some do not use the correct padding. I had a kit from the USA and the pad was a big piece of sponge, which prevented the top from closing and locking properly.

The main issue is what do you replace and when?
The answer is simple, if your headliner is overstained and won't clean or is ripped the whole lot has to come off to replace that. You CANNOT retrofit the headliner afterwards as all the fixings are under the interliner and pad and hood cover.
Some just replace the hood cover but ignore the centre section this often leaves a poor finish of the top with a bumpy look with the frame poking through the top.

If you replace what needs doing at the same time you probably won't need to touch it again during your ownership.

here is a link to one or two we did a while ago.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=98442&highlight=legend

Be warned it's not cheap and you would be spending a fair few hundred quid though.

There is also the debate as to wether you go DIY or pay a company.

If you need anymore info send me a PM.

Cheers

Chortle

I think I should have explained better, I'm after a sliding ragtop (sunroof style). Haha, sorry my mistake. Appreciate the response though!

Cheers

If it's for a tin top then it's called a webasto roof.
No worries lol.