Covertible Care

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Gonna be buying the wife a used convertible in the next month.
Can anyone suggest anything to treat the top with to keep it looking nice?
We are currently leaning towards a 1998 to 2000 3-series
 

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Covertible Care

3 Series huh ? Better than a Sebring I guess.......:cool:
http://www.autogeek.net/racotopcakit.html

She still likes the Sebrings but I am trying to talk her out of it.
She gets to pick it out.....whatever she decides she wants, because next year I get to pick out my new used truck(The first step towards a trailerable cruiser)
She is currently eying several Sebrings,1 Mustang,2 Camaros,3 Cadillac STS, and 3 BMW's.
It will be approx 3 weeks before I have the cash in hand, so we will see what is left.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,478
Re: Covertible Care

Most important thing to do is keep it clean.
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Covertible Care

The newer Saab's and Audi's are some really sweet convertibles (as are the 3's you're considering)
 

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Covertible Care

The newer Saab's and Audi's are some really sweet convertibles (as are the 3's you're considering)

I think the Saabs are ugly....especially the front end.
A friend of mine just got rid of an audi and he said he will never own another one.....any one else have any experience with audi's?

The wife says right now she is leaning either towards a 3-series convertible or a Cadillac STS.
 

windsors03cobra

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
1,191
Re: Covertible Care

I like the looks of some of the newer Saab convertibles, couple problems for me is the tiny car but even worse its a SAAB.

3 Series you get a proven reliable engine, a good trans and a good suspension.
With that said I would not want to drive a rag top with RWD in the snowbelt but many folks do everyday so theres that. Some money to fix these cars but they are pretty trouble free.

Caddy STS I see. I gotta believe no rag top here but possible NorthStar engine which can be very hit and miss reliability wise. And when something goes wrong with this "non rebuildable" engine the money signs start flying real fast. In many cases if an engine goes bad in one of these cars, its just junked as it costs more to fix than its worth. Could be a newer style with some "hot new problem laden V6" dunno.

A V8 Camaro or Mustang is really the way to go.
 

scipper77

Commander
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Messages
2,106
Re: Covertible Care

I think the Saabs are ugly....especially the front end.
A friend of mine just got rid of an audi and he said he will never own another one.....any one else have any experience with audi's?

The wife says right now she is leaning either towards a 3-series convertible or a Cadillac STS.

The VW 1.8l turbo that was in some of the older A4's was a very problematic engine. Newer Audi's should be fine. Right now Saab's are a good bargain. There resale value took a hit when GM discontinued Saab, which is a good thing if you are looking to buy a used Saab. My uncle replaced his A4 with a 60'th anniversary 9-3. He says he liked the audi better and this guy makes a 5 hour one way trip every other weekend to see his daughter.
 

Billdc

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
270
Re: Covertible Care

I've had a '89 3 series since '91 (got it off a lease) and I have not used anything special on the fabric. I occasionally use a plastic polish(not the headlight polish) for the rear window, but I think the newer ones are glass. I have 215 k on it and I think I have replaced everything that moves. Second top as the first one was damaged in an accident. The car is outside 9 mts a year and other than alittle shrinkage in the cloth I had no issues with the top.
 

javsam

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
421
Re: Covertible Care

Try Armorall ,its a vinyl care product.Let it soak for a while before taking off.
 

rbh

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
7,939
Re: Covertible Care

I am not sure what the rag tops are like now, but when I replaced the top on my old 72 cougar in 1984 I was told warm water and mild soap, rinse good and dont put any thing on it. And make sure it has a glass back.
 

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Covertible Care

Well she finally made up her mind.......I'm glad I don't have to go through this every year....sheesh
Didn't end up with a convertible, but I guess T-Tops is pretty close.
She decided on a 2002 Pontiac Firebird.
 

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ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Covertible Care

You really should have gone with the Sebring

NOT!
 

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Covertible Care

Great looking F body, got to be a V8 ?

Not a V8, it has the 3800 in it.
Can't believe the power out of that little V6 though.....she will break loose and get sideways on dry pavement at 30 mph.
Bought it at a repo lot so it has a few issues but for what I got it for that's ok.
Just about got everything fixed ........goes into the GM dealer to unlock the stereo tomorrow.
All I have left to do is figure out the drivers window.....not sure if its the relay or motor.
Not bad considering when I bought her she would barely run......got lucky ended up just being a plugged converter.

No complaints here for $3500
 

windsors03cobra

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
1,191
Re: Covertible Care

That theftlock radio is pretty easy to unlock actualy and the F bodies are notorious for bad window motors, I'm sure that is a common problem on many coupes with big old windows. Good looking car for a V6, considering it came from a repo lot it looks to be in pretty good shape from that vantage point.

Anyway if it will help if not dis-regard.

Taken from:
http://autoforumz.com/Pontiac-Help-u...pict40505.html

GM DELCO THEFTLOCK RADIO UNLOCK CODE:
1. Press and hold presets 2 and 3 for about 5 to 10 seconds until you
get 3 digits on your display. This is the first 3 of 6 digits you will
need, so write 'em down.
2. After doing step one and writing down the code, immediately press
the
AM/FM button to get the last 3 of the 6 numbers you'll need, and write
'em down. (if you wait too long between steps 1 and 2 and the LOC code
displays again, just start over).
3. Call this number, it's a prerecorded message, so don't worry about
having to talk to anyone...1-800-537-5140. The voice will ask if
you're
calling for Chevy, Pontiac, Cadillac, etc... When you here him tell
you
to press "1" for Chevrolet, press 106010 and hit the # key. He'll ask
you
for the 6 digit code that you've written down. Enter that and press
the
* key. He will then give you a code, and the option to get additional
4
digit codes, but one should be sufficient.
4. Follow the normal procedure in your owners manual for unlocking the
radio with your new code...press the hour set button on your radio
until
you get the first two numbers of the code, then press the minute set
button until you've entered the last two numbers. Immediately press
the
AM/FM button once the correct code is entered and the code SEC or
"secured" will be displayed on the display screen. Now, just turn the
radio on, and your ready to roll.
There is an additional step you can take to remove all codes from the
radio and start from scratch by entering your own personalized 4 digit
code so that it won't get you in a pickle again! Just repeat step 4
and
you should get a display screen that reads ---. This means the code is
out, and you can now program your own code. Of course, once you
receive
the 4 digit code from the GM recorded message, just keep it in a safe
place, because you can use that same code again and again should you
have any more problems with it in the future. Good luck, and yes, it
does work.

__________________
 

Tubingluvr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
426
Re: Covertible Care

That theftlock radio is pretty easy to unlock actualy and the F bodies are notorious for bad window motors, I'm sure that is a common problem on many coupes with big old windows. Good looking car for a V6, considering it came from a repo lot it looks to be in pretty good shape from that vantage point.

Anyway if it will help if not dis-regard.

Taken from:
http://autoforumz.com/Pontiac-Help-u...pict40505.html

GM DELCO THEFTLOCK RADIO UNLOCK CODE:
1. Press and hold presets 2 and 3 for about 5 to 10 seconds until you
get 3 digits on your display. This is the first 3 of 6 digits you will
need, so write 'em down.
2. After doing step one and writing down the code, immediately press
the
AM/FM button to get the last 3 of the 6 numbers you'll need, and write
'em down. (if you wait too long between steps 1 and 2 and the LOC code
displays again, just start over).
3. Call this number, it's a prerecorded message, so don't worry about
having to talk to anyone...1-800-537-5140. The voice will ask if
you're
calling for Chevy, Pontiac, Cadillac, etc... When you here him tell
you
to press "1" for Chevrolet, press 106010 and hit the # key. He'll ask
you
for the 6 digit code that you've written down. Enter that and press
the
* key. He will then give you a code, and the option to get additional
4
digit codes, but one should be sufficient.
4. Follow the normal procedure in your owners manual for unlocking the
radio with your new code...press the hour set button on your radio
until
you get the first two numbers of the code, then press the minute set
button until you've entered the last two numbers. Immediately press
the
AM/FM button once the correct code is entered and the code SEC or
"secured" will be displayed on the display screen. Now, just turn the
radio on, and your ready to roll.
There is an additional step you can take to remove all codes from the
radio and start from scratch by entering your own personalized 4 digit
code so that it won't get you in a pickle again! Just repeat step 4
and
you should get a display screen that reads ---. This means the code is
out, and you can now program your own code. Of course, once you
receive
the 4 digit code from the GM recorded message, just keep it in a safe
place, because you can use that same code again and again should you
have any more problems with it in the future. Good luck, and yes, it
does work.

__________________

Yea I had already read this but I didn't get any door keys when I bought the car so I had to go to the dealer for that anyway and they are only charging me $15 to unlock the stereo and give me the code.......seemed like a no-brainer to me.
 
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