Hello all,
Here's the last installment. I hope all this research will be of some help.
I've had enough of it...
There's many soft-top manufacturers and resellers, I did not research them
all.
Most practice what we call in French "flou artistique" in their statements,
an artistical somewhat out-of-focus form of speech. Like calling the fabric
"German, "factory", or saying "first-grade" plastic windows, etc. If you
look up the sites, this form of speech is practiced by most, from the
cheapest to the most expensive.
A cat is a cat, and a dog a dog.
There is only one replication, and only one, of the original OEM R107
fabric. It's called "Sonnenland Classic" made by Haartz. It's a two fiber
weave (cotton-polyester I think) and too expensive-marginal to bother to
copy as is.
There are fakes. Some are good, but should be stated as such, and sold at a
much lower price.
There is currently a better fabric, the post-1994 or so Twillfast-Sonnenland
A5 (Twillfast is the name used for US cars, Sonnenland for Euros), which has
a black-only dobby backing ie a black-only correct pattern inner lining.
Reputedlly, this lasts longer than Sonnenland Classic.
The regular Twillfast with correct brown dobby is also reputed excellent.
Sonnenland Classic is reputed to look nicer than Twillfast.
I'm of the opinion that both Sonnenland Classic and Twillfast will last a
long time, most probably so than the plastic windows. So, it's between price
and looks for the outer fabric.
Only one supplier confirmed that he used a high-quality brand-name plastic
for his windows: ARO 2000. I think that this is a decisive factor: many
fabric tops can be seen to be in VGC but for their windows.
ARO 2000 uses "Ultralite" by O'Sullivan USA and swear by it. It's a product
used by car manufacturers, not only aftermarket. OK, but it seems that Bayer
Flexglas 9120 (I think, the one used on BMW Z8s) is better and suppliers
should do some research.
So, do business with whoever you want, but before you order, have it
confirmed of what, EXACTLY, your top is made of. "German" and "high-quality"
is not enough.
My personal choice...
I hesitated between ARO and Prestige tops.
Unfortunately, I asked, no begged, for Prestige to confirm fabric and
plastic used. They declined to name the products they use. Note that I
stated in a previous report that they used Bayer et al. Flexglas (r) for
their windows. That's before I discovered that Flexglas is like Kleenex, a
brand name used to describe similar products. I asked Prestige to confirm
they used Bayer et al. Flexglas(r) -an excellent product- and they declined.
Too bad, because they did seem more than OK, at a great price. But if they
deem their clients unworthy of info, so be it.
In the end, only ARO 2000 provided complete, precise information about their
product. Mr. Georgi answered each and every of my questions. They get my
vote, and they'll get my money.
In closing:
1-you other soft-top suppliers, wake up and inform us consumers.
2- If you want to charge us more than 30-50% the average, tell us why
EXACTLY.
I'll keep you posted on my purchase and install of the ARO top, but it'll be
awhile, it's winter for still two more months here in the Great Whit North.
Soft Top Topic Thread
Ciao,
Laverda
