Going off to look at an MX5 this weekend

[Sporting Bear]

MX-5 Lazza said:

No problem with differences of opinion - that's what forums are for!
And I'm not trying to say you are wrong either - if it works for you then who am I to argue - I've never seen your car!
I'm just passing on my own experience.

We‘re sharing and accepting each other’s knowledge and experience which is great, the fact that we may not agree fully with each other is not a bad thing

MX-5 Lazza said:

I agree that Renovo is more expensive and more time consuming to use but to be honest you only need to use it a couple of times a year at most so a bottle (ok, 2 bottles, one of each) should last you 5 years or more.
I've just about used up the bottles I bought for use on my old mk1 which I sold 3 years ago!

For me a couple of times a year for cloth hood would be too often more like once every two years just washing and brushing in between – vinyl needs more attention tho’

MX-5 Lazza said:

I never tried the bumper care but did use the vinyl 7 rubber stuff and found it leaked onto the paintwork regardless of how little I tried to use. maybe I'm just more picky - I do tend to keep my cars very clean and shiny.

I agree the AG Vinyl and Rubber Care isn’t as good as using the AG Bumper Care – you could put the AG Vinyl and Rubber Care on with a sponge too which should mean you’d avoid runs – if I can I’ll try using both this week and let you know

MX-5 Lazza said:

Maybe it has something to do with the hoods themselves. I had my Mk1 from new and kept the hood in tip-top condition and my current car was barely used and was garaged most of the time before I bought it so the hood was like new and maybe your hood is older and more porous so it holds onto the AG stuff better?

I usually keep my cars in above average condition but it could well be that you have higher standards than me, all my soft tops (not counting the Westfields) sat outside all year round (a couple of them where covered for short periods)

If I get the chance I’ve got to clean my Midget before I take it on the Sporting Bears Dream Rides at the NEC Classic Motor Show so if your at the show pop over and say “Hi” and you can see if the hood looks polished (the hood I think is up to 5 years old and probably only been done once and that was by me)

Edited by Sporting Bear on Monday 5th November 16:22

[MX-5 Lazza]

Sporting Bear said:

all my soft tops (not counting the Westfields) sat outside all year round (a couple of them where covered for short periods)

Maybe that's the difference. My car's have always been garaged. That means that when they are out in the rain, the roof treatment can leak onto the paintwork then when it's garaged it dries and causes streaks. Maybe if it was left out it would all just wash off the bodywork instead of drying

[TheGreatSoprendo]

I use Renovo now I have a mohair (cloth) hood, but back when I had a vinyl hood, I never found anything better (or more cost effective) than black shoe polish!

[Sporting Bear]

MX-5 Lazza said:

My car's have always been garaged. That means that when they are out in the rain, the roof treatment can leak onto the paintwork then when it's garaged it dries and causes streaks. Maybe if it was left out it would all just wash off the bodywork instead of drying

I can’t ever remember getting streaks after treating the roof rain or not

I’ve not been able to polish the car or the hood this week as I had to deal with coolant losses first, but I’ve washed and chamoised the car today between the rain (keeps the neighbours amused)

The vinyl hood still beads water but looks a little greyish which got me thinking perhaps you polished the hood too often and with too much AG Vinyl & Rubber Care and AG Rubber Care which could cause streaking, so with these perhaps less is more

TheGreatSoprendo said:

I use Renovo now I have a mohair (cloth) hood, but back when I had a vinyl hood, I never found anything better (or more cost effective) than black shoe polish!

I’ve heard of black shoe polish used on the rubber bumpers on MGs but I’ve never used it other than on black shoes which I polished infrequently but buffed up each day of wearing to keep them highly polished so perhaps again with this less is more


There’s the possibility of top down this weekend – well I'm hoping so as I’m helping with the Sporting Bears Dream Rides at the NEC http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Sporting Bear on Thursday 8th November 16:17