Roof down without creasing rear window?
Roof down without creasing rear window?
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Discussion

SamPet

Original Poster:

485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I know this might sound strange, but since buying the Griff I've had the roof off 90% of the time, but always just the targa panel. I've never dropped the rear section because of the creasing to the plastic rear window.

Is there a knack to folding the rear section down without putting creases in the plastic? I've heard about using a rolled up towel, but that's crap (i'm not carrying a towel around with me like Rocky Balboa)

Thanks in advance for the answer to the noob question.

Sam

daveb500

391 posts

216 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I (and quite a few others) use a plain draft excluder (long sausage thing). It works a treat.

FlipFlopGriff

7,144 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Best to drop it only when its warm (above 15 degrees say) as it is not as flexible when cold and more likely to crack. Also worth treating it with 303 (you can get this from The Poloishing Company) as it makes it more supple and it gives UV protection.
You also need to release the velcro on either side before dropping the "mullet".
Draught excluders work well.
FFG

SamPet

Original Poster:

485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Ah ha!

I had no idea about the velcro getmecoat

I'll also trawl ebay for a suitably subtle draught excluder

Thanks all.

Griff 500

229 posts

257 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
1m length of 60mm B&Q pipe lagging. £5, job done thumbup

HRG.

72,863 posts

268 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I just do "The Boxster Chop" on mine, Run your arm along the crease as you lower it and it rolls up all on it's own biggrin

SamPet

Original Poster:

485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Hiiiiiya!

Boxster chop!

I'll try the lagging route if my karate isn't upto scratch.

Thanks all

Toffer

1,528 posts

290 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
To reduce the stress on the rear window, I am always careful to push the plastic window section behind the seatbelt top mounts...after releasing the Velcro. As I fold the window section, I make sure I have a single "soft" fold across the plastic and have never had a problem. It is always worth checking the window is clean before folding, as I guess a small amount of dust and dirt can cause damage. I also occasionally use the Renovo plastic window polish...time consuming but worth the effort. Hope this helps?

GreenV8S

31,018 posts

313 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I don't know whether the same works on the griffith, but on the V8S the screen tends to crease at the sides when it is lowered. To stop this I find it helps to push the middle of the screen backwards so that it forms a '>' shape rather than a ']' shape as it is lowered, iyswim.

lwt

315 posts

313 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Or instead of the pipe lagging use a rolled bath towel - you can match the car or hood colour and it has a second use if rain does get on the seats.

Ian.

Simon Says

19,447 posts

250 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Bath towel rolled up here,tip i got off this very site soft & dont scratch my recently replaced hood wink let mine warm in the sun 1st as stated already.

Edited by Simon Says on Tuesday 18th August 20:58

ruaricoles

1,240 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
FlipFlopGriff said:
Also worth treating it with 303 (you can get this from The Poloishing Company) as it makes it more supple
+1

I'm very impressed by that stuff; the screen they use to demo it on feels more like it's made of soft silicon.....

V8 GRF

7,299 posts

239 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
ruaricoles said:
FlipFlopGriff said:
Also worth treating it with 303 (you can get this from The Poloishing Company) as it makes it more supple
+1

I'm very impressed by that stuff; the screen they use to demo it on feels more like it's made of soft silicon.....
+2 yes

Makes the window very supple, even in winter.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

277 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Can I go to plus 3?

303 treatment on the window, cleans the old aluminium stains and makes the window softer.

You win all ways round.

Uncle Fester

3,114 posts

237 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
I’ve had Sportscars in the past with a zip around three sides of the back window.

The window sown in at the bottom like standard, but the zip runs up one side, across the top and down the other side.

When you want to fold the hood down, you undo the zip and it the window goes inwards, lying flat(ish) over the rear parcel shelf.

You can also drive with it open and the hood up.

These hoods have an overlap around the window. This means you can’t see the zip and any rainwater is carried past the zip instead of soaking through it. That means the roof has to be made as a zipped rear window form scratch.

I’m intending to ask Dave Hammerton if he can do me one that way when mine needs replacement.

Has anyone else tried this on a Griff?

Barreti

6,689 posts

266 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
That type of window is on the MGF uncle fester and I absolutely hated it when I drove Mrs B's 'F'
You needed to be a contortionist to reach the zip and pull it around the window. I used to have to kneel on the drivers seat to do it.

Might be better on the Griff as the seats and high parcel shelf aren't an issue for us though.
Try a dry run test before you do it.

Another vote here for 303 sunscreen for plastic windows too biggrin

Ant.

5,254 posts

310 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Uncle Fester said:
I’ve had Sportscars in the past with a zip around three sides of the back window.

The window sown in at the bottom like standard, but the zip runs up one side, across the top and down the other side.

When you want to fold the hood down, you undo the zip and it the window goes inwards, lying flat(ish) over the rear parcel shelf.

You can also drive with it open and the hood up.

These hoods have an overlap around the window. This means you can’t see the zip and any rainwater is carried past the zip instead of soaking through it. That means the roof has to be made as a zipped rear window form scratch.

I’m intending to ask Dave Hammerton if he can do me one that way when mine needs replacement.

Has anyone else tried this on a Griff?
Yes, my TR6 had this window type too. And it is was/is much better. I had also thought about getting it on the griff.thumbup

HRG.

72,863 posts

268 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Barreti said:
That type of window is on the MGF uncle fester and I absolutely hated it when I drove Mrs B's 'F'
You needed to be a contortionist to reach the zip and pull it around the window. I used to have to kneel on the drivers seat to do it.

Might be better on the Griff as the seats and high parcel shelf aren't an issue for us though.
Try a dry run test before you do it.

Another vote here for 303 sunscreen for plastic windows too biggrin
The MX-5 had it too, it worked well on that. Your problems probably say more about the MGF than the actual concept biggrin

RAS

347 posts

279 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Mine has a zip fitted as per discussion.

I was fitted by the previous owner, who had previously had a TR6 and MGB.

As described there is an outer shroud that covers the zip on the outside.

I must say I don't use it nor particularly like it:
- The outer shroud in my opinion spoils the line of the hood when it is on
- I find that when unzipped, as the screen is wider than the gap between the stays so you still have to role / fold the screen (I think TVR's are unusual for soft tops as they have quite a wide screen which is part of the problem)

Will post a couple of pictures later

Edited by RAS on Wednesday 19th August 09:10

RichB

56,275 posts

313 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
I've had my Griff 10 years, from new and no scratches or creases on the plastic. I think it's all been said, always fold out the Velcro flaps, easy it down and flatten the screen as you go and keep it clean. It's really very easy...